Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-11-10

ut tHo pcllLeutdry, put
 o1ndings and grounds, a contrae- 6f would have to incur considerable ex Pense for such things as we'll as for pro- isions.
 To supply the institution with water, a new we'll has been dug, and cistern with capacity to hold forty or fifty thousand gallons of water, has been constructed within the walls of the penitentary A suitable force pump has been properly fixed to the cistern, and good leather hose, three hun dred feet long, has been procured to at tach to the pump, and be used in case of fire.
 It will be seen by the report of the keep CTS of the penitentiary that they admonish the authorities of the state that additional room will be required for keeping the con victs, and that additional workshops are necessary for the institution.
 Compare the condition of the peniten- tiary now with what it was on the 17th Feb ruary, 1853. There were then but 84 cells for convicts in building covered with shin gles, and inclosed bya board or plank fence. Since the l7th of February, 1853, the large, high and substantial stone wall, forming a square of 300 feet, has been constructed around the penitentiary buildings; the building containing the cells has been built five feet higher than 1t was, and eighty-four additional cells constructed in 10; and the whole covered with good slate roof. two large workshops, hospital, and messroom, and large smoke house, all have been built, in the best manner of brick and covered with slate, and the old build ing containing the cells was also repaired. For the materials and the construction of the wall and all of these substantial build ings, and for safely keeping the convicts, and furnishing them with food, bedding, clothing, and when sick, with medicines and medical attendance, from the 17th Febru- 'ary, 1858, to the 25th January, 1859, the state paid $S1 PAS %. And the wall and all the buildings constructed are of per manent and enduring character, and are now, and will be for years to come, worth more to the state than the Improvements cost. The General Assembly acted wisely in having these improvements made, and they stand as monuments to show that the state has full value for the money which the General Assembly appropriated to build them. When we take into consideration the facts that the State of Arkansas, during the last few years. has been rapidly increas- ing in population, and that the increase to the taxable property of the state during the two years, 1859 and 1860, amounts. alone, to a sum equal to what the total value of all the taxable property in the state was for the year 1852, and that our state trea- sury is abundantly supplied with gold and silver to pay all ordinary expenses of the state, we cannot fail to rejoice at such evi dences of prosperity, and feel proud of our growing state. It is gratifying to know that our state has the means to pay for enlarging the penitentiary, erecting work shops; buying machinery, and converting the institution into manufacturing estab- liShment, which would render it a source of revenue instead of tax upon the trea- sury IL seems to the executive that true economy requires the adoption of such & policy. To the reports of the superin- fendent and of the chaplain of the peniten- tisry, your attention is respectfully invited. The trustees and the superintendent of "the Arkansas Institute for the Blind" have |. made very interesting reports, which merit, sad it is hoped, will receive your careful
 siaeration. The aid and encouragement
 si sharld be frealY ersnted to the insti.