It may be unfortunate that the farms are limited to 500 acres. Allegheny County now has a farm of over 600 acres, and has under cultivation about 500 acres. This county will be united with four other counties in the management of the Industrial Farm for the Second District, and 500 acres will prove insufficient. It may be wise to amend the Act making it possible to secure a farm of 1000 acres if thought desirable. It has been found to be an economical proposition to establish penal farms on waste land and by means of drainage, leveling, removing of rocks and scientific tillage and fertilizing to make the “wilderness blossom as the rose.” On a Penal Farm in Florida may now be seen flourishing corn and cane fields where three years ago was the lair of alligators. At Occoquan, Va., Warden Whittaker has transformed barren, arid, scrub pine lands, costing from five to fifteen dollars per acre, into a splendid plantation abounding in orchards, grain fields, gardens and small fruits. Similarly very cheap land at Bridgwater, Mass., has been cleared off and changed into a handsome productive farm.
It might be easier to limit the amount of money to be expended for the site, the only condition being that the farm should contain at least 500 acres.
Escapes.
Escapes were quite numerous from the Indiana State Farm when they first were trying the experiment. The passage of a State law severely penalizing the man who escapes (he is nearly always caught), justly punishing him with several years of imprisonment at the State Penitentiary has lessened the number making effort to escape.
Prisoners Awaiting Trial.
Some of these prisoners are held from thirty to ninety days. Why not allow them the option of languishing in idleness at the detention prison or of engaging in healthful occupation on the farm? The option should be given, as they can not be compelled to work. Such privilege should be granted with circumspection. The Court not generally being in session when such offenders are arrested could not pass judgment as to whether such privilege should be granted. The nature of the accusation must be taken into consideration. We are sure that a goodly number of those who are thus held might be sent to the Industrial Farm, but the details connected with such permission are yet to be arranged.
Compensation.
Nothing is said in the Act with regard to any compensation. It is expected that these farms will ultimately become self-supporting and may to some extent become a source of profit. We think it is within the province of the Board of Trustees to fix the compensation. An addition to the Act as soon as practicable should be enacted providing for compensation to be sent, part to the family, if in need, of the prisoner, and a part to be held for the prisoner at the time of his discharge. The wages will be graded with reference to the character of the labor. It is a wise provision of the law that the labor of prisoners in the construction of the buildings shall be availed of as far as possible.
Industries.
On a farm of 500 acres containing tillable land and stone quarries, a large number of men may find employment, but it will require very intensive farming to employ 500 men and make the venture financially profitable. Hence on every farm some one or two industries should be allowed not requiring highly-skilled labor, since the population is a rapidly shifting crowd. The bill very properly specifies brick, tile and concrete work, and the crushing of stone for road-making. A large number of men may be thus employed, but please remember that there are nine of these penal farms. There should be one or two industries suitable for mechanics and for indoor employment on each farm. The sale of the products should not be confined to the district in which any farm is situated. Let the soap-making industry be established on one of these farms. The product might be sold to all public institutions in the State. In one or two farms, there might be found the broom-making industry. In several farms canneries, under the best sanitary regulations, should be established. Underwear and socks for all public institutions could be made at two or three of these penal farms. Working shirts and overalls are properly made at such institutions. The manufacture of plain cloth of several inconspicuous patterns should be encouraged. One factory could make cloth sufficient for the other nine institutions. Ash cans and garbage cans for all municipalities are products of prison labor in several States.