Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1916 — GOVERNOR RALSTON VISITS PENAL FARM [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR RALSTON VISITS PENAL FARM

Pleased With the Results Obtained at the Indiana State Penal Farm the First Year. Governor Samuel M. Ralston and Mrs. Ralston visited Greencastle a short time Wednesday afternoon. They had been at the penal farm during the day to inspect it. It was the first time Governor Ralston had been on the farm and he gave it a thorough inspection and afterwards expressed himself as being more than pleased with the way it is being managed and the progress it has made in a little more than a year’s operation. “I was greatly impressed wdth the progress that had been made,” said the governor, “especially; since the work had to be done practically from the ground up. All the timber for some of the buildings was taken from the farm itself and many other saving plans were carried out. “They have built sewers, a power house, and are now constructing a switch from the Monon railroad to the power house and to other points on the farm. They are quarrying stone and crushing it and have made some lime. The prisoner's have set out several hundred fruit trees and have two or three excellent young orchards. “I confidcntally expect to sep the institution on a self-sustaining basis within four or five years. I am exceptionally well pleased with the management. Some time ago an expert from Wisconsin visited the farm to study it. He is reported to have been well pleased with what he saw. There are only two or three such institutions in the country, you know.”