The cells vary in size and average 8 × 12 by 12 feet high, with a sky-light let into the roof and controlled by the inmate. There are double doors, but the outer one is never entirely closed, day or night. A steam radiator with individual control and portable electric light is in every cell.
The men are permitted to furnish their cells at their own expense in any manner they choose, and many of them are really luxurious.
Any kind of a musical instrument, excepting a drum, is permitted, and some men have installed pianos and organs. Canary birds are the only pets allowed, and there are hundreds of them carolling all over the place from early morning until dark.
Running water from the city mains is in every cell but it is only used for domestic purposes. The drinking water is boiled and then passed through iced coils, so that we have unlimited quantities of iced water summer and winter.
Every cell has a heavy white porcelain hopper, entirely free from sewer gas and odors. When they erect a monument to Warden McKenty, they will mention this hopper.
The Catholic chaplain celebrates mass every Sunday morning at seven o’clock, and at nine o’clock nine Protestant services are held simultaneously on the different blocks, by upward of one hundred people. At three in the afternoon, visiting choirs from different denominations render a sacred concert on the Center.
The men are allowed all kinds of tools and material necessary to any work they may care to undertake for pleasure or profit, and the management encourages such efforts by finding a ready sale for the product. One man made $700 last year another $400 and a dozen of them are earning more than $200 a year through work of this kind.
Every man has the privilege of the yard daily for a time, during five days in the week. Sunday is the day when everything is closed down tight after church services.
The baseball league is now in its fourth year and numbers nearly one hundred men. Games attended by the inmates, are played daily except Sunday during the season. Quoits and hand ball are in evidence at all hours.
A semi-dark cell is the only form of punishment. The officer inflicting it usually apologizes for being forced to go to this extreme.