The Placer herald., 1857-03-07
Report.
Of the Committee of the Assembly on
State Prison affairs.


Mr.. SpEAKER.-Your committee to whom
was confded the investigations concerning
the State Prison, beg leave to report:
Five of our number consisting of Messrs
Rogers, Shuler, Edwards, Jessup and McKune
were directed by resolution of the Assembly
to proceed to the state Prison at Point San
Quentin and make personal examination in
to the affairs of our Penetentary, with full
power to send for persons and papers, and
to administer oaths.
That subcommittee, on the 9th day OF
January last, proceeded to make their inves-
legations. They found the prison under the
control of James M. Estell, under con
tract dated March Goth, 1856 with r. M
Anderson, G. w. Whitman and Henry Bates
Board of State Prison Commissioners, and a
supplementary agreement made April Sd,
same year between the same parties.
The act of 1856, (Session laws, page 49,
under which that contract was made pro-
vides for the making of such a contract and
authorizes the Commissioners to pledge the
State to pay sum for keeping the prisoners
not exceeding $4,000 per month; the Act
also appropriates the sum of $4,000 per
|
that amount, in accordance with the con-
tract to be made by the Board of Commits
sioners
BY the term of the contract the State
Prison property, consisting of SO acres OF
land, prison and houses, and all Improvements
also, all shipping, vessels, boats, fixtures, i'm
plements, TOOLS furniture, stock, and all 9TH
er property Of the State, connected with
the prison, with the labor of the prisoners,
were farmed to Mr. Estell for the term of
five years and the Commissioners agreed on
behalf of the State to pay ten thousand dol
lars per month for the safe keeping of the
prisoners, in addition to the lease of said
| property.
BY the Act referred to the Board of Com
missioners were required to perform certain
duties in attending to the police of the pris-
on. They were required to visit the prison
from time to time and examine into its gov
ernment, and from personal observation and
conference with the Directors to change,
alter or abolish such rules and regulations as
in their judgement might be found necces-
sary.
The State Prison Directors were required
by law to give their daily attention to the
enforcement of such rules and regulations.
The Lessee of the Prison by the terms of
his contract, agreed to receive and take
charge of all convicts confined in the prison
at the date of his contract, or any other
State Prison which may be established: and
also to receive and take charge Of all who
might be convicted and sentenced or com
mitted to imprisonment in the State Prison
during the same term of five years, and that
he would safely keep the said convicts as re-
qured by law in said prison or prisons, for
the said term of five years at his own
cost and expense.
lie further agreed to establish and erect
such buildings, prisons and walls, and make
such other improvements on the State lrls-
on grounds, or those purchased by the State
for that purpose, as would conduce to the
safety and convenience of the properly keep
mo, securing, working, clothing, feeding and
medical attendance for the State convicts,
without cost to the State And he further
agreed to furnish the State Prison Directors
with fuel and provisions when necessarily
residing at the prison.
CONDITION OF TIE PRISON GROUNDS
BY referring to the report on State lris-
on by joint committee of Senate and AS
semby, printed and bound with appendix to
Assembly journal for 1856, it will be seen
that the title a portion Of the prison grounds
was in dispute at the time that report was
made. Your committee have not ascertain
ed that any steps have been taken by the
State to clear up the clouds upon the title
mentioned in that report, and the matter
will claim your further attention.
The selection of Point San Quentin as a
site for the State Prison although it has
some natural advantages, was, in our opinion
i'll advised The situation of the prison
upon a point Of land nearly surrounded by
water may enable fewer men to guard to
the prisoners scattered over a large
surface than if situated farther in the inte-
rior but practically but little benefit is derived
from such location. The county Of Marin
is thnly settled and but little aid can be de-
rived from citizens in case Of an enoate. The
immediate vicinity of the prison issd uneven
that persons outside the wall can readily
secrete themselves, and at no great distance
are hills covered with chappare. If any
person escape to those hills he may secrete
himself for any length Of time, and escape
at leisure.
The prison is neither located on any great
throuohfare of the State, nor in a central
position and the consequence is that there is
much more difficulty and expense in trans
hitting persons than would exist at sacra a
mento or San Francisco. Sheriffs taking
persons to San Quentin from the northern
counties are compelled usually to stay at
San Francisco one night and then run the
risk of getting boat to proceed to Sar
Quentin next day. In the mean time in adj
dition to the expense, there is additional diff
Guilty in securely keeping the prisoners "
But the expense of building the prison a
that point having been incurred, it would Be
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