Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-07
Z.
ASSAoHUsETTS STATE PRISON. :

BosToN, Feb. Sd, 1871.
To the Editor of tbs Kenneoee Journals
Perhaps few facts about the Massachu-
setts State Prison, in Charlestown, may prove
of interest to your numerous readers after the
letter on prisons and their accomplishments
that has just appeared in your columns.
There are at the present time five hundred
and sixty convicts in this institution. These
are taken care of by thirty-one officers,
though there are thirty-nine in all connected
with the institution including the three In
spectors.
The past year has been one OF continued
prosperity and success under the excellent
management of Warden Haynes. Only four
teen deaths occurred during the past year.
Sixty three were pardoned during the year
ending October 1870. An evening school
was carried on through the year, excepting in
the summer months, under the direction of
Mr.. W. Z. Eaton of the Harvard school Of
that city. About one hundred Of the inmates
attend. BY an act of the Legislature, in the
future, the Chaplain is to have charge Of the
school under the direction of the Warden and
Inspectors. Arrangements were made for
course of lectures during the winter. Not
including the Chaplain's salary the total sx-
penditure for educational purposes for the
whole year was SS78.73.
Holidays are eagerly anticipated by the
convicts and enjoyed beyond all description.
The seventeenth of last June they were the
recipients Of sumptuous repast of straw
berries from II. c. L. Dorsey, Esq, ofPaw-
tucket, r. L., and on last Tuesday, January
thirty first, they had roast dinner, the occa-
sion being his birthday. He has well earned
the title of 'sThe Prisoners Friend" Each
convict has clean suit of clothes for Sundays
| and holidays.
The financial prosperity Of the past year
was not so great as that Of the preceding
years on account of the expense of furnishing
the extra suits of clothes to the men, the in
crease of salaries and evening schools.
The contracts for the year 1870 were with
the Tucker Manufacturing Co., for bronzed
iron goods, II. S. Doane & Co., brushes,
Averell & Hunting, bushes, and Ira Blanch-
ard for shoes. The net profit of the years
work was S26, 1880. In 1869 the result was
s2s, ,556.05. The exact amount paid into the
State treasury in four years by this institution
is $l05,330.39. During the past year gas has
been introduced into each cell. Each one
has a small gas jet over his table at which he
can sit and read or study very comfortably.
On the first of September last Rev. M. NJ.
Parkhurst took the place of Rev. G. j. Carle-
ton as Chaplain of the institution and he has
been succeeded by the Rev. w. w. Colbu-n.
There have been many changes in the Office
of Chaplain since the Rev. DR.. Kicker, now
of Augusta, SO ably filled the position. We
were very politely treated on our visit to the
institution the other day, and we trust the
| distinguished Warden-Hon. Gideon Eaynes
who has filed that trying office for thirteen
years, may live to incorporate into our sys-
tenn of prison discipline all the good that he
| found last summer in his examinations Of
model prisons abroad. Tom MIRUM-;