The Van Buren press., 1860-11-23
Governors Msssage.
no-xs,u>1

AS the St1te uOeS NOT own any OF tn0
bedding, clothing. furniture. tools, or im-
plements in use at the penitentiary. but
only the buildings and grounds. contrac-
tor would have to incurconsiderable expense
for such things as well rs for provisions.
To supply the institution with water. .
new we'll has been dug, and cistern with
capacity to hold forty or fifty thousand gall
Ions of water. has been constructed within
the walls of the penitentiary. A suitable
force pump has been properly fixed to the
cistern, and good leather hose. 300 feet long.
hss been procured to attach to the pump,
and be used in case Of FIRE.
It will b, seen by the report of the keep
ers Of the penitentiery that they admonish
the authorities Of tho. state that additional
room will hs required Tor keeping The con-
yicts. md that additionaf workshops are
necessary for the institution.
Compare the condition of the peniten-
tiary now with what it was on the 17th
February. 1853. There were then but 81
cells for convicts. in building covered
with shingles. and inclosed by board or
plank fence Since the 17th February. 1852,
the large, high and substantial stone wall.
forming square of 800 feet. has been con-
structed around the penitentiary buildings;
the building containing the cells has been
built five feet higher than it was, and eighty
four additional cells constructed in it; and
the whole covered with good slate roof.
two large workshops, hospital. and mess
room, and large suoks-house. all have
been built. in the best manner, Of brick
and covered with slate. and the old building
containing the cells was also repaired. For
the materials and the construction Of the
wall and all of these substantial buildings,
and for safely keeping the convicts. and
furnishing them with food. bedding. cloth
ing. and when sick. with medicines and
medical attendance, from the 18th February,
1858. to the 25th January. 1859. the state
paid $Sl ,24S 90. And the wall, and all
the buildings constructed are Of perma-
nent and enduring character, aud are now.
and will be for years to come. worth more
to the state than the improvements cost.
The General Assemble acted wisely in hav-
ing 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, du-
ring the EAST few years. has been rapidly
increasing IN population. and that the in
crease to the taxable property Of the state
during the two years. 1859. and 1850.
amounts. alone. to a sum equal to what tn,
fatal value of all the taxable property in
the state was for the year 1852. anl that
our state treasury is abundantly supplied
with Unld and silver to psv oil nr.iinaEx AZ
penscs OF the State. We cannot fail to re-
joice at such evidences of prosperity, and
feel proud of our gro wing state. 1t is graf
ifying to know that onr state has the means
to pay for enlargng the penitentiary. erect
ing work shops. buying machinery. and
converting the institution into q manufac-
turing establishment, which would rendeI
it source of revenue insteal of a tex upon
the treasury. Itseems to the ex,:u,ive that
true economy requires the adoption of such
a policy. To the reports of the superin.
tendent and o. the chaplain of the peniten-
tiary, your attention is respectfully invited
The trustees and the superintendent o
1.-THE Arkansas Institute for the Blind" have
made very interesting reports which merit.
and it is hoped. will receive your careful
consideration. The aid and encouragement,
asked should be freely granted to the insti
without failure. 1t is the duty of the state
to encourage such Institutions; and it has
abundance of means to make such liberia
provision as would render the institution
permanently useful.
I The state owns block of beautiful lots
some two or three hundred yards south o
the penitentiary, and adjoining the western
boundary of the city of Little Rock. in ,
high and healthy locality. 1t is recon
mended that liberal appropriation of mon
ey be made 70. the construction of suitable
buildings upon this block of ground. TO
!. an asylum for insane and lunatic persons
and that proper legislation be had upo,
the subject, to regulate and sustain i
when established. Such an institution i
much needed. and if established. would re.
: lieve the counties from the care of insan,
and lunatic persons. The counties have n,
) suitable buildings or facilities for tskin,
care of such unfortunate persons; many o
whom. with proper care and medical treat
ment, might be restored to sanity.
Your attention is invited to communi
cation from the commissioner of the genera
land Office. dated August 22i. 1850. upo,
the subject of the joint resolution of tn
General Assembly of the State of Arkan
sas. approved 4th February. 1859. relativ
to procuring for this state, complete list
of al lands in the State Of Arkansas, tha
have been ceoded, granted, sold. donste
or otherwise disposed Of BY the genera
government; together with list Of all III
entries. grants or locations that heve bee
cancelled or set aside." "aud the probabl
cost of obtaining such lists. and whethe,
in his opinion, the obtaining Of such list
by tho state would be Of advantage thereto
and warrant the cost of obtaining tn
same" The commissioner states that
would be work Of great magnitude. an
involve an expense. which. in his opinion
would not be warranted BY any benefit th
State might expect or derive therefrom.
To the report of the swamp land secretsr
and the recommendations therein mad,
your attention is respectfully invited. B
it you will ses that the work Of reclaimin
swamp and overAowsd lands has been vis
orously prosecutsd.
The unusually large amount Of 8.816
64S9 50 cubis yards Of lsvee and ditch wor
was constructed and paid for during u
two yesrs ending, with the 80th day
September. 1850. Since the supervision
this troublesoms business. requiring grss
extra labor, was eon6ded TO the governor
Ia - 0x1 04H IL