The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-02-01


We have already expended considerable
money in repairing the same; but every
storm that falls upon it admonishes, and all
the money spent in repairing and making
such roofs, is worse than squandered.
The roofon the Female Prison was put
on the same year, is of the same material
and answers no better purpose than the
other.
There has been employed on the build
ing department from fifty to seventy five
convicts during the past summer, perform
ing IL, ,422 days labor, which Mt the aver
ago prics Of contract labor, would amount
to the sum of $5,554 l2. That amount
should properly be added TO the amount of
earnings Of tho convicts. Although we
get no money for the labor Of such men,
it is nevertheless really earning so much
money for tho State, and should always be
counted with the earnings of the convicts
who are employed at available y. -
contracts.
The Female prihon is located within the
Prison yard, and is really great trouble
to us, for the male convicts have TO be
marched past the building four times a
day, and there is always more or less blind
correspondence passing between them, that
sometimes defies the vigilence of an officer,
and if they are caught (as they often are)
making signs to each other, and are pun
ished, it docs not deter them from doing
the same again. would therefore recon,
mend that the said Prison be removed from
its present location, either on the Prison
grounds near the wall, or on the outside of
the enclosure.
The wall surrounding the Prison is now
only seventeen feet high, and is easily
scaled with plank, or short ladder. 1t is
very necessary that the wall should be
raised at least eight feet higher; and while
on that subject, l would respectfully call
your attention to the fact, that there is not
room enough in the present enclosure for
the erection of sufficient shops to accom-.
date all the convicts when the Prison is
up to its full capacity. We have already
as many convicts as can be worked to ad-
vantage in the present enclosure, il seems,
TO be necessary to set back the
north wall sufficient distance to make the
yard large enough to build the needed shop
room to accommodate the increase of con.
victs for the next three years.
When the two tiers of cells are finished
in tho east wing, which are now in pro.
gress of erection, it will make four hun
ired and eighty-eight cells that can be oc-
,upied, to wit: in tho west wing, three
hundred and twepty-eight; and in the east
wing, 1.-TWO tiers of eighty each,) one hun.
lrcd and sixty cells. 1t is appai ent there
fore, judging from the past, that in order
10 provide cell accommodation for the large
yearly increase of ccnvicts, it will be abso-
utely necessary 10 make provision for fin
shing up the east wing, by building two
more tiers Of cells, making in all six hun
lred and forty eight cells in the two wings.
have carefully prepared the following
;ablos, which will give a correct statistical
history Of the Prison from its commence
nent, in 1889, to the lst day of December
1853, period of about twenty years. /
hould have given some more important
ables had been able to find all the back
epofts, but those back of 1850 arc not to
)e found in this Office.
In conclusion, permit me to say, that
with this institution there are
Is faithful and efficient set of subordin-
.tc officers as can he found in any instiiu-
ion of the kind. To them am greatly
Indebted for the general good order which
las prevailed in the convict department
or the past year. Many of them have
,ecn connected with the institution nearly
our years, and therefore are perfectly ia
nilliar with the routine Of duties required
# them. Tho confusion and disorder
which are always attendant upon the oper.
tion of building and repairing an instilu-
ion of this kind, carried on, as il must be,
n their very midst, has tendency to do.
ange the diciplinc, unless closely guarded
nd watched over by experienced officers.
Accept my grateful acknowledgements
Or the advice and assistance l have always
ecsved from you, in the discharge Of tho
many responsible duties devolving upon me.
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