Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-12
Making a total Of.

Making total Of......-.....- .-.-.-.s2O7 81 u
For which they order warrant to issue.
We are informed that the Comptroller re-
fuses to issue his warrant for the amount Of the
award. and that the matter is now pending in
the courts.
Unless you interfere. by resolution or other
| wise. authorizing US to proceed TO WOik. the
prison Will remain Ia 5 present condition until
the ending of an uncertain and, probably, pro-
traeted law suit. The original lease of the con-
Wet labor was very untOrtunats to the State.
1t gives, virtually, the control of thu prison to
the lessees. The last contract by the Legis
lAture has proven more disastrous, giving the
leSsees the power to stop work IN the prison
until they are paid in tull.
The Directors deemed it their duty under
section 3 of the act of MAY H. 1862 to advertise
| for release OF the convict labor in the Peni-
Tertiary. We accordingly adv eTtised in n ews-
papers in this State and several of the Northern
States. We received five bids. the highest be-
ing fifty five cents per day, an advance of tW civ
cents en- the former contract. We accepted the
bid Of htty-hVe cents. but were unable 10 con-
sumate the contract because we assisted that
the lessees should take all she machinery, I'M
finished work. stock, etc., on hand, at the ap-
praised valuation. which they refused to do.
and also the additional fact, that We were IN
able to give possession until Messrs. Ward i
Briggs were paid sa.a.
/ We would have received more and probably
higher bids. had it not been for opposition of
gentlemen, Whe are honestly opposed to the
leasing system. and ethers who questioned our
authority. TO release the convict labor under the
present law. We would respectfully recommend
the repeal of the law authorizing the leasing
out the convict labor of the Peniten.iary, for
the following reasons:
/. 1t gives the lessees power to control the
institution.
2. Itimpairs prison discipline
3. The lessees will BE- almost certain to claim
heavy damages from the State for violations of
control. as Is shown in the history Of O:her
prisons, as we'll as oar own. 81
4. With the present Improved maehintry in
the prison, and proper checks. and balances on
the agents. we are confident that 1t can be
made to pay the State revenue Of S5O,OUO or
more per annum, instead OF being tax upon
your State Treasury.
We have added thirty-s six cells to the prison
since August last, making the whole number
402. while the number of prisoners is 5jS- At
the present rate Of increase, you will have in
your prison, April |. 1870. go convict; Oct. l,
1870. 200, if something Is not dOno by your
honorable body TO remedy the evil.
Feeling the pressing necessity of an increase
in the capacity OF your prison, that wemay have
more cells, workshops, hospital room and dining
tension of the prison walls, 30 at to inclose two
more acres of ground. The increase of the con-
victs in the penitentiary is subject for your
most careful delIberauOns cur Directors would
suggest that on increase the grade of petit lar
ceny to at least S25, and that each county whose
jurors will insist upon sending prisoners to the
penitentiary for the larceny of articles of the
smallest value, should be made by proper legiS-
lAtiOn TO pay the expenses CT the convicts. The
number Of cOlOred eOnvicts is 363. while that Of
the white is only i98. Comparing the relative
population. we ind that the cOlored population
sent TO prison are six to enc white. The stone
quarry Is indispensable to the succes stul working
ofyOur prison. The old one consists of eight
acres, and is nearly exhausted of its valuable
stone. These eight acres are now worth more
than they originally cost the State, and We
recommend that authority be given to di-
vide it into suitable building lots, sell he same
and with the proceeds purchase a new quarry.
40 al a 4
ing is S49908 y, The entire cost Of the institu-
ton from November Isl. 1868. to October LIST.
1869, period OF eleven months, has been $685.,
461 ~ or at the rate OF 80 .O42 AZ per month; the
cost of each prison per month IS $40 ESQ., AS
cents per day, which includes board. clothing,
shoes fires, lights. tobacco. hospital guards and
all other expenses. The cost OF feeding each
prisoner per day Is M cents. cost Of clothing
$40 cents. while that of shoes ! cents per
day, making the entire cost per day for feed
ing. clothing and shOeing y SIS cents for each
convict. If the prison is put into immediate
operation, with the unfinished work and mate
rial on hand. the Institution can pay of the IN
dobtedness without asking you for any further
appropriations; otherwise, 1t will have to be
met by an additional drainage upon your trea-
sury,
You have more convict labor now in your
prison than can possibly be employed TO
advantage in the prison, and that portion OF
it might be employed in improving the capitol
grounds. This could be done without any addi-
tiOnal expense to the State. EXCEPT the salary Ot
q competent engineer.
We have abolished the old system of cor
poral punishment and inbuman treat
ment of prisoners with good results. No
prisoner is now whipped except in eX-
treme cases. and these only upon the order Of
the Board after a careful examination Of the
case. The warden has the power TO punish by
solitary confinement in dark cell upon bread
aud water. and deprive them of their Sunday
liberties We endeavOr so far as practicable to
make the prisoner feel that he is still a man,
and that he may by his good conduct ameliorate
his condition. The result has shown a more
willingness to work and to observe the rules Of
the prison and greater degree of eheerfulness
among them. The old custom under former
administrations, of inhlcting uDon prs
oners Tor the most trivial Ofense,
the most severe punishment, was disgrace to
the state. while it taught the prisoner that he
was no longer man, but brute, against
whom every mans hand was turned.
Since the death of Rev j. Huntington,
former chaplain Of the institution. the directors
have appointed the Rev. W. ID. II. SaWrie to /
that position. Mr.. SaWrie is an energetic and
devoted Christian, and devotes a portion Of
each Sabbath in preaching to the prisoners.
The services are very interesting and seem to be
highly appreciated By most Of the prisoners.
CSigned by) WV; SHANE,
M. r. MURRELL,
70. '.- cog CHAs. R0BIss0N,
Directors.
TIE Steward reports that from November l.
1868, to October ], 1859. the ylctualling account
amounted to $32 1874 g. average number Of con
Victs 459. Besides the cOnvicts, 81 persons were
fed, at an estimated cost Of 30 cents each per day
Clothing account, $5.ggl II; cost per day. each
man. 9-l0 cents. Shoe account, 81 ,49l 81: cost
for each man for IL months, So Is. ..
J. M. KercheVal reports that he has treated
various kinds of diseases since November l. AMI
that the sanitary condition of the prison, as TO
cleanliness of cells and premises, is good. lie
re ommeAds that the men working outside be
heavier cloth ed. and that better system Of
heating the different wings and cells be inSti
tuted before winter. The average number Of
h q aan FN d
and Southwest,
Rev. DR.. MCLEoN and DIR. Debson were
in the Scottish Highlands together on