Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-22
For the Democrat.
Stata Prison-Reduction of Expenses.

EDlTOa4 -OAhOChAvi AnAsnh'lth aH me SEltc
Prison has been q prolific source at expense, aud
consequently u the heavy indebtedness hanging
over and depressing the energies IT our Young and
heretofore badly managed State, and having very
recently had occasion To Visit that institution" took
some tr'uble 10 inform mvset With regard Ia lis
former and present management; and t"rthe pur-
pose Of giving the readers IL the DEHucRT the bcI
eft Of my information, | send you this c"nmunca'
tiOn.
Il 10 veil known that Gen. Estcl had the contract
Of kexping the cunVicts aud taking Of the Prls.
on, for hIch be received the enOI nous sum Of ten
- tk0ssaAd 6oVHTs per month am"unting To "mt
AUNdTs4 dRd t~>HtS MoHHd"d d"tars I~r dn"Hm ;
but Gov. WgLLER, pcrceiVinR that continuing such
an extravAgAnt system would inevitably bankrupt
che State asd that nothing sA0rt IL bold and firm
alaud wOsld il. he. like - Old Hickory. when
be rv@oved the dePOsits from the U. = Bank, took
the responsibility, went in p,rson Ia the State Prs
on the first day IL March last, and demanded the
keys and seal Of The same They were REUSED. -
He thea fOrebly took IhrIn from the pOnaesSiOn u
che Warden.
Having taken posse salon Il the Prison, he appoint
ed officers "a act temporarily. until be- could mature
aad Adupt policy TOR the permanent government
" the samo
The syalem aA,Paed BY Gov. WELLER. Er twn
moutha, commencing on the irst day Of March aud
endiAg 60 the laat day O( April, ls5S. The guard
hes beeu ineT~aAe1 ten men, aud during these tive
meaaha n0G q aiaRle pTsOner has escaped. (as Was
inEwmed BY The Senilen'Anly Warden. Mr.. Charles
Rab1us0u, an :urrencc that has no parallel in lie
history II the ins. i;uiiOn. lie informed tire that
ai,e. hia connecli with the Prison, which has
been e0g the last four years, there had MT month
I,aased Without 0u or TaOre escaping.
I~as sHE~rmea By Major Mckay, whom the Gov
ernOr has appointed Comnssary, that the entire 'r-
D~AAts u the Tris,a, Notwithstanding the i"cTraa'
" guards fIr the month IL March. did not reach
Asrea tAOSSnG &,!LITs. which inchded abe purchase
Of material for clothing shoes and for the nechan-
les. For the month II April the expenses amount
ed N but tC<Ath -tArO hundred dOITN This il prob
IL al. - a. fk-nR
penacs will nsG exceed t5,'Vn per month under the
contract system thew were eln.G~; besides, as S,N
As the system adopted by the Governor gets fairly
into operation, would not be SURPRISED Il the labor
Of The eOnvic,s WO0ld neaHy dcfFay tie whale ex-
pensea, q hey are now preparing TO manufacture
all their clothing; and also. bricks, for which
they anA ready market
They have 81 present sufficient dirt thrown up n
make ix miliO1s II brick, and are now making
10000 per day.
Much has bern done IN promote the cOnve Aience,
comfort aud health Of the Prison, By order al the
GOveraOf. The Prison yard which, heretofore. had
great depressons in it, that when II rancd large
pools Of water would be found In every part Of it.
nov proper sewers and drains have bccn made, the
yard nlled up snd sodded with grass, presenting q
CheesGA. heGlthGGl and pleasant appearance, For
merIy the Prison walls were connected I'm the out
eide with the hills the North and South, so that
prisoner might walk from the wall oil on to tho
hill. a6ordinR great fAcilidcs iUr escaping; now
there is . vide wagon rOad runuinS between the
The long building where the prisoners sleep, for
meFly single rom, IL NOV divided intn six there
BY promoting health by diminishing the number
who occupy aad sleep In the same room. All the
rooms arc nov In = neat, comfortable, healthy con
ditiOn, and Whitewashed.
The salutAEy effect Of the new administers
ton IL no pIace more perceptibls than in the Hos
pitAl Department. Formerly the hospital was crowd
ed with sck, nearly ell the time, nov there Onl.
10 or twelve, out Of $50, the whole number OF con
victs in the Prison at this time The Prisoners, In
stead Of being half-stHrved as formerly, are nov
well.fed on wholesome food, having for breakfast
beet, beans, bread and water; for dinner, potatOe
and neat In stews with bread for supper, bread
cOd6sh aud potatoes, which b changed TO suit con
Eenisncs.
The prisoners are now we'll clothed; and here
will Nv yoa memorandum Of clothing maAufac
tured and Iasusa during the month Of April, which
was faraiahed me By the courtesy OF Mr.. Robinson
the WaF3aa: Shirts, lei; Paats, So; Shoes, o.
pairs b addiCieA 10 which l94 pairs have been re
paired ed Nado a. good ~ new,-thus showing
very great reduction In the expenses Ot every dc
pertment aud which 10 feet relieving our State from
heavy burden, and must add another laurel 4
Gov. WELLR1. His management Of the State Priu
on Will long be TOmOmbered and appreciated BY tn
people In fact new era has been inaUgeratedA
Hew State policy adopted which will result credits
bly, 70 the Governor, the State, and the Democrat
TiorROt to mention that there are tailOrs and
shoemskers constantly employed. Yours, D.
Nay 10, 1855.