We have an orchestra of twelve pieces wholly under the direction of the inmates, who arrange their own programs without suggestions or interference from the officials, and the Saturday night concerts they give throughout the year will compare favorably with those of any similar organization in the outside world.
We have a hospital which is maintained for the sick, and not as a loafing place for influential prisoners, which is the custom in so many penal institutions. The physician with his family resides in the institution and responds quickly to calls at any hour during the day or night. The inmates are weighed once a month, and any deviation of more than five pounds is called to the attention of the physician, who immediately examines the man, to learn the cause. Many cases of serious disease have thus been caught in their incipient stages, and cures affected by prompt attention. The hospital patients are waited on by salaried trained nurses day and night, while the druggist is also a salaried official of the institution.
In addition to the regular resident physician, there is a consulting staff made up of some of the most widely known specialists in the State, who give freely of their best services.
We have a dentist who is in attendance daily from 2 P. M. until as late as necessary, and every class of dental work is executed by him.
An optician is in attendance twice every week.
We have fewer rules to obey than the people outside the walls and every one of them is for the comfort of the men, and not to degrade or annoy them.
The silent system was abolished so many years ago it is forgotten it ever existed.
At no time is a man’s hair clipped, unless he so desires it, and he may wear any style of facial adornment in the way of whiskers that suits his fancy.
We wear no stripes, but a uniform of blue and white mixed cloth. About one fourth of the men are permitted to have their clothes made to measure by the prison tailor, and these are cut and finished in a style equal to any $15 suit in the open market. A vici kid dress shoe is now being issued in place of the old time “brogans.” It has already proven its economy.
Every man is given a complete new outfit, when he enters the prison, and this is renewed from time to time as it wears out. No used clothing is given to an inmate. When a man is discharged, what clothing he had is sent to the incinerating plant, and destroyed.