American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-15
ANNUAL REPORT


or THE
DIRECTORS OF THE ND. PENIrENTlARY
We have received the annual report of the
Directors of the Maryland Ponitentiary for the
past year, made to the Governor, and by him
laid before the Legislature on Tuesday. 1t
gives a satisfactory account Of the management
of the Institution during the year, and shows
its affairs to be in prosperous condition. The
following is an abstract of the document:
On the 30th November, 1874, there were $50
convcts in the prison, and in the year ending
the 30th Nov last 50 were received, making
379; of these 10 have been discharged, their
terms of service having expired; 7 were par
doned, e by ex-Prcsident Tyler, by ex-Go-
vernon Thomas, and . by Gov. Pratt;) and IA
died, leaving in prison on the 30th Nov. last,
2S7. OF the Ia deaths, very large proper
ton died of chronic diseases, with which they
were afflicted previous to entering the prison.
The health Of the prisoners, generally, has been
remarkably good, and with the exception of
three or four cases Of varioloid, of light type,
there has been no contagious disease or epide-
mic among the prisoners
The discipline of the prison has been mildly
but energetically administered. The reports Of
the Warden, William Johnson, Esq, have been
of the most satisfactory character, and his 60
vernment Of the institution deserving of decided
appreciation. The prisoners are orderly, per-
form their work willingly, and never has their
labor been greater. 1t Is believed there is not
now better regulated prison i'll the U. States
than the Maryland Penitentary.
The dormitory and workshops erected a few
years ago are admirably adapted to the moral
and physical improvement Of the convicts, by
a separate confinement of the males. The fe-
male department and male hospital, which by
law Of 1887, it was designed also TO improve,
were suffered to remain under the old and Vi
tiated system OF almost unrestraned intercourse
among the inmates, until March last, when the
directors decided to improve them as far as the
means would allow by which the crowdng OF
some half dozen into room at night to sleep,
and assocating together during TIE day, are
avoided.
The west wing Of the female department,
erected in 1909, for the confinement at night of
the convicts of both sexes, has been materially
altered in its internal arrangement. That por-
ton of the second story, previously used as a
female hospital, has been enlarged by taking
into it two of the dioining cells, and the room
- fitted up for workshop for the women. The
hospital has been removed to the cells ad DIN
ing the rooms appropriated for the matron, and
cells in the third story is occupied by females,
separately, at night. The old workshop has
been taken down, and wash-housc erected in
the yard near the new workshop. The other
old buildings have also been removed and the
yard properly paved and laid of into grass nlats
for bleaching clothes, sc.
The male hospital in the third story of the
west wing has been enlarged by taking in two
adjoining cells, making room 5 feet inches
by 8 feet, with an inspection avenue along the
centre for the guard officer, and alcoves on
each side Of the hospital, in which patients will
be put singly. The hospital kitchen has been
provided with hot water apparatus, put up in
admirable manner, under the supervision of
Messrs. Fuller s Pasteriield, plumbers, of this
city, whicK affords hot and cold water for the
hospital and bath house at all times, and by 9TH
er pipes the hot and cold water is carried Down
into the female hospital, to supply that depart
ment. A dry house has been erected in the
yard of the mems ,,.ops, which ensures
the safety of the O Sings, and renders
more speedy the pr, oil drying. The yard
has of necessity been reg. AIDED and suitable
smoke house erected, III the work Of these
improvements, with slight exception was
done by the convcts, under the faithful super
|. attendance of MIR. John N Murphy, of this
4 city. The whole cost was $5,56L04.
Religious instruction is secured to the con-
victs by the voluntary services Of several min
listers of different denominations and by stated
preaching on the Sabbath by ministers of the
NJ. E. Church. The convict is allowed to re-
ceive instruction from ministers of any denom-
nation he pleases.
The report speaks favorably of the effect of
the discipline Of the institution on the morals
of the prisoners, 1t is desirable that all who
can read should be furnished with books, and
if practicable library be established. The
Maryland Branch of the American Tract So
ciety, Miss DIX, a benevolent young lady of
New England, and number of other indvdu-
ais, have made donations of valuable books, so
that the prisoners, when not employed, can, if
they think proper, be engaged in reading. The
report strongly urges that the jailsystem ofthe
State be changed, and new Jail for Baltimore
city and county be erected, so as to prevent the
intercourse that now necessarily takes place
among tue prisoners confined in them. On
this subject the report says:
! "Ihe evil OF this is not so manifest in the
4. jails Of the counties, but in that OF Baltimore
City and County it is one which materially de-
feats the benevolent designs of the State ia
erecting this Pentcntiary. About two-thirds
OF the convicts here come from that iail. We
lave understood, and we believe, that the
management o! it is as good as it can be under
the present arrangement of It's buildings The
whole evil arises in the want of separate looms
or cells for TIE confnemen. Of its inmates. so