Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-24
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
(0FMoTAL PAPER or TIE OfTY)

facts in regard to that institution
On the S0th September, 1851, there were in the
prison 10
conyiets received up to September 80, 1855, 70
Total lOl
or this number one-an Irishman--died dis
charged by expiration of service, 90 number par.
doned, IL ; one escaped-in all 36-which left at
the last date referred to, SO.
The employment Of these convcts is thus sta
4. ted
Shoemaking 40 broom making, barber,
cooking 2; steward, / ; tailoring, labor, 81
women shoebinding and washing, 8 /; farmed out
laborers, a.
There were from Virginia, Is !; Maryland, Is
District of Columbia, 43; Germany, 4 Switzer-
land, Prussia, / !; Ireland, Illinois, South
Carolina, | England, Cuba, |.
The remainder from twenty different parts of
the world.
The statistics of crime show the following Lr-
son, 6 attempt to forge bank notes, arson and
larceny, assault and battery, l ditto with i'm
tent TO kill, g ditto with intent to commit the
objectionable sin, Q; burglary, 8 bigamy,
forgery, 8 false pretences A kidnapping, lar
ceny, 40 murder, mans!aughter, 2 robbing
the United States mail, 8; mutiny, 5 perjury,
passing counterfeit coin, ditto ditto money, |
rape, stolen goods, 5.
The Indebtedness, about Sic, 900, embraced in
previous report as having existed previous to
Mr.. T.'s appointment, has been paid $7l86 90
by special act of Congress- and the residse from
collections Of moneys due the institution.
y The present debt of 81, l40 is for the quarter
ending 30th ult. To discharge this, there is cash
at command, $l3,8l2; being ample to support the
Pententary for-the residue of the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1855.
The manufacture of shoes constitutes the prn-
cipal employment, which is disadvantageous to the
goYernment-the shoes having to be disposed of
g. 49,. 4 - \
sell them for cash at anything like a fair price.
The manufacture of carriages and cabinet work,
in the absence of all machinery, was found ul-
profitable, being unsuitable for the market Under
these circumstances il was deemed advisable to
farm out" the labor of the convicts employed in
the carpenter shop, which is now done under the
sixth section of the act Of Congress- approved
March Sd, lS29-with what results remains to be
seen.
The warden next calls attention to the fact that
there is no engine, hose, or apparatus of any kind
FOR the extinguishment of fire on the premises
This ia set forth with truth and urgency The gal
leries leading to the prisoners cells to heghth
of four stories from the ground are composed of
wood. In the event Of their taking fire when the
convicts in the cells all approach by the officers
or egress by the unfortunate prisoners, would be
hopelessly cut OIL and the loss of life must be APP
paling. To avoid this, light iron galleries should
be substituted for the wooden ones which would
only cost about $4,000.
The Importance of furnaces for heating the pris-
on is shown and advocated earnestly.
The wreck of the old diapidated wharf next
claims notice. About three thousand dollars would
be necessary to rebuild structure of SO much i'm
portance to the institution
Mr. Thornley, then renews his suggestions adj
SAnced in his previous report to allow each convict
pro rata OF his earnings being discharged
This would add to the discipline of the prison. and
nxar n mn uarf,,1 la, - -
formation of the convict. Under the present sys-
tenn the prisoner has incentive to labor beyond
the fear of punishment.
The female department, now under the matronly
care OF Mrs. Marceron is in state of perceptiblc
Improvement and the appointment proves highly
gratifying. The exercises of the Sabbath are reg
ularly conducted under the guidance of the chap
lain, the Rev. Mr.. Richards, whose earnestness
sincerity, and frankness commands the attention
of his most thoughtless hearers.
The present Criminal Court has added several
to the prisoners There are now in all II. Males
80 whites, 70 colored females, whites, colered
vi the number of inmates at present in the PEN
itentary, there are no less than four boys one of
them thirteen years of age!
VENTILATION OF THE HoUsE.-Cannot some mode
be adopted to effect thorough ventilation of the
Representatives Chamber In the winter season,
the atmosphere is as nosome at the opening of the
iousc as III usually Is AFTER several hours
The fires are kept up all night and the bad air of
the previous day is thus literally cooked and served
up again on the following day. And this process
goes on from day to day. and from week to
week, until the very paint on the walls begin to
turn black with the noisome atmosphere.
No wonder that members and reporters complain
OF headaches, indigestion, and even more serious
ills. The wonder is that they alive at all, after
breathing for weeks and months so pestilential an
atmosphere.
We hope, therefore, that some means NAV
speedily be devised to effect thorough ventilation
of the House. Every phianthropist, we are sure,
viii give his vote for it and we are informed that
there are an unusually large number Of philantbro-
psts In the present House.
On reference to our advertising columns will be
seen the announcement for ball to take place on
Monday evening next, the 2Sth instant at Numbers
Assembly Hall. We feel pleasure in calling the at |
tenton of our fellowctzens to this ball. from the
fact of its being for the benefit of the suffering
poor of our city The ball is gotten up by that
line company OF our citizen sodiery--the Wash |
ngton Highanders, who are ever foremost to as
sist the cause of suffering humanity. We remem-
Der, with much pleasure the substantial assistance
rendered the poor last year by the Highlanders,
when they handed over the handsome sum of one
hundred dollars to each ward in the CITY, We |
trust our fellow-citiZens viii respond in liberal
spirit to the appeal now made to them for the pre-
sent unusually severe weather is infcting great
privations upon the poor. We cordially wish the
gallant Highanders every success in this their work
of beneyoence.
UNITED STATES SUPREME CoURT.-January 2Sd. |
The following cases were before the United States
Supreme Court to-day:
No. %. Jacob Bissell u.s. the President and Board
of Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools.
Judge Catron delivered the opinion of the Court, |