The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-13
The PenifentInry.

80 The Penifen1inEy.
The House of Delegates have voted te
locate the Penitentiary OF the State al
AIoundsviIle. The bill has yet to be
acted upon by the Senate. Before 1t is
disposed Of We desire to offer a word OF
two on the subject.
The people will desire TO know after
the adjournment OF the Legislature
and the question will be asked son
every hustings, why the Penitentiary
ofthe State was located at Mounds
vii.s? Members of the Legislature
NAV look for this question to be preSseu
home upon them by tax payers, ana
we are somewhat curious TO know how
tbey are to frame a justifiable excuse
We take the ground that great
wrong has been done to the best inter
c.,s OF the state in thus locating an
institution. which, instead of becoming
bv its location a source Of profit, Will
in every probability become trsmend-
Gus bill Of expense TO the State. And
for what? Why has the building been
thus loc.ltedF This question must be
answered eventually.
Let US look at this matter from the
beginning TO the end of it. In the irst
MACE the convicts of Tho State already
under sentence, should do no small
mari of the work on the Penitentiary
huiIding. These convicts are here in
our county jail, which, being the largest
and most secure one in the State, is the
Penitentiary for the time being. How
are they to be employed ON the build
ing il it is located at Moundsville. Are
they To be taken down ON the cars every
,iay and brought back every night at
the expense of the Slater Look what
nm outlay of both time and money that
policy would cost. But even that Is
small item compared with those that
are 10 follow forever.
Where and how are the convicts to be
profitably employed by the State at
Moundsville, even after the building is
nut up3 To ask this question is to an
swer 1t, aud the mere presentation Of
it exhibits the wrong done the interests
ofall of us in making such selection.
II is only at commercial and manu-
featuring point like this that we can
hone to approximate paying point in
the Penitentiary. We do not say that
i, can be made self-sustniDiDg even
here-und, II such is the case, what sort
ofa drain upon the public treasury will
the institution, not become at Mounds
Vile? tits here that we find the mer-
chant tailor shops that areto send their
bundles of work from day to day to the
Penftentiary. 1t IS here that we find
The boot and shoe shops which mus
afford so much patronage to the insti'
tuition. 1t is here that the tobacco bu
sincss, especially cigar making, is tt
afford SO large a quota OF work. AnC
thus we might specify all our indus
tries-aIl OF which arc comparativel!
lacking elsewhere in The State-Rnd al
ofwhich are really necessary to keel
the Penitentiary from becoming 1
charge upon the commonwealth.
So strong is our conviction upon thi
subject, that we do not hesitate TO say
that very soon, If not now, it will b.
generally seen how great blunder was
made in locating this important public
building, II will be costly blunderant
one hardtorectity. We believe. however
that it will some day DO rectified a
whatever expense. Indeed il will be
come absolutely necessary 10 retrac'
the present legislative steps at any cost
because to go forward will be contin
ual, unending and hopeless expense.
were this question OF the ordinar!
kind we should refrain from asserting
any claims for the city OF Wheeling
We have not pressed her eligibility 70
ANYTHING from the beginning of the agi
tation in regard to the pu bic buildings
We have, however, all along suppose'
that there wonld BIO no division of sen
ti,nent US to where the penitentinr,
ought TO Relocated. wehave not consid
cred 1t n debatable question. And to-da!
we doubt il an impartial jury of twely'
Intelligent men, selected from out tn
state, would hesitate MOMENT abou
locating the institution here. The ques
ton with them would DO ut once, rs 1
is with us, where else in the State car
it DO made selesustainingG And w
now ask the Senators who have the de
cision OF this matter in their charge
where except in Wheeling can the Pen
itentiary, in the first place, DO built ii
good part by tho labor OF the convicts
aud were. in the second and all impor
taut place, can 1t be made self-sustain
ing, except here2
/. .