The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-22
THE STATE PRISON.

ana Il. III. IRAsK mas been made exhibiting
tho condition of that Institution, for the fis-
cal year ending, Nov. 30th, 1855.
The total receipts of the Prison Agents
during the year, amounted TO 36, l3, in
Guiding $1,000, received by the late Agent
during the previous year on account of the
solitary prison fund, ofwhich the unexpended
balance is $4l8 70, tho remainder having
been appropriated for brick, turned over by
the present Agent to the Building Commits
sioner. The total amount reported in the
monthly statements of Agents. as expended
during the year, has been $37,3l7 so. Of
the receipts, the amount from contractors, for
convict labor. has been $l7 $40 sc, in addi-
tion to which there has been received for ar
ticlcs sold, and other products of convict Ia
Dor $f05 SO; from the United States for sup
porting convicts s6l5 SO; from visitors $602
AS; from the State Treasurer 81 900; from
PINNEY Il LAMpsoN, Contractors, during the
month of December 1854, 1854, which said
Contractors, however refuse to pay; from
WALTER FIsn, Contractor, $780, which he
refuses to pay. The absolute receipts, de-
Quoting that remaining in the hands of Con-
tractors, leaves the sum of SI9I427 32 as the
amount of the earnings of conriets in the en-
ploy of Contractors, and other persons during
the fiscal year, received and applied to the
current expenses of the State Prison.
The number of prisoners at the beginning
of the year was 246; at its close 304; aver
age number received during the year lO3.
The aggregate amount expended for ra-
tions and provisions during the year was SAIL
l2S l6, an excess of S2,306 AZ over 1851;
ofa Il, L l.
800 90, an excess of l3 cents over 1854; the
expense weekly IS 3-4c, an excess of one
fourth of a penny.
The aggregate amount expended for all
purposes except building and repairs was $34,-
| 6l2 81.
The report ofthe Agent, made to the Leg
islaturc in January last, states that he found
many of the convicts in filthy and ragged
condition, and all without sufficient clothing;
the cells in dilapidated and wretched state
and the bedding nearly worn out and worth
less In consequence of which state of things,
many items of expenditure were necessarily
incurred by him which would not have been
called for, had the previous agent done his
duty As another item Of unusual expense,
the breaking out Of the small pox occasioned
an outlay for pcst-houscs and nurses of $275,
and 5000 was expended in rc-capturing two
convicts who escaped, owing to the fact that
the old prison was undergoing repairs. A
quantity of personal property, to the amount
of$2, 500, consisting of striped cloth for prison
uniforms, wood, medicines, beds and bedding
blankets and furniture for the female prison
is on hand, unconsumcd and fit for use. The
prison is well furnished and the convicts well
clothed. Their health appearance and dsci-
plinc are good.
Since the 10th of February last, matron
has been employed to take charge of the fe-
male prisoners, at an annual salary of $500,
and some additional expenses necessary to
keeping the two sexes apart have been in
Cured.
The present Legislature, at its last session,
raised the salaries of the agent, deputy, clerk,
twelve keepers chaplain and physician, in
the aggregate $1,000. The want of sufi-
cient number of cells to confine the convcts,
and the taking off the roof of the prison and
putting on a new one, required an additional
keeper and guards. Tho Inspectors are led
by the increasing number of convicts, to en-
quire how they arc to be in future employed.
Under Pinney IL Lampsons contract, l02
were kept at work in manufacturing farming
TOOLS IS by David, Austin &c Co. in wagon
making, 2S by Walter Fish upon boots and
shoes, and 35 have been employed during
the season by the Building Commissioner.
Pinney " Lampson's contract calls for from
80 to 100 convicts, at 81 cents per day, and
will expire on the Sd April 1858, that Of
Davis, Austin & Co. from so to 80 convicts
at 3s cents day will expire on the Sd April
| 1851; that Of Fish, 20 convicts at 35 cents
day will expire on the goth September, 1857.
| Under direction of the Board of Inspectors,
the agent in November last caused notices to
| be published in pursuance Of the statute, in
viting proposals for from 20 to so convicts,
to be employed as bidders might wish, if not
inconsistent with the Constitution Of tho
| State. Three bids, only were received, as in
consequence of the provision that no mcchan-
| ical trade shall hereafter be taught to con-
yicts in the State Prison of this State, except
| the manufacture Of those articles, Of which
the chief supply for home consumption is i'm
ported from other States, or countries, con-
tractors arc unwilling to run the risk ofinves-
ting capital upon the doubtful hazard Of en-
countering an unfavorablc construction ofths
provision, which thus operates as material
| embarrassment TO the management Of this in
stitution
The Inspectors state that the Agent and
officers Of the prison have devoted much at
tcntion 10 cleanliness and ventilation, but
they regret that the water supply of the pris-
on is so small coming through lead pipe Of
one inch diameter from spring at half a mile
di,tant, as TO be totally inadequate for the
purpose Of bathing and they recommend the
immediate construction Of fcisterns Of fsufficient
capacity to contain the water for the uses Of