MINNESOTA STATE REFORMATORY BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT Period Ending July 31, 1906 To the Honorable the State Board of Control. Gentlemen:-I have the honor to herewith submit my report for the biennial period ending July 31st, 1906. POPULATION. The steadily maintained increase in population as compared with the population of previous periods indicates that, with the general growth of the State, a continued augmentation must be expected in the number of delinquents requiring reformatory treatment. CELL CAPACITY. With the completion of the new south cell house (which is expected to be occupied about January 1st, 1907) there will be cell room in excess of the requirements for a time; but unless ground is broken for another cell wing in the year 1907, and unless the building is pushed to completion in the usual construction period of three years, the institution will probably again become crowded, and the undesirable and dangerous condition which has existed during the past two or three years will again prevail. I therefore recommend that the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars be appropriated for the year ending July 31st, 1908, and the further sum of twenty-five thousand ($25,000.00) dollars for the year ending July 31st, 1909, toward the construction of another cell wing. SITE OF THE NEW CELL WING. The proposed new cell wing should be attached to the present north cell wing, and built easterly; or it should be attached to the present south cell wing, and built easterly. I am disposed to favor the former, unless the main enclosing wall should be pushed to completion along its south line, so as to enclose the south cell wing and contiguous ground, during the season of 1908, for the reason that it is much safer, and more satisfactory and economical to carry on construction labor inside, than outside, of a secure enclosure. There are always inmates who are, for one reason or another, adapted to work on construction of buildings, but who are not deemed proper persons, during the full period of their detention, to expose to the temptation to effect an escape, while employed in the open. The north cell wing was not constructed with a view of attaching another cell house to it, and, the matter of preparing it to receive the addition will involve extensive and expensive work in the walls, and even in the roof, where the connection is to be made. CONTAGIOUS WARD-HOSPITAL, ETC. The reformatory has been singularly fortunate in having had no experience with epidemics of disease, but preparation should be made against such a contingency. It would, in my opinion, pe inexcusable negligence on my part, not to call your attention to the fact that we are absolutely and entirely unfitted to meet such a misfortune, which is liable at any time to occur. The last legislature appropriated the sum of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars, for the construction of a contagious ward. It was deemed inadequate and has not been used. The institution requires a hospital, and the hospital and contagious ward should be built together, and provision should be made in the building, for the drug store, the physician's office, a diet kitchen, and for an operating room. The building should comport in material and permanence, and in fire-proof qualities, with the rest of the plant, and I believe that the requirements are such that the sum of thirty thousand ($30,.000.00) dollars, in all, should be procured, and that it should all be made available during the year commencing August 1st, 1907, on account of the pressing need for the building. RAILROAD SIDE TRACK. The Great Northern Railway Company having signified a willingness to construct a spur or side track, about sixteen hundred feet in length to a point about thirty feet above their grade, and immediately north of the present main building, it would seem that the offer should be accepted, and that provision should be made on the part of the State to carry out its part of the undertaking. I am not informed as to the terms on which the accommodation may be secured, but I understand that the State would be required to do the necessary grading, which can be done at small expense by employing inmate labor, and that perhaps the State would be required to furnish some material. If so, an appropriation should be secured sufficient to purchase the necessary material. The intention is to enter the enclosed grounds of the institution near the northeast corner of the proposed new stone wall. POWER HOUSE. With a spur railroad track, as just mentioned, the power house should be established at the track terminus, and the present power house in the main buildings should be abandoned as such, and the space should be given over to shop use, or for laundry, or for some other useful and nec. essary purpose. There are many reasons why this change should take place, among which may be cited the fact that the present power house is entirely inadequate, in space, light, ventilation or convenience, is not situated for gravity return, and is, and must be, without coal bunkers to protect the fuel from the weather. The cost of a proper power house, permanent and complete, with connections (and like the proposed contagious ward and hospital, sufficient for all the future needs of the institution) is estimated at fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars, besides three thousand seven hundred fifty ($3,750.00) dollars for three new boilers and trimmings. COLD STORAGE AND CREAMERY. Six years ago the legislature appropriated the sum of four thousand ($4,000.00) dollars for the construction of a cold storage and creamery combined, but the money was never used on account of uncertainty as to the future location of the power house, and on account of a difference of opinion, or at least the want of a determination, as to whether ice or chemicals should be employed for cooling purposes. In my judg ment a chemical plant is the more desirable, and should be provided without unnecessary delay, and, if the former appropriation is no longer available, the sum of six thousand ($6,000.00) dollars should be provided for the purpose, as four thousand ($4,000.00) dollars is an insufficient sum. ENCLOSING STONE WALL. The last legislature provided the sum of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars per annum toward the construction of a permanent enclosing wall of granite, about the grounds and buildings. After various surveys, and much consideration, it has been determined that the wall shall enclose about sixty acres of ground, so that all the shops and most of the gardens may be within the wall. This will enable the local management to employ invalid and convalescent inmates, with entire safety, in healthful garden operations, during the entire growing and harvest season of each year, and will amount to an innovation, and, perhaps, to an experiment, in so-called prison management in this country. If an experiment, it is one which, I think, gives good promise, and is certain to be imitated in progressive states which employ the more humane methods in dealing with delinquents. A portion of the wall has been constructed. The interior is rough ashler, and is built plumb. The exterior is of course rubble battered two feet. The height of the wall is twenty-two and one-half feet; the thickness of the wall at grade is four and one-half feet, and, immediately beneath the semicircular coping, two and one-half feet. It is built of solid granite and Portland cement, and is most enduring. Sufficient progress has been made to demonstrate that the wall complete will cost about sixty or seventy thousand dollars, and that the sum of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars per |