The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-01-18
storm that falls upon it admonishes us tha,

storm that falls upon it admonishes us that
all the money spent in repairing, or ma.
king such roofs, is worse than sQuandered.
The roof on the Female Prison was put
on the same year, is Of the same materials.
and answers no better purpose than the other.
There has been employed on the Build
ng department. from fifty 70 seventy-fye
convic,s during the psst summer, perform
ing ii ,i22 days labor, which, a; the aver
age price of contract labor. would amount
TO the sum Of S5,25i l. That amount,
should properly be added to the amount of
earnings Of the convicts Although We
get no money for the labor Of such men. il
is nevertheless really earning 50 much mon
ey for the State. and should always he coun-
ted with the earnings Of the couyic,s who
are employed at available labor on contracts
The Female prison is located within the
Prison yard, and is really great trouble
TO Us. for the male conyicts have 10 BE-
marched pn>t the building four times each
day. and there is always more or less blind
correspondence passing between them. tl,st
sometimes deties the vigilance Of an officer
and if they are caught (as they often arel
making signs 70 each other, and are punish
lshed, II does not deter them from doing the
same again. lwould therefore recommend
that the said Prison he removed from It's
present location, either on the Prison
grounds near the wall. or ON the outside Of
the enclosure
The wali surrounding the Prison is now
only seventeen feet high, and is easily sea
led with a plank, or short ladder. Ii is
very necessary that the wall should he rais-
ed at least eight feet heigher; and while
on that subject, would respectfully call
your attention to the fact that there Is not
room enough in the present enclosure for
the erection Of sufhicnt shops to cccommo-
date all the convicts when the Prison is up
TO its full capacity We have already as
many convicts u can be worked Ia advan-
taec in the present enclosure, II seems.
therefore 10 be necessary To set back the
north wall a sufficient distance 10 make the
yard large enough TO build the needed shop
room to accommodate the increase of con
vlcts for the next two or three years.
w INT iNp iltIS u Ct!lo hliiSsi'u
in the east wing. which are now in progress
If erection, it will make Cour hundred and
eighty eight calls that can be occupied, to-
wit in the west wing, three hundred and
twenty eight and in the east wing, two
tiers Of eighty each one hundred and sixty
cells II is apparent, therefore, Judging
from the past, that in order to provide cell
accommodation for the large yearly increase
of conyic,s, it will be absolutely necessary
to make provision for finishing up the cast
wing. by building two more tiers Of calls,
making in all SIX hundred and forty-oiGht
calls in the two wings
have carefully prepared the following
tables. which will give correct statistical
history Of the Prison from its commence
ment. IN 1899, 10 the lst day Of December,
1858, period of about twenty years.
should have given some more important Ia
bles had l been able to find all of the back
reports, but those back Of 1850 are not 10
be found ia this Office.
In conclusion, permit me to say. that
connected with this institution there are as
faithful and efficient set Of subordinate
officers as can be found in any institution
of the kind To them | am greatly in
debted for the general good order which has
prevailed in the convict department for tie
past year. Many Of them have been con-
nected with the institution nearly four years,
and therefore are perfectly familiar with the
routine Of duties required Of them. The
confusion and disorder which are always at
tendant upon the operation Of building and
repairing an institution Of this kind, car
ried on, as it must be. in tbei. very midst
has tendency to derange the discipline.
unless closely guarded and watched over by
experienced officers.
Accept my grateful acknowledgements for
tie advice and assistance [ have always re-
ceised from you. in tho discharge Of the
many responsible duties devclving upon me
Respectfully,