The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-31

that time, and that one hundred and four
cells had been built. The result of the
operations of the penitentiary, from its
commencement, showed that the convicts
had not only sustained themselves by their
labor, butz-to use the words Of Governor
Orr-"had placed the State in possession
"of a. building and material nearly equal
s"in value to the entire expenditure re-
,"quired both for the construction of the
I "penitentiary and the maintenance of the
s'convicts.' These facts attracted much
public attention, and caused the next re-
port of the Superintendent to be looked for
with great interest.
The Superintendent of the Penitentiary
has now made his report for the six months
ending October 81, 1868. This shows that
the prison building contains one hundred
| and fifty cells for use, which will accom-
modate three hundred convicts, and may, in
case of necessity, be made to accommodate
four hundred and fifty convicts. The Su-
perintendent, however, is opposed to hav-
ing more than three hundred convicts in
the building at one time, until the stone
wall is built at least twelve feet high-the
full height when completed being twenty
feet. In the quarry on The premises, and in
the one to be opened in the bed of the river,
two hundred convicts can be worked.
The industrial departments Of the peni-
tentiary have been, for want Of funds, car
ried on upon limited scale; but during
| the year there was manufactured by con-
yict labor, within the prison, all the cloth,
clothing and shoes that were required,
while the garden supplied, at all times, an
ample quantity of vegetables. Tne Super
intendent advises that tannery and shoe
making shop be established, and says thnt
by convict labor he can make shoes at 81 90
which are worth 81 GO in New York. They
can, therefore, be sold in our own market
at less than the cost of the same articles in
the North.
The Superintendent estimates that three
hundred will be the average number of in
mates of the perilertiary during the COM
ing twelve months, aud says two hundred
and twenty five Of these should be en-
ployed in building the wall and prison. Of
the remainder, there would be forty for
the kitchen, laundry, garden, loom, tailor
shop and police duties; and thirty five who
could be employed in tanning and making
shoes.
In reference to he cost Of the buildings,
the Superintendent: says that the present
value of the works AID material, with the
building itself, is $l26,9ls, and that the
total amount expended is Sl29,s59. at
"will be en"-says Majcr Lec-"that the
"tOtsl amount expended exceeds the value
':of work, &c., by the sum of S2941l 81.
'.Now, when it is considered ninety six
"thousand aud eighty-fvc convict days
"have been passed in the prison-;hat is,
san average of ninety six thousand aud
.'cighty-iive convicts for one day have been
siguardad, fad, olothad, received the neees-
''sary medical attention, and other things
Unnecessary to their detention here; that,
"ffteen thousand six hundred and thirty
'sone days Of guard duty has been per-
'iormed, making IN average of little
s'more than six conyicts 10 each guard; that,
sin the ja;ls of the State forty cents per
"day ;s paid for the dieting alone Of all
"prisoners confined the great personal
"benefs accruing TO the prisoner, by re-
'quiring him to exercise himself; the learn
Sing of many valuable trades, and the un
"doubted pecuniary benefit the State has
ssaud will derive from their labor, the Wis
"dom displayed in establishing this insti-
sutton must be apparent to ALL
The strictest economy has been practiced
in the management of the institution, and
the average daily cost of maintaining
convic, mas beel .: the rate of 27 40 cents
per day, which sun. includes guarding, diet
ing, clothing, medical attention and med-
cines.
TIE Superintendent recommends That The
guard of tho peniteaLiary be regular
military organization; that there be an
architect as well - Superintendent, and
says that L cas-. payments could be made
in every instance, the work might Ire car
ried on more economically.
We need no other Information than tina:
which IS contained in nc lcpor: before Us,
10 salisfy'us la the construction OF tie
peaiteatiery was :. wise aad prudent meas
uic. Already the Safe is reooiTiis full
value for the laoney sac ex7shd:: ard when
the bulldog is comn,c.e ed, there is yros-
peet tina. the p,nitentiary vii! pay al its
expenses Out Of The prof. derived from Tie
articles which it manufactures. There is
no hope that crime vill dccreaae The CO.
pacity of the State periteatiaiy silk :ly to
be taxed to the utmost, aud It is loru
nete thing Tor the State that !be building
has been begun upoa : plan which, if csr
red out, will prevent the criminal from
living at the expense Of the people whom
ho has Outraged. Grossly bad manage
mont alcne caa poy make tho pcfitan.iarv