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Jailhouse Diet
“Bread
is the hardest thing to keep in stock. Every other
day, or at least four times a week, the prison baker,
who is usually a long-term prisoner, mixes and takes
one barrel of flour. At the present, a barrel of flour
makes 220 loaves, and each prisoner is given all the
bread he wishes to eat. All prisoners are allowed one
quart of molasses a week, and an average of 660
gallons of molasses are consumed at the jail each
year. A tin of coffee twice a day is also allowed, in
addition to meat once a day and either beans, peas or
rice.”
Hygiene A Priority
“The
prisoners do all their own work. When a prisoner is
admitted to the jail he is first registered. The
Warden then leads him up to the bathroom and compels
him to take a bath in order to rid himself of possible
vermin, such as bedbugs and lice. He is then consigned
to a cell. Each cell is provided with a wash tub and
board, as well as soap and the prisoners do their own
washing. The occupants of a cell are compelled to keep
it clean. They must scrub the floor twice a week.
Every ten days, or thereabouts, every prisoner in the
jail is made to take a bath. The rules as to
cleanliness are enforced most rigidly, this being
absolutely necessary to keep vermin out.”
Daily Routines
“About
six or seven of the most trusty prisoners are allowed
much liberty about the prison part of the jail
building. These men do the work, such as cooking,
baking and carrying in rations to the fellow inmates.
Breakfast is served at 7:30, dinner at 11, and supper
at 5 o’clock.
The
prisoners are not without religious comfort while
incarcerated in the jail. Every two weeks the
Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Ebensburg have
a minister from one of the churches accompany them to
jail. . .
Each
prisoner is allowed to have a lamp in his cell
provided he has the money to buy it and keep oil in it. At 9 o’clock each evening all prisoners
must go to bed, or at least remain quiet in their
cells. No noise is allowed after that hour.”
Overcrowded
“The
women’s department is large enough, there never
having been more than thirteen women serving time in
the jail at any one time. But to confine 123 men in 27
cells is certainly an evidence of overcrowding. Each
cell in the jail is 8 by 16 feet in size, and there
have been a high as 16 hoboes confined in one cell at
a time. This, as can be plainly seen, would allow but
one foot of space on the floor for each man to lie
upon if they lie down at once. . . The corridor is
sadly in need of a skylight , as it is quite dark at
times. A laundry is another department that should be
attached to the jail and would do much toward keeping
things in
a more sanitary condition.”
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