Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-01-27
and make an approximation to Indemnify the

on the first Of November last was two hundre
and twelve. all OF whom were males. Durinl
/ the past two years. two hundred and thirty
nine have been received, and one hundred ant
eighty -four di.char ged one has escaped ant
| two have died. The discipline Of the prison i
good Punishment by the lash has given plac'
! to milder but more effcacious modes OF treat
ment. One Of the objects contemplated In tn
punishment Of The malcfsctors being their refor
| nation and restoration to society, everything
Of debasing and bru;aiizing character, in ths
care of conyicts, should II possible be avoided
Experience having now demonstrated that the
punishment Of the lash can be abolished with.
out injurious consequences to prison discipline,
l recommend that the General Assembly pro-
hibit By positive enactment the use Of this de-
grading torture.
The Warden estimates the amount OF apprO-
priatioDs required for the use Of the prison, ex-
elusive of the care Of the cOnvicts, and
including needed extension and improve.-ents,
at SIT 600,
The cel-room at the Pehitentiary may be
enlarged so as To accommodate three hundred
and eighteen convicts. The number Of pris-
oners on the first Of November last, as we have
seen, two hundred and twelve. Two
years before, II was one hundred and sixty. A
proportionate increase In the future Will,
before many years. again exhaust the capacity
Of the prison. An enlargement Of the build
iDgs, owing to the peculiarities Of the ground,
would be extremely difficult and very ex-
pensive. Withal, the locality Is such as TO
render II very onerous on the northern and
western counties in the transportation OF Grim.
ipals. 1 therefore recommend that the General
Assembly provide for the appointment OF
commission to select, somewhere in the north
ern part of the State, site Tor new penlten-
tary. 1t should be located SO as TO be con-
venlentiy situated In regard to railroad facili-
ties. near a good quarry of building stone, and
where sufficient supply of water could be
readily obtained for the use Of the prison.
would also recommend that tie skilled labor Of
the Penitentiary be made available in the erec-
ton of the walls and building. 1t IL believed
that the surplus labor OF the prisOn, which
comprises all for whose employment no con-
tract has been made, could thus be used 10
advantage In preparing the stone and laying
the walls.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The las, General Assembly, in obedience to
an urgent demand from the people Of all por-
iions Of the State, passed an act providing for
the Establishment OF Reform School TO which
juvenile convicts, and disOrderly and incorrl-
gibie youth. should be sent for reformation
and education. In accordance with that act,
the Trustees leased the tract Of land and prop
erty belonging to Whites Manual Labor lnsti-
tute, comprising 400 acres OF land, situated
in Lee county, partly improved with some
tenement houses, and the Institute building
with walls up and roof on. contract was
entered into for the completion Of the building,
and the work was carried through with such
expedition that in September, 1863 the {. hool
was ready To receive boys, the first OF whom
was admitted October7, 1868. The number Of
boys thus far received Is forty-five. The lin
tied appropriation made at the last session
would not permit the completion Of buildings
for the accommodation Of girls, and thus far
only one has been admitted. The number at
present in the School il forty, viz. thirty nine
boys and one girl. The appropriation having
been exhausted in preparing the building for
the reception Of inmates, the Trustees, rather
than have the School closed and the experiment
a abandoned gave their individual notes to the
amount Of $1,000, with which to raise money
to carry on and support the institution till the
General Assembly should make an appropria
ton.
In the observations Of the Trustees, as to
improvements Oh the present grounds, heart
lily concur. There should be no further ex-
pcnditurc on buildings there, except Tor re-
pairs, and / recommend that measures be
adopted towards the selection of new site
for the School, centrally located and accessible
by railway, and for the erection OF suitable
at an early day. In connection with
The institution, there should be ut least one
section Of land, which the inmates OF the
School might cultivate II shop also should be
provided where mechanical avocations could
be followed; and thus the institution be rem
iered to great extent selfsuppOrting. The
Il
tending till 1878, with the privilege OF relin-
gushing at any time. would suggest that as so
much money has been expended on the build
ngs there, the General Assembly take into con-
the propriety OF renting the lands, re-
taining.the buildings and placing them under
he charge Of ladies, for the reception OF such
girls rs may be committed TO the Reform
school.
The total expenditures of the school, inclu-
ling improvements on the grounds and build
ng up To the LIST Of November last, amounted
20 &26, 86567. To meet this, $l9, 600 was drawn
rom the State Treasury, and Is, 1880 from
rents of farm, etc. The indebtedness of the
school, including amount necessary to sustain
i until the General Assembly shall have made
IN appropriation, Is 80, 7S9. recommend that
this appropriation be made ut an early day, as
The institution is seriously embarrassed for want
Of funds.
regret to say that this institution thus far
has not met the expectations Of Its friends.
Perhaps the most prominent source OF this dis
appointment lies in its isolated location. At
an incOnvenient distance from railroad and tel
egraph stations, its expenses have been unduly
large, and with insecure places OF confinement
escapes have been frequent. Imperfect as Its
success may have been, however, let US not be
discouraged; but let us continue our Efforts to
improve and perfect system based upon prin-
ciples OF benevOlence and charity.
The report of Trustees and officers OF the
various institutions referred to by me, will be
laid before you, and will, have no doubt, re-
ccivc the attentive consideration of the Gcner-
al Assembly.
would ask Of tho General Assembly q thor
Ough and minute examination OF the institu-
tions under the care Of the State, that their
condition may be thoroughly known and their
wants ascertained, and such aid extended, as In
the light Of the knowledge thus obtained may
be suggested by an enlightened liberality,
which, while dcsirious of outstanding the re-
sources of the State, Is yet actuated by such
breadth of view as will maintain and elevate
the character of these institutions.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The last General Assembly made u special
appropriation to this society Of six thousand
dollars, In addition to the fixed amount OF
one thousand dollars and the Society has re-
ceived from other sources, Including former
balance, $325, 30, making its total income g.
1920 Its expenditures were G,6O4O.
The Society still continues its labors In asccr.
tanning and perpetuating the early history Of
Iowa, a work Of increasing urgency ~ our
pioneers gradually pass away.
THE CAPITOL.
The report of the Census Board, acting as a
Board of Commissioners, under the provisions
of chapter 81, of the Acts of the last General
Assembly, will be submitted to your honorable
body at an early day, accompanied with the
plans to which premiums were awarded. In
my opinion, these plans should be examined
by competent architect, with authority to
consolidate them with such other meritorious
plans AS have been or may hereafter be submit.
ted, In such a manner that while symmetrical
plan is elaborated, the maximum Of con-
yenicnce and accommodation may be attained
A suitable building for the meeting Of Its lcgis.
lat ura for tho Nndn inn IF pYeCutiVp