New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-29
CONDITION OF THE STATE pEN1rENTIARY

CONDITION OF THE STATE PEN1rENTIARY
The Committees on Penitentiary, APP
pointed by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the last Legislature, made
a joint report to that body, signed by Hon.
G. W. Melvin. chairman. The committees
were appointed with a view of making
personal inspection of the State Peniten-
tiary and every thing connected herewith,
that information might be obtained show
ing the true condition of the prisoners as
well as the property of the State, which
comprises the lands, buildings, machinery,
working tools, and, in fact, every thing that
is required to carry on an institution OF
this kind on an extensive scale. Attached
to the establishment according to the re-
port of the committee, is a shoe shop OF
sufficient size for the working OF fifty or
more hands, q carpenters shop, three
stories high, with steam power attached,
and with the proper woodworking machi-
merry could be made available for turning
out great deal of work; machine shop
and foundry. at present under shed roof
which need repairs, together with tools
for the machine shop, two turning lathes in
good working order, one upright drill and
| parts of one planer and one lathe; two
forges in good working order and
new portable engine OF about ten-horse
power to run the lathes; an engine
house in good repair, with boilers
and engines in apparently good working
condition. A large cotton factory, three
stories high, of the estimated capacity OF
two hundred looms, with the necessary
machinery, is yet in an unfinished condi-
| ton, having been recently rebuilt in a sub
stantial manner by prison labor. The
building formerly used for that purpose
was burned down during the war aud the
machinery removed and much of it de.
stroyed. A portion of this machinery has
since been returned and 5 stored in various
buildings of the Penitentiary. This is con-
sidered to be very valuable feature in
this institution. as the making of cotton
goods, it is believed could be made pro-
titable. There is q brick yard in good
working order, and room for working a
large number of hands and facilities for
procuring material in abundance. The |
buildings and walls throughout are repre-
sented by the committee as strong and |
substantial, but need painting and white
washing to prevent the bricks from wash
ing. The average number of prisoners for |
the year 1867 was two hundred and thirty
seven. The committee recommend that, |
with The view Of making the Penitentialy
self-sustaining institution, and to assist
in reforming large number of men, who,
leaving the prison with a knowledge of
some useful occupation and habits
of industry, would seek an honest means
of livelihood" the General Assembly au-
thorize the procuring of the necessary
machinery for the several departments Of
the prison to render them in complete
working order, and in addition urge the |
propriety Of establishing a new depart
ment for making wagons, plows, cultiva- |
tors and all implements for farm use, of !
strictly modern and improved patterns.
The committee make other valuable sug-
gestions, but they fail to say one word in
regard to the all-important matter of the
present system of leasing out the peniten-
tiary. This is something that can not be
overlooked. The State is bound to see
that the prisoners placed under its charge
for oftenses against the laws'ar humanely
treated and properly cared for in every re-
spect, and at the same time that the prop
erty OF the State is cared for and the insti-
tuition made selt-sustaining. The Joint re-
port OF the committees does not show this
to be the case. The prisoners have aot
been properly cared for, no. has the prop
erty of the State been properly preserv.
ed against unnecessary losses. The
arst part of the report shows
clearly a condition of want among
the prisoners of comfortable quarters and
the necessary raiment and means of pre-
pairing their food, to insure health and the
ordinary comforts that common humanity
should provide for those who are not per-
mitted to provide for themselves. The
present lessees may have done the best
they could unier the circumstances, but the
State has no business to leave its prisoners
to become the victims of precarious cir
We are inclined to think the
system Of leasing out the Penitentiary
bad one to all concerned, and would much
prefer to see it managed by the State it ell
through proper agents appointed for that
purpose. We believe the General Assem-
bly,, when it meets again, should look into
the matter and devise some certain means
for rendering the condition OF the prison
ers comfortable and make the institution
self-sustaining, if possible; and also 20 af-
ford protection against unnecessary waste
Of public property. II
A VOLUNTEER SENTINEL
The Times finds it necessary TO warn and