With these preliminary thoughts, I will now briefly describe the District of Columbia Farm, which less than four years ago was a wilderness in the hills of Virginia, 20 miles south of Washington, D. C. The farm consists of 1150 acres of land, costing the General Government $18 per acre. On this land we have constructed some 30 buildings, consisting of dormitories, dining rooms, lounging halls, hospital, horse and dairy barns. These are all one-story buildings, and are built of wood, with a view of giving ample light and ventilation. The plan for the prisoners is that of the congregate or dormitory system, having no cells, locks or bars about the institution. Two hundred prisoners are taken care of during the night in each dormitory, and as we have 600 male prisoners this requires three buildings. Cots are arranged side by side in these dormitories on raised platforms. Sufficient bedding, consisting of mattress, sheets and pillows, blankets and comforts are given to each prisoner. All the buildings are steam-heated and electric-lighted and have ample water, both hot and cold, in each of the buildings, with a modern and up-to-date sewerage system. During the evening and after the days’ work is done and on Sundays the men are taken to a large building known as the Rest Hall and Library, where they are permitted to talk, play checkers, read the daily newspapers, which are bought for them by the management, and they have access to a library of over 4,000 volumes. On summer evenings and on Sundays the inmates are permitted to take the benches out into the yard where it is possible to enjoy more freedom and have an abundance of fresh air. In one of the buildings referred to there is a shower bath and arrangements where the inmates make their toilets. In this building 125 men can be taken care of at one time. We have no wash basins, but have a faucet for each man, which makes it more sanitary, and the men are also furnished with individual towels and soap. The fact that prisoners are sent to us for short sentences (the time now being from 15 days to three years, our average sentence being 35 days) makes it very necessary and important that the sanitary conditions should be closely looked after, as from 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. of the prisoners sent us, when received, have vermin on their persons. This however is looked after so closely that though we handle from five to six thousand people a year we are absolutely free from vermin in all of the 30 buildings. In working prisoners we give them, from 15 to 20 men, to an officer. His part is to direct this number in a humane and intelligent manner, and to have them understand it is our purpose to be helpful. With such methods we have very little trouble so far as discipline is concerned.