The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-16

no rest, and ever pressed him forward in
the path of duty. His industry was a mar
vel, and the amount of labor he accomplish
ed wonderful The duties Of his Office he
discharged, not scaniily as task. but with
a devotion and pleasure that were satisfied
only with full performance. The cause
of education he regarded of the first i'm
portance. aad the vocation and calling Of
the EDUCATOR the most honorable and digni-
fed, next to that of the Christian Minister.
The misfortunes of his country deeply
afflicted him, and notwithstanding the de
light he took in the performance OF his
official duties, and his untiriug devotion 10
the education of youth, he would have re-
signed his Office and gone to the field, lad
he not been dissuaded by his friends. who
urged that he could serve his country bet
ter in the position he then held. He devo-
ted much time, labor and money to the care
of the sick and wounded soldiers. He Wis
tied the hospitals and the field OF battle TO
hunt up and minister 10 the neglected and
the dying, and in carrying a wounded man
upon a steamboat at Pittsburg, Landing.
shortly after the battle of Shiloh, suffered
bodily injury, from which most likely he
was killed he had started upon another
similar mission of mercy to the army. l
was stan ling a, his side at the moment o!
his death, and never before did | have
brought home to me the full force of tina,
passage of Scripture which declares That
in the midst OF life we are in death" Had
/ been asked a moment before who, among
ali the young men of Indiana, babe fairest
for a life of great usefulness and fame, /
would have answered, Miles j. Fletcher.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The reports OF the Boards Of Trustees OF
the Asylum for the Blind. institution for
the Deaf and Dumb, and Hospital for the
Insane, are herewith submitted. The man
agement Of these Institutions for the
past two years has been eminently success
ful and satisfactory. The Superintendent
have displayed ability and fidelity. as well
as the subordinate officers and teachers, and
commend the reports to your especial con-
slider ration, aud the Institutions 10 your tos-
tering care and attention.
PRISONS NORTH AND SOUTH.
AT the regular session OF the Legislature
in 1861, the sum of $4,000 was appro-
priated for the purchase Of materials and
construction of the Northern Prison, located
at Michigan City. for the year sol, and
like sum for the year 1862. At the extra
session in 1861, the sum of $50, 900 was
appropriated for materials and construction
of the Northern Prison, and for the support
OF convlcts, and the payment OF the ex.
penses incurred for the month of January,
1861.
AT the same session law was pass ID for
the transfer Of POO convicts from the South
ern Prison, at Jefersonvilie, 10 the North
ern Prison, but no provision was made for
their return IN case their labor should not
be required. At the same session an act
was passed providing that all persons sent
TO the penitentiary from counties north of
the National Road should be confined in the
Northern Prison. The work in the con-
struction OF the prison was vigorously
pressed in the summer and fall of Sol, and
1t was found necessary by the Board of Di
rectors, IN order to keep the convict labor
employee to anticipate and draw upon the
appropriation made for the construction Of
the prison in 1869; so that when the work
for the year 1861 was closed up, there re-
manned unexpended of the fund appropria-
ted for the construction of the prison in
1869 but about $4,000. 1t was apparent.
then, that the labor of the convicts could
not be employed in the con struction Of the
prison during the year 1869, for the want
OF means with which to purchase the neces-
sary materials. The labor of the couvicts
could not be leased or hired out to contrac
tors for the want of shops in the prison in
which they could be employed. To work
the convIcts out of the prison and about
the town would be 50 expensive in the en-
ployment Of guards, as to make their labor
Improbable, besides, there was 10 authority
for doing SO, except as connected with the
construction of the prison.
AS the matter stood, il was inevitable that
the convict labor should be almost wholly
unemployed throughout the year 1862 and
must So continue until the prison shops
were constructed when the labor might be
hired TO contractors, as IN other prisons. Ii
the shops we're constructed in 1862 this
labor could be made remuneratiye through
the year 1868, but il not constructed until
1868, this could not happen until 1864 1t
was evi lent that the State would sus ain
great loss by the delay in the construction OF
the shops. and accordingly the Board of
Directors convened In this city in February
last. and myself and other State officers
invited to be present for consultation; and
after full consideration of the subject. it was
believed by all to be clearly to the in
tereSt OF the State that the work Of construc-
ton of the shops should be commenced at
the earliest moment, provided the contract
could be let at fair prices, and the contrac
tor. being fully advised of the condition of
affairs, should be willing TO await the action
of the Legislature for his pay. The Board
of Directors then proceeded to advertise
for proposals for the work, and a public
letting was had l directed Mr.. John B.
Stumph. of this city. repated to be an hon
est and capable builder. to be present at the
letting, ard see that the contract was prop
erly made. and in accordance with the plans
and spec ticalons before that time adopted
by the State for the construction of the
shops. The contract, | have every reason
to believe. was fairly made, upon terms, as
am informed, fifteen per cent. below the
original contract for the same work, and al
least twenty per cent. below what the same
work could now be let for in CASH The
shops have beeu completed and Mr. Stumph
was again directed 10 examine aud measure