The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-16

these fragments q material from which >
full and reliable record Of the great events
Of our day may Be preserved. This, with
the ordinary work of the Society collect
ing the early history Of our State, is more
than it can we'll perform With the means
at it's disposal.
i No man can be found to devote to it
the necessary time without compensation.
I recommend an appropriation of Eve
hundred dollars, a. compensation for this
purpose, in addition to the FIVE hundred
dollars heretofore appropriated for other
purposes.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Reports of the Trustees of the
Blind Asylum and of the Asylum for the
Insane, are herewith submitted. rec
ommend the appointment of a special
COMMITTEES to visit each OF these institu-
tons for the purpose of examining into
their condition and wants, and that all
may be done that the condition of our f.
nsnces will allow, to make these institu-
tions effective for accomplishing the
noble objects for which they were
founded.
call your special attention to the f.
nal Report of Commissioner for super
intending 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 1915. Whether it is advisable, at this
time. to erect new bulilng, 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 longer time, are questions properly
committed to your Judgment and discre-
ton. The report of the trustees, show
ing the expenditures for the last two
years, and the estimates for the ensuing
two years, are herewith submitted.
There has been material increase in
the prices Of nearly all the articles re-
CURED for the support of the pupils in
these institutions, and consequently there
should be a proportionate increase in the
sums appropriated.
THE PESITENTIARY.
was notified by the Warden. in June,
1869. that the old shops in the prison
yard had been destroyed BY fire. The
contract between the State and the con
tractors for the prison labor, required the
State. to furnish shop room to work the
criminals. The contractors had, 10 a
suit tried and determined before this Ere,
made the want Of sufficient shop room the
basis of claim for heavy damages
against the State, which had been above
them, and l had good reason to believe
the want of shop room, caused by FIRE,
would be made the basis of another SINH
lar claim. Under these circumsta noes. !
requested the Attorney General to meet
me at the prison. and, after consultation
with him, the Warden and myself en-
tered into a contract with Messrs. Win
terbotham d Jones, contractors for the
prison labor. for the erection of new
shops, at cost of SO, 504.6 which was
paid as follows Material from old shops,
5000 cash appropriated at the last pre-
ceding session for new blacksmith shop.
Sc, 500; proceeds of judgment in favor of
State against contractors, S946, SO; the
balance of s4,859,0s to apply on the
amount due, or to become due to the
State, from the contractors, for prison
labor.
1t Is matter of doubt whether | had
the authority to make this contract; bu,
as the necessity appeared to be ilnpera-
tive, and as the contract could be made
without drawing from the Treasury any
money not appropriated by law, deemed
it my duty, having due regard to the in
terests OF the State, to make the contract,
and did so.
The new shop. were completed in ac-
cordance with the terms of the contract,
and have been ever since in use. The
old shops were lily arranged, announcement
and unsightsy, and, situated as the ! were,
near the centre of the prison yard, inter-
fered materially with the preservation of
proper order and discipline among the
oonvicts. The new shops are large, SUBJ
stantial and weii-arranged, and much
more faverably located than the old
ones.
A new contract has not as vet been
made under the law passed at the extra
session of 1852, for re- letting the convict
labor. | have very serious doubts wheth-
er 1t is advisable, at this time, to re-let
the whole of the labor. A large amount
OF work must necessarily soon be done in
and about the prison. As our population
increases, the number of convicts will
increase, and of course there will be pec-
essarlly au increase OF cell room, This
can now be had. most economically and
advantageously by building Warden 3
house on the foundation already laid for
that purpose, and using that part Of the
main building how occupied by abe War
den, for och roem and By raising the
roof and walls Of the main building 40 "A
to receivs two additional tiers of cells
The wall on one side of the yard has not
yet been built, and | understand some
additional grading is needed before it
can be. The convicts can do much Of
the labor required for these improvements
as we'll as hired Iaborsrs. and at much
less cost to the State. Should this policy
be adopted. it may be necessary to en-