They still continue their antiquated toilet arrangements. The closets are flushed by dumping therein water from buckets. The water is readily obtainable from spigots, so that the inconvenience is reduced to some extent, yet this system is justly condemned.
Trusties keep the Court House and the grounds in good order. Some are employed in making carpets and knitting socks.
Except murderers in the second degree, practically all county convicts are detained in the county prison. They have room for them in the old bastile, so why send them to the penitentiary on per diem charges?
The prisoners are turned absolutely loose one hour each day in the prison yard.
General Efficiency the same as the previous year, but on account of the farm work we estimate the grade at 70 per cent.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Here is a county prison reporting for the year 1916 an average daily number of inmates of 58. And yet they could send 12 men to work at road-making in a prison camp, and 10 men to work on the county farm. The employment record is a vast improvement over the report of the previous year when a few at domestic employments about the jail were the only inmates at work. It is thought that next season the agricultural operations will be increased.
The Directors ought to contrive at once to improve the cooking arrangements or, better still, to construct an entirely new culinary department.
They eat at tables in the corridors. We believe that it would be well for wardens generally to adopt this method. The cells are more readily kept clean, and the appearance has a civilized effect.
There are no sheets and pillows, a lack which some philanthropic organization might supply. They have plenty of time to do laundry work.