Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-01-22
srArK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Curat, rs Of the State Historical Society.
Passing events render the work OF this So
ci ,ty vastly more important than ever before.
We are now making history with wonderful
rapidity, Lut are making it in fragmentary
manner Future ages demand Of us that we
collect and preserve these fragments as niater.
ial from which full and reliable recorder
the great events Of our day may lie presery-
ed This with the ordinary work Of the So
ciety in collecting tho early history OF our
State is more than il can well perform with
the means at lis disposal.
No man can be found 10 devote to it tho
necessary time without compensation. re.
commend an appropriation Of five hundred
dollars. AS a compensation for this purpose,
in addition TO the five hundred dollars here
tofore appropriated for other purposes.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports Of the Trustees Of the Blind
! ASYLUM and of the Asylum Of the Insane,
are herewith submitted recommend the
appointment Of special committee to visit
ea.h Of these institutions for tho purpose Of
examining into their condition aud wants,
and that all may be dono that the condition
of our finances will allow, TO make these in.
situations effective for accomplishing the no.
bic objects for which they were founded
call your special attention to the final ro-
port Of the commissioner for superintcndng
the erection Of the Blind Asylum.
The asylum for the deaf and dumb is still
at Iowa City, in building rented for that
purpose. The annual rent paid is $40
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 tho
rented buildings for longer time, are quex.
tons properly committed to your Judgment
, and discretion. The report OF the trustees
showing the expenditures for the last two
wears, and the estimates for tho ensuing two
! years, ure herewith submitted.
There has been material increase in tho
prices Of nearly all the articles required for
. the support Of the pupils in these institu.
= tions, and consequently there should be 4
y proportionate increase in the sums appro.
/. priated.
:, TUE pENITrSTIARy.
;. was notified by the Warden In June,
}. 1862, that the old shops in the prison yard
,s had been destroyed by fire. The contract
10 between the State and the contractors for tho
IS prison labor required the State TO furnish,
II shop room 10 work the criminals. The con-
tractors had, in suit tried and determined
o. before this fire, made the want Of sufficient
" shop room the basis Of claim for heavy
so allowed them, and had good reason 10 be.
| lieye tho want Of shop room caused by tho
n fire, would be made the basis on another sim
liar claim Under these circumstances, / re-.
qucsted the Attorney General TO meet me at
the prison, and, after consultation with him,
nc the Warden aud my self entered into con-
p tract with Messrs. Winterbottom Il Jones,
d. contractors for the prison labor, for the erect
"a ion OF new prison shops at a cost Of $500
ne 81; which was paid as follows
o. Material from old shops, $500; cash nppro.
IT. praed at the last preceding Session for u
new blacksmith shop, $4,000; proceeds Of
- Judgment in favor Of State against contract
tx o-s, $9i5 80 tho balance Of "a, 1853 OS to
10 apply on the amount due, or to become due,
N to the State, from tho contractors for prison
IT, labor
on II is matter OF doubt whether had thu
lst authority to make this contract; but as tho
ty necessity appeared to be imperative, and az
ny the contract could be made without drawing
te' from the Treasury anyI money not appropri.
ne atcd by law, deemed it my duty, having
nd duo regard to the interests Of the State, to
'e' make the contract, and did SO.
m The new shops were completed in accord.
IS, ancc with the terms Of the contract, and have
ne been ever since in use The old shops wero
es. lily arranged, inconyenient and unsightly
no and situated as they were, near the centre Of
lat tho prison yard interfered materially with
Q" the preservation Of proper order and dsci-
me pline among the conyicts. Tho new shops
nat are large, substantial, and well arranged, and
OF much more layorably located than the Old
US ones.
ra. A new contract has not yet been made IN.
VII der tho law passed at the extra session OF
VII 1862, for re-lctting the convict labor have
'nt very serious doubts whether it is advisable
ut this time, to rc-let the whole Of the labor,
IL A large amount Of work must necessarily
'p- soon be done in and about the prison A.
ect our population increases, the number Of con
irt yicts will increase, and Of course there vii
ect be necessary an increase Of cell ROOM This
NC can now be had, most economically and al
tes yantageously by building Wardens house
elr on tho foundation already lai for that pur.
KS pose aud using the part Of the main build
ole ing now occupied by the Warden, for cell
'ur room and by raising the roof and walls oi
ms the main building SO as to receive two addi
sts tional tiers Of cells The wall on one side oil
to the yard has not yet been built, and under.
ma, stand some additional grading is needed be.
nd fore it can be. Tho coryicts can do much oil
ro' the labor required for these improvements as
well as hired laborers and at much less cost
to the State. Should this policy be adopted
,r,, it may be necessary to employ few add
~ tiona guards. but the additional expense vii
|, = be much less than the difference between the
rs 20 cost Of convict and other labor
.r. have not been able 10 give as much iimt
an as desired to supervising the affairs Of ii;
;r' prison for the last two years; but am Of tn,
i !, opinion that every ythins has been done b,
ar the Warden and his subordinates, carefully
~ economically, and well. The Wardei's ie
b,, port contains full account Of the receipt
'ro' and expenditures, and q statement of wha
r.S. is, in his Judgment, necessary to be done il
I'm. tho next two years. invite your attention
ind to this Report, and recommend the appoint
-. mcnt Of a special committee to visit the prs
,,n' on, to examine tho condition Of tho prison
,cs. buildings, for the purpose Of determining
of the policy to he pursued in re.!etting tn
nv prison labor.
ORGANIZING AND ARMIS0 VOLUNTEER coxpASIg!
'es' became satisfied during tho early part q
''ty last summer that designing men in this, as i
BON other loyal States, were making preparation
,he for an armed resistance to tho authority Q
lwo the General Government. The law Of Con
nts, grcss providing for draft to fill the ranks
'tiy the Union army, contained a provision tina
on was carly seized upon TO array tho poore
portion Of our people against the Govern
nd inent, upon the spccious prctencc that IN
the object OF the law was 10 discri,ninat, ketvee
&C. the rich and the poor, to the injury of ii,
IN poor.
Don The action of the Government IN rrcc;n
ion, and using the slaves in tho rebel States Ia
ned the supprcssion of the rebellion. was reprs
sented as a scheme by tha Government, I
pre- overrun the free States with the freed slave
nm to the prejudice Of the interest Of the poe