Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-17
The Annual Report of the state
Drfeon WnSDeCtOrS,

fElbOn AhsRCSeOASs
We understood through private source
that the annual report Of the Inspectors OF
our State Prison was presented to the
Governor last evening, and will probably
be read in the Senate to-day. We also OBJ
tanned an inkling of its general character,
and Of a few of the points made and re-
Communications offered. AS is well known,
this Penitentiary question has been prob
lem that has never been solved to the
satisfaction of at least the taxpayer, until
its administration passed into the hanos Oh
the present Board; and not even yet Is tne
fact that it has been solved generally
known, ncr will it be generally credited,
in view of the past record OF this state IN
stitution. until the facts and figures that
we feel sure are contained In the report
are given publication. .
When the present Board of Inspectors
took charge of its affairs, they founI =
entombed in an almost impenetraoie III III
os, and almost hopelessly buried I Ien
| the ruins of debt and general lnso e IA 90
| II was not only then In deos, Du '5 a.
long been in debt that its creolt az 80 ~
ciai resources had long since V@nlono nv
the wheels of its progress were ooinpl go.
| cloooed. so that nothing save inc HneeV
fipsnciering md complete fevo s -. -
| faot of its affairs could save II from eo'ai
bankruptcy and set it upon It's feet IN
/ sef-sustaining relation. The present Doato
have not only done this, but are even now
assuming the aggressive, and II they can
receive the endorsement OF the otate IN
| their present plans, will convert the lnsn-
tuition from dead weight on the treasury
| TO a source Of very material revenue.
They have now Completed substantial
| wall. which encloses the entire PRISON
grounds, built drsyhouses and made many
other minor improvements, and this much
we understand they ask the State to pay
for, as a matter of course. In the re-
organization they have redeemed much OF
the credit, or rather made credit, for the
prison; they have placed it in condition
| which is creditable to our State, and II
keeping with proper humanity to the
| convicts themselves; they have classified
| and svstematiZed the labor, so that skilled
semi-skilled and unskilled labor in no Wls'
conflict, and if their recommendations arr
regarded there will not be convict OF an!
grade but that may be employed to an al
vantage to the State, no matter, scarcely
what NAV be his or her disabilities. I'M
| latter item is one never properly under
| stood heretofore, notwithstanding 1t Is IN
most important of all others where
: other grades of humanity are placed IN
| mass to be employed. In order to be eT
abled to extend the business IN the line
of manufacturing already carried on, an
TO add other branches suitable to som
classes of convicts not now furnished VII
as profitable employments as they mgr
| be, the Board asks of the State a loan
their credit in the form OF Sl00,ooo
: Tennessee bank bills merely TO plae
on deposit as collateral security,
that they may have backln
, | in thoroughly establishing the credit OF u
institution, and be enabled 10 take 10
, | purchase of materials and the selling
! | their products entirely into thor ow
hands, and thereby have the Tree and III
a | trammeled administration OF thor own
fairs. A compliance with this request vi
not involve single cent OF the pu61
2 | money, but is simply an endorsement
T which they feel sure may well be granite
by the State in the face of their past sat
cess and present condition.
They also ask the Legislature TO legsll1
/ the two branches of the Penitentiary the
. / have established at the Sewanee and Battl
creek coal mines, as two distinct brancht
: / of the institution. The creating OF theS
two establishments, wherein may be pro
, | itably employed the major portion OF u
unskilled labor, is an original idea W.T.
, ! the Board. we believe, and by this meaI
this usually Improbable class are made
| earn a clear gain to the State of forty cen
} | per day, per capita, and the request tbi
| they be made legal branches of our Sta
Prison by Legislative action Is III stIIct a,
| cordance with the popular will as alread
/ expressed.
1.-THE Legislature grants the security asked
the Board stands ready TO guarantee tbs
I | in two years they can redeem the lace
| their collateral, and return revenue Int
| the State Treasury of $50, 900 per year--
, the same time paying all expenses as the
| go and providing better accommodation
! | and treatment of prisoners than was po
/ | sible to provide before. They recommen
the creating of separate ward for +
} | male convicts, as being in keeping wit
, | propriety and common humanity, which
) point most properly and thoughtful
taken.
, These are q few of the more prOminer
! | points embraced in the report, as we ar
informed, and the entire report, whic
| will be heard in the Legislature to-day
will we'll repay peruSa! when published
! and the recommendations therein cor
tanned are, we feel sure, entitled to t
serious consideration Of our legislators
A an eminent degree.
II Very many Of the State prisons of II
country are made, by proper administer
tive ability, very extensive and reliab
q sources of revenue-we instance that
Michigan-and 1t seems to us that Il
4 right key has finally been struck, in Il
management of our Tennessee Penitel
4 tiary, and if the theory Of the pressi
Y | Board meets a second from the State v
believe it will very soon be established q
permanent, and not only self sustain
/ inc INIT a money making basis