The engine room is located on the main street of the institution, and it
is here that power is generated for driving the immense lines of shafting
that radiate through the several departments. The power plant is in charge
of a chief engineer and several inmate assistants, two of whom are life
prisoners, one having charge of the big engine and the other attending to
the electric light plant. Both men are under considerable responsibility,
but they are conscientious workers and have little difficulty in
performing their duties satisfactorily.
The chief engineer has charge of the automatic sprinkling plant, engine,
steam heating, ventilating, cooking, electric light plant, water supply
and all the machinery pertaining thereto. Each of the cells contains an
eight‐candle power lamp, and the shops and streets are provided with
electric lights so that the inmates can see to work during the winter
months. As they are employed from seven in the morning until six in the
evening the year around, lights are often necessitated.