The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-12-13
VOLUME @XIX---NO. a..
mates ; received under sentence since

uldLeS ieCclVeu uTQcr sentence SINCE
231 recaptured. s-total during the
year, 558; from which were discharg-
ed by expiration of sentence, SO par.
doned, 1853; died, 13 escaped 13-24S;
number now in confinement, 309,
whereof 3O1 are males and 8 females.
Two of the latter have each a child,
one Of which was born a short time
after the mothers arrival. The evils
adverted to in the Superintendent's
last report, of imprisoping women in
u penal institution unprovided with
facilities and conveniences necessary
for an absolute separation of the sexes,
are still unabated, and it is earnestly
hoped that they may be provided for
in some appropriate asylum.
Ihe estimates accompanying the
Superintendent's report, which he
claims will admit Of no abatement, for
salaries, materials, clothing &C., ag-
gregates in the neighborhood Of $780,
900. In addition to which, there is
actual deficiency of $17, ,457, the items
and the necessity for the expenditure
Of which are explained. The erec-
ton OF permanent workshops is of
imperative necessity for the welfare
and true prosperity of the institution.
The time is rapidly approaching when
the unskilled labor now utilized must
be dispensed with, and the force now
so employed will have to be otherwise
occupied, by gradually instructing
them in the mechanic arts appropriate
to an institution of this kind and. il
provision is not made in time for
teachin 6 tho inmates these industries,
much will be- incurred by the State
and disease and Generalization result
to the convicts. aa.
It will be seen from tho above table
thrt 153 convicts have been pardoned
during the past year. Of these, eighty
FIVE were pardoncd on the reeommen
dations of presiding Juuges and the
petitions of numerous good citizens o,
The Counties in which they were con
victed, and sixty-eight, when within o
few days of the expiration Of their
sentences, for god conduct,
The whole number Of pardons
granted by me does not exceed the
number granted by my predecessors
for the same period when compared
with the number Of convictions
Moreover, under previous admins
trations, the penalties for petty. of
fences were not as severe as they or,
now, there being then no penitentia
ry system of imprisonment at hare
labor. 80 =
LIBRARY AND CAPITOL BUILDING
I call your attention to the recon-
mendatlons of the State Librarian
who has charge of the capitol ane
grounds, many of which are impol
tant, such as the required repairs tt
the roof of the capitol and fencing O.
the grounds. I must say, however
in all matters that relate to appropri,
ations that are of no immediate ne
cessity, the expenditure Of public
money should be avoided. -.
FERTILIZERS.
The report OF the Inspector O
Guanos and Fertilizers shows large
ly increased production Of phosphat
ic manures, and largely expanded
facilities for collecting them. The
total productions of the phosphate
beds Of South Carolina, for the year
both land and river, has been $4,000
tons, and d1ring tho same period 10,
900 tons Of commercial fertilizers
havo been manufactured in Char
lesion. The demand for phosphate
rock has increased in foreign mar
kets, but at home, in consequence Of
the diminished domestic consumption.
has, at best remained stationary. The
Inspector states that the advance
toward o higher standard in quality
still continues, and his laboratory has
been equipped with complete out
fit of apparatus, chemicals and spec
linens, drawn from the best European
and American sources, and sufficient
for investigation in all departments
of analytical chemistry.
STATE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
The late hour at which the report
of the Board of Trustees of the
State Orphan Asylum, at Charleston
was received, renders it impossible
for me to do more than call the at
tention of the General Assembly to
it's recommendations and suggestions.
This institution is deserving the fos-
terinc care Of the State, as it shelters
and provides for o large number OF
orphan, who would otherwise bo left
on the cold charities Of the world, to
become victims of vice and immor'
lality. " -.
TIE BLUE. RIDGE RAILROAD.
This road, in which both the State
and the city of Charleston has had
so largo al interest in stock, has been
the subject Of anxiety on the part OF
both the Legislature and the people
The depreciation in State finances
has rendered the bonds endorsed. by
the State almost valueless, so far as
the State guarantee was concerned
After consulting many prominent
business men, who favored the plan,
l recommended to the Sinking Fund
Commission the propriety Of dispos'
ing of the State stock to a private
corporation, which project was car
red into effect on the 22d day of Ju'
ly last, the new company agreeing to
pay all floating debts of the road,
together with one dollar per share to
the State for tho stock, and S50,OoO
to the State on the completion Of the
road, the whole to be completed with,
in five years. 1t is well-established
fact, that the public enterprise can be
managed more economically by a prl-