The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-01-20

/ would also recommend. in con
nection with the foregoing, that
sufficient amount OF land DO lease,
at the Davenport Home, TO be cult
waited by the boys, under proper di
rcction, on which might be produce
a large part of the cereals, fruit, ant
vegetables consumed in the irstitu
ton; and l would include the erection
of shops, at which various sorts o
handioraft might be taught and car
riod on tor the benefit and sup
port of the Homo. This labol
while thus relieving the Stat
of much of the expense of main
tanning the Home, would be of create
benefit to the children themselves il
training them to habits of industry
and economy, and fitting them 70,
the active duties OF life.
This subject has caused me mucl
thought, and have telt it my duty
to present these views for your con
sideration, in the full belief that I'm
less some action be taken in the di
rcction l have indicated, much O
the patriotic liberality of our people
will have been wasted, and possibly
made productive moro of injury thar
of good to these children of worthy
si"cs.
PENITENTIARy OF TUE STATE.
The extension and improvem 6ts
at the Penitentiary provided forty
the last General Assembly have been
completed, and tho building has now
twice its former capacity, with cells
for two hundred and sixty-six con-
victs +; and the entire editice is
strong and well lighted and vcntila-
ted.
The hospital building, containing,
in, addition to the hospital, the chap.
ell, dining-room, kitchen, and store
room, was destroyed by fire on the
night of the 10th of May, 1868, in
volving also the loss of some $4,000
worth of stores, There being no
provision made by law for such con-
tingencies, the Treasurer Of State,
at the request of the Census Board,
on the 18th of June, 1868, advanced
the sum ofs5,519.63 to be used in re-
placing the building. This amount
was sufficient to inclose and prepare
the new house for use, but more is
needed to complete it. To meet
the loss incurred by the destruction
of supplies, the Census Board, in
June, 1868, appropriated $4,000 out
of the general contingent fund. This
being found insufficient, the Census
Board, on the 23rd day of March last
requested the Treasurer to advance
the further sum of $4,000, which re-
quest was complied with. For the
sums advanced by the Treasurer Of
State, amounting to S9,519.63, that
officer holds an indemnity bond,
jointly executed by the individual
mombors of the Census Board. The
indispensableness of these buildings,
50 constantly needed in the every day
transactions at the Penitentiary, is SO
apparent that it is hoped the Gener.
al Assembly will approve of the &C
ton of the Census Board and make
an appropriation to indemnify the
Treasurer.
The number of convicts in the
Penitentiary on the first of Novem.
Der last was two hundred and twelve
all of whom were males. During the
past two years, two hundred and
thirty-nine have been received, and
one hundred & eighty four discharged
one has escaped, and two have died
The discipline of the prison is good
Punishment by the lash has given
place to mi1der but more efficacious
modes of treatment. One of the oh
jects contemplated in the punishment
Of malefactors being their retorma
ton and restoration to society, every
thing of a debasing or brutalizing
character, in the care of convicts
should if possible be avoided. Elk
perionce having now demonstrated
that the punishment of the lash car
be abolished without injurious conse
quences to prison discipline, l rec
ommend that the General Assembly
prohibit by positive enactment tho
use of this degrading torture.
The Warden estimates the amount
of appropriations required for the
use of the prison, exclusive of Tho
care OF convicts, and including need
ed extension and improvements, al
$4,000.
The coll-room at the Penitentiary
may be enlarged so as to accommo-
date three hundred and eighteen con.
victs. The number OF prisoners on
the first of November last, as we
have seen, was two hundred and
twelve. Two years before, it was
one hundred and sixty. A proper
tionate increase in the future will,
before many years, again exhaust
the capacity Of the prison. An en-.
largement of the buildings, owing to
the peculiarities Of tho ground,
would be extremely difficult and very
expensive. Withal, the locality is
such as to render it very onerous
on the northern and western counties
in the transportation OF criminals
| therefore recommend that the
General Assembly provide for the
appointment of a commission to Sc
lect, somewhere in the northern part
Of the State, a site for a new peniten.
tiary. 1t should be located SO as to
be conveniently situated in regard to
railroad facilities, near a good quarry
of building stone, and where sufiic-
lent supply of water could be readily
obtained for the use of the prison. l
would also recommend that the skill
ed labor of the Penitentiary be made
available in the erection Of the walls
and building. 1t is believed that the
surplus labor of the prison, which
comprises all for whose employment
no contract has been made, could
thus be used to advantage in pre-
pairing the stone and laying the
walls.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The last General Assembly, in
obedience to an urgent demand from
the people Of all portions of the
State, passed an act providing for
tho establishment of Reform School
to which juvenile convicts, and disor.
derby and incorfigible youth, should