The Rockview farm territory was finally decided upon by the warden, and when he asked the governor and the prison inspectors to view that site it was unanimously decided to accept it. Options were secured on over 5,000 acres, but some little technicality developed and it became necessary to reoption the big tract comprising 40 parcels of ground. It was finally purchased at an average cost of less than $50 an acre. Payment was made direct to the owners by the State treasurer. The first work on the new prison was done in July, 1912. At that time Warden Francies took one prisoner from the Western Penitentiary to the farm and put him to work tearing paper from the walls of the old home on the Ishler farm. A week later two more prisoners were taken up and the next week four, to be followed a week later by eight prisoners. After that the prisoners were taken up as needed. The old Ishler home was thoroughly renovated and changed to suit their needs. As the number of prisoners increased, the needs became greater and last September work was begun on the erection of a larger building. An annex was built to the home. It will later be known as the merit house. The annex is a two-story concrete building and is regarded as one of the finest pieces of reinforced concrete construction in the State. It is practically one piece. The first floor contains a bath room, with numerous showers, a dining room and kitchen. The second floor contains one large room which, although now occupied as sleeping quarters, will be a resting room. In the old farm house now occupied as sleeping quarters the prisoners will sleep when matters are adjusted later. Fifty men will find accommodations in the merit house. The concrete in this building will later be faced, giving it the appearance of dressed stone construction. Every bit of stone and sand in the construction of this annex was taken from the farm. In fact, stone and sand for all buildings and roads will be quarried on the farm. Only cement will be purchased. A pen and corn crib near the home was removed and the best material saved and used in the construction of a machine shop and laundry. An old barn and other outbuildings likewise furnished lumber for a power house and other temporary buildings. Timber worth $3,500 has been taken from the woods on one tract and converted into lumber needed about the place. It is estimated that a like amount can be cut from the same tract. Although the woods on this farm comprised only a small part of the acreage, the farm cost the State only $16,000 and in addition to the lumber taken from it, thousands of dollars worth of limestone has been quarried.