The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-16

fraSlaentary manner Future ages oe
naua Of us that we collect sud preserve
these fragments as material from which q
full and reliable record OF the great events
iof our day may be preserved, This, with
tho ordinary work Of the Society in collect
lug tho carly history o. or state, is more
th;sn il can well perform with the means
at its disposal
No man can be found 10 devote to it tho
necessary time without comqgns atton.
recommend IN appropriation u Fo hund
red dollars. NJ compensation fer this pur~
pose, in addition to tho five hundred dol
lars heretofore appropriated for other pur-
poses
CHasf~h IHarI-u9rOSa
The Reports Of tire Trustcee Of the Blint,
Asy .un and Of The Asylum FOR the Insane,
are herewith submitted. recommend the
appointment Of o special committee to visit
each Of these institutions for the purpose OF
examining into their condition ana wants,
and that al may be done that the condition
Of our finances will allow, to make these
institutions effective for accomplishing the
noble objects for which they were founded
call your special attention to the final
Report of the Commissioners for superin-
tending the erection of the Blind Asylum.
The Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb il
still at Iowa City, in building rented for
that purpose. The annual rent paid is
1878. Whether it is advisable, at this time,
to erect a new building, the interest on the
cost Of which Will far exceed the rent now
paid or, whether it is best TO continue to
occupy the rented buildings for a longer
time, are questions properly committed to
your Judgment and discretion. The Re
port Of the Trustees, showing the cXpendi-
lures for tho last two years, and the esti-
mates for the ensuing two years, arc here
with submitted.
There has been 4 material increase in
the prices Of nearly all the articles required
for the support Of the pupils in these IN
situations, and consequently thore should
be ! proportionate increase in tho SUMS
appropriated.
TIL; PENTrEHTIARY.
was notified by the Warden II June,
1862, that the old shops in the prison yard
had been destroyed ly FIRE. The contract
between the State ana the contractors for
the prison labor, required The State 10 fur
nish shop room TO work the criminals. =
The contractors had, III u suit tried and de-
terniincd before this fire, made the want Of
sufficient shop room the basis Of a claim
for heavy damages against the State,
which had been allowed them, and l had
good reason 70 believe tho want of shop
room, caused by the fire, would be made
the basis of another similar claim. Under
these circumstances, requested the At
torney General 10 meet me at the prison,
and, after consultation with him, the War
den and myself entered into q contract
with Messrs. Winterbttom & Jones, con-
tractors for the prison labor, for the cree
ton 81 new shops, at cost Of rs, tOt.T :
which was paidas follows: Material from
Old shops. 500; cash appropriated at the
las. preceding Session for a new black
smith shop, $500. proceeds Of judgment
i'll favor Of State against contractors, SD45.
% tho balance Of 81, 35a.06 to apply on the
.,rn ~ or To hAr 1lyn tn hl
State, from the contractors for prison
labor.
II i mater os doubt whether had the
authority 20 mako this contract; but as
the necessity appeared to be imperative,
aid as the contract could DO made without
drawing from the Treasury any money not
Iy law, deemed it my duty,
having due regard to the interests of the
State 10 make the contract, and did SO.
The new shops Mere completed in accor
dance with the terms Of tie contract, and
have been over since in use. The Old shops
were lily arranged, inconvenient and un-
and, situated as they were, near
the centre OF the prison yard, intertered
with the preservation OF proper
order and discipline among the convic;s.-
The new shops are large, substantial, and
well arranged, and much moro tavorlbly
located than the old ones.
A new contract has not as yet been
made under the law passed atthe extra ses-
sion Of 1862, for re-letting the convict labor.
j have very serious doubts whether it is
advisable, 1t this time. to relet the whole
OF the labor. A large amount OF work
must necessarily soon be done in and
about the prison. As our population in
creases, the number Of conyicts will in
crease, and Of course there will be necessa-
ry ar increase OF cell room. This can now
be had, most economically and advanta-
geously, by building a Warden's house on
the foundation already laid for that pur-
pose. and using the part OF the main
building now occupied by the Warden,
for cell room; and by raising the roof and
walls Of the main building 50 rs TO receive
two additional tiers Of cells. The wall Oh
ono side of the yard has not yet been built,
and l understand some additional grading
is needed before il can be. The convicts
can do much OF the labor required for these
as well IS hired laborers,
and at much less cost TO the State. Should
this policy be adopted it may be necessary
10 employ few additional guards, Eut
the additional expense vii be much less
than the difference betWee-, tie cost OF con-
vict and other labor.
/ have not been able to give as much
time as desired to supervising the affairs
Of the prison for the last two years but l
am of opinion everything has been done
by the Warden and his subordinates, care
fully, economically and well. The War
aen's report contains u fill account OF the
receipts and expenditures, and \ state
nenC Of what is. III his alignment, necessa-
~ to be done within the next two years.
invite your attention to this Report, and
recommend the appointment of special
to visit the prison. to examine
the condition of the prison buildings. Tor |
the purpose Of determining the policy TO |
be pursued in re-lettiag the prison labor.
AND ARMINd VOLUNTEER
COMPANIES.
| became satisfied during the ear
" part Of last summer that de
>igning men in this, as in other loyal
states, were making preparations for an
armed resistance TO the authority Of the
General Government. The law Of Con-
sress, providing for a draft to fill the ranks
# the Union army, contained provision
hat was eagerly seized upon to array the
poorer of our people against the Govern
nent upon the specious pretence that the
object Of the law was to discriminate be-
ween the rich and the poor, to the injury
If the poor.
The action Of the Government in freeing
md using the slaves in thA rebel States for