The Golden Rule from Lansing, Kansas • 1

I STATE OF KANSAS The Penitentiary Bulletin Vol. 4. Lansing, Friday, June 11, 1915 No. GOVERNOR CAPPER'S VISIT We were all suprised as well as pleased to have with us last Friday the Chief Executive of the great state of Kansas. No one knew the Governor was coming until he was ascending the front steps of the administration building.

Warden Botkin was the first to discover Mr. Capper, and he hastened to extend a hearty welcome to the distinguished visitor. The Governor stated that he had not seen the penitentiary for twenty years, and his visit was for the purpose of acquainting himself with the various industries and conditions of this important state institution. He expressed himself as agreeably surprised at the things he saw and promised a more extended visit at his first convenience. After a sumptuous dinner with the Warden's family and Judge Smith.

as well as the members of the Board or Correction, Warden Botkin showed Governor Capper through the prison. They went through the store, the tailor shop, cold storage, and laundry. From there they entered the twine mill where the Warden explained the whole process of twine manufacture to the evident pleasure of Governor Capper. The power-plant was inspected; likewise the fire department, the bertillon office and the barber shop. The distinguished visitor's attention was called to the Bulletin office as being a- bout the only rival in the State of the Capper publishing house, and ve editor thought by the Governor's smile that there was to be a vacancy and a new editor was to be immedintely appointed.

When the Governor was introduced by the Warden to a large compang of men in the dining-room during 4:30 supper he made a few remarks in which he "Boys I wish you all a good time and good luck." It is supposed that the boys inwardly wished the Governor good health, a steady hand and much speed in signing commutations and paroles. Governor Capper's visit to the Female Ward was probably the most pleasapt experience of his stay. He was much interested in the various industries of that busy place, and closely inspected the fancy work produced by the deft hands of some of our girls under the direction of Mrs. Simpson, our popular matron. Officers and inmates are eager for our Governor to make a more extended visit at his earliest convenience.

PAROLE OFFICE At their recent session, the Board of Corrections acted favorably on 24 fifteen cases. Six were recommended for final discharge. At no time in the history of the Parole Law have the men been so prompt in reporting and there are no delinquents. About 725 men have been paroled the past two years and there were 400 men on parole when Mr. Snyder took office.

About 100 have been returned and 350 remain now on the parole list. Since the parole law went into effect 82 per cent of the men have made good. Much has been said of the restrictions placed on a paroled man. The facts are, it is summed up in this: He is expected to live the life of a good citizen. No more, no less.

When he is paroled to a man, his employer must treat him with all due fairness, stand by his agreement, and should he endeavor to coerce or mistreat the paroled man the Parole Clerk will sever the contract and get him employment elsewhere. If a man is in trouble the Parole Clark stands by him and sees that he gets a square deal. In case of doubt, he either returns the man here, reports his findings to the Board for their consideration, or else leaves him at his work. It is the Parole Officer who assist, those who have no friends. He is open for counsel and advice at any time, and if there is any matter you wish to take up with him, and you cannot see him in person, a letter written to him will receive due consideration.

THE ALTERATION OF THE BRICK YARD The most interesting place around here is the brick yard, where Supt. E. T. Polson is tearing away the debris of an old plant that should long ago. been accorded a place in some museum of antiquity.

Contrary to our custom we kept still and let the other fellow do the talking and this is what he told us: Do you see those seven long rows of tunnels running East and West? Well, over those will be seven tracks on which will be located 60 cars of 500 bricks each making a total of 30, 000. This new process is what is known as the "Waste Heat Dryer System." The bricks are taken from an off -bearing belt and placed in a car of 500 capacity, going from there into the Dry House allowing 36 hours for passing through the Dryer, which will give us a bone-dry brick ready for setting in the kiln. These bricks are dried by pulling the heat through tunnels which bring the heat up through the brick as they are setting on the car. The bricks are dried from the waste heat of the finished kilns already burned. The moisture and dampness from these bricks is carried off by a fifty foot stack, thereby saving any extra expense by waste heat which would otherwise be thrown away.

After placing the brick on the car in the Mill-Room, they are not handled again until the car is run in the kiln where the brick are set up ready to be burned, thereby making a great saving, as we do not have to handle them when they are in a soft stage and easily defaced. When this system is complete and all other parts works in conformity with this, we will be able to manufacture 30,000 bricks per day with the labor of 30 men. We will install a Benson Automatic Side-Cut Table. It is a splendid machine which works like an automatum. The moving column of clay, imparts motion to the endless belt of the table, adapting itself to the speed of the machine, and insuring a perfect cut whether running fast or slow.

Attached to the reel are arms which carry the cutting wires. These arms fare fitted with steel rollers which fall on the guides on the endless chain belt, or in the descent of the wires through columns of clay, making a perfectly square cut. The endless carrier moving forward, travels down a curved incline which puts the brick so that the ascending wires do not touch them. The replacing of wires, when broken, is easily and quickly accomplished. The brick are delivered to an off-bearing belt, which running at a great speed, separates the brick for convenient handling.

The brick as they come from the cutter, present a fine appearance, straight and true, without any rough edges. A convenient extension supports the brick from the Die-Table, which in case the die should need attention, can be thrown into a verticle position entirely out of the way. It is arranged that while three cars of green brick are taken into the receiving end, three cars of dry brick will be taken out at the discharging end, which enables us to handle 60 cars of 500 brick each, every day. We have 6 Kilns of fifty 50,000 capacity, but will have to rebuild two condemned ones in order to bring the burning capacity up to the making capacity. These brick will be made from slate taken from the coal mine.

It is our hope to have it in operation by July 15th, 1915. ADDENDA A little further down the Yard I came across the Saw-Mill Crew. I put an empliasis on the word SawMill, because it is a golly whopper. But just the same it does all the saw- (Continued on page four) SOCIAL COLUMN Miss Lola Reece, of Lawrence, is visiting her brother, Officer J. C.

Reece of the South Wing. Mr. Frank Merrill, of Paola, was visiting the Deputy Warden C. A. Tolman last week.

Warden Thomas W. Morgan, of the United States Prison, at Leavenworth was here this week and smiled on his old friends. Mrs. W. E.

Fager has returned from Horton where she has been on an extended visit and the Mister's face is radiant with smiles. Mrs. C. R. Piburn has arrived from Kinsley; she and her husband occupy rooms at the Bidwell home.

Mrs. W. A. Harmon and family have arrived and are occupying the building formerly occupied by Dr. Ford.

Mrs. M. B. Rogers has joined her husband and they are happily situated in their new home. Mrs.

Adriance entertained two very charming ladies from Kansas City, Missouri, last week. Mr. "Molley" Stringfellow, is at Lawrence or Toganoxie we do not know which, taking his vacation, and in order to be certain of his whereabouts we have given him plenty of latitude and longtitude. Officer F. E.

Snyder has gone to St. Louis after a parole violater long since wanted, He said to the editor: "'How foolish for men to think that they can beat the game. If they are not caught soon they will be late, and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Mr. Charles Ernst and daughter, Miss Emma, have gone for quite a stay at Excelsior Springs. We are afraid to repeat what he said was his reason for going, for our mail must needs pass through his censorship.

Cards were received here this week announcing the marriage of Miss Lois Harger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Moreau Harger at their home in Abilene, Kansas, to Mr. Ross Isaac Parker, of Schnectady, New York. The bride's tather is Secretary of the Board of Corrections and editor of the Abilene Reflector.

This whole printing force, as well as all the officers of this institution, extend their heartiest well-wishes..