The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-29
The South Carolina Penitentiary.
SUP'Ts OFFICE, S. G. PENNY,
COLUMBIA, s. c., Dec. Is, 1868.
His FrceAency Pchc". z. SCOT, G.,

uernor Of South Carolina.
SIR: I herewith report the progress
and condition of the work on and at
the South Carolina Penitentiary,
from 1st May, 1868, to 31st day of
October, 1868.
The prison building now contains
$50 cells for use. These will COM
fortably accommodate 800 couvicts;
and, should necessity demand, three
convicts can he put in each cell. In
this connection l would advise
against collecting more than 800 con-
victs here ut one time, until the stone
wall is built ut least twelve feet high
(the full height will be twenty feet)
around the enclosure. A large
amount of work has already been
done on this wall, and it should be
pushed forward rs rapidly as possible; !;
and if the means to be provided for
carrying on the work are to be as
scanty as they have been during the
past yenr, the work OH the prison
building should be suspended until
next May, and all available means be
applied to constructing the wall.
The absence of this wall involves the
necessity of very large guards.
The quarry on the premises, to-
gether with one to be opened in the
bed of the river, (large progress has
been made on the dam around this
quarry, without expense, as it is the
spoil bank for the present working
quarry which will be ready for work
in the spring. In these two quarries
200 convicts can be worked, and a
full supply of stone obtained for
very rapid progress on the wall.
/ would call your attention to the
industrial departments reference is
had to all work done not included
in the actual construction of the
prison) carried on here, and others
that should be carried on. Those
that are carried on are necessarily
(for want Of funds) on limited scale,
and do little more than supply the
wants of the prison. We now, and
have done so, during the past year,
manufactured within the prison, by
convict labor, all cloth, clothing and
shoes required, also the garden has
supplied an ample quantity of vege-
tables at all times. During the com
ing year it will be highly advantage
Gus and profitable to establish a
tannery and shoe manufacturing es-
tablishment witbir the prison walls
A shoe can be made here for 81. 90,
which is worth SLIGO in the New
York market. These shoes can be
sold nf xpho1ncaln q
less price than they can be purchased
in New York. This will create a de-
mand that we will scarcely be able to
supply. No fears need be entertain
ed that proper or capable workmen
will be wanted. as long as convicts
are sent here; for, with proper ma
chinery, and competent foreman,
most any hand can be taught to make
a good shoe in two months. Now
and then skilled workman is SEN
fenced to the Penitentiary, AMI from
this source high grade of work may
be turned out, which will become
more profitable than the other.
Other kinds of work could be made
profitable if carried on here. But
with the average number (300l of
convicts, estimated for the ensuing
yelr, the services of Mt least 225
should be employed in bnilding the
wall and the prison building. This
would leave seventy-tive to be other
wise worked. Of this number, after
dedncting the necessary hands re-
qnired for the kitchen, laundry,
garden, loom room. tailor shop aud
police duties, would leave surplus
of thirty-five convcts, who could be
very proitably and advantageously
employed in tanning and mnnufac-
turing shoes.
Tie attempts already made by the
foremcn under my charge, in teach
ing convicts trades, have been highly
successful, and they have roy thanks
for their zeal displayed and close at
teniion to their duties.
Accompanying this, please find
sheets marked "A, "B," sc" and
''E," showing expenditures, &c.,
from date OF last report. Also, (sec
sheet D. the present value of per-
manent work, Temporary structures,
material on hand, &C.. ut the SCutb
Carolina Penitentiary. The total
here exhibited is $126, 918 26 The
total amount expended, including
earnings, from the commencement of