The stockade is an enclosure, or pen, made with posts or sticks stuck in the ground. It is generally a temporary affair. These are to be found in the South and Southwest mostly. Here is where the worst treatment is to be found among the prisoners. Some of the southern states are providing better for their prisoners, but others are far behind what they should be. A stockade is sometimes made on the top of a mountain or in some suitable place for working mines. In these southern states not only mining is carried on by the prisoners, but building of roads, railroads, and such like. For instance, where a railroad is being built, large cars are roughly and strongly built in which the prisoners are locked when not at their work. Women in some of these places are required to clear the land, roll logs, do drudgery, and in many instances are so shamefully used and treated that it is a disgrace to a civilized nation. But while such is the case there are noble men and women who are not connected with the prison, as well as many of the more noble prison officers who have been working faithfully for years to bring about a prison reform, and much has been done and is being done on that line. However, could the veil be drawn aside that all might fully realize the situation, the reformation would be more rapid and effective. The stockades do not have literary privileges as a general thing as do our older and well-established prisons. We have received communications from officers in these stockades who are very anxious to have good literature placed at their disposal, assuring us that the same would be highly appreciated and used to the advantage of the prisoners. THE CHAIN GANG. It is not an uncommon thing to see a chain gang of prisoners, especially about the stockades. Sometimes they are marched to and from their work shackled with handcuffs, while others are fastened with clanking chains. There are also men to be found with iron bands or rings welded around their necks, to which a chain is fastened with the other end of the chain attached to a ball to prevent their escape. These are generally the most desperate characters. To those who are acquainted with such scenes it is shocking indeed, and creates a feeling of pity and sympathy which calls for a more humane treatment in behalf of the poor unfortunates. There are men who serve almost an entire term of sentence in stocks or irons, or go to their work in the chain gang, because of a lack of proper provision of accommodations on the part of the state or government, or by unjust, inhumane treatment.