The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-17
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
Report OF Board Of Directors.

Report OF Board OF Directors.
The report of the Board of Direc-
tors embraces a period Of only five
months, the new Board having entered
upon lis duties on the I'd day Of May,
1871, and the fiscal year closing on
the 30th of September. There 10 no
report made by the retiring Board.
Out OF. the appropriation OF $oo,ooo
made last February for the further con-
struction of the wall around the Peni-
Tertiary grounds, the former Board OF
Directors had expended the sum OF
$l5,294. &c, leaving subject to the order
of the present Board $34. 7O5.74: Work
was commenced in a short time, the
labor of convicts being employed where
ever it could be made available. The
estimated cost OF the completion OF the
wall, including gateways, coping the
wall and finishing the towers, is' IN
round numbers, $4,000, for which
amount an appropriation is earnestly
recommended.
The old stockade is rotten and lnse-
cure, and is in danger Of being blown
down by storms, as it was at one time
during last summer, when one prisoner
escaped, who has not been recaptured.
Until the wall is completed the con-
yicts are not only more or less insecure
and the enforcement OF proper prison
discipline impossible, but the cost OF
guarding them must necessarily amount
TO a considerable sum, the saving OF
which amount to the State Is OF itself
q sufficient reason to prosecute this
work to an early completion. -
The rear wall of the north wing cell
building when built, will form part OF
the. wall around the Penitentlary
grounds for a distance Of $50 feet,
which renders it necessary to put up al
least one wall of that building.
It is estimated that sc, 900 will put
I'D and complete the entire north cell
building, with the exception OF the cells,
which will not be needed for many
years, but the other part OF said build,
ipg besides furnishing necessary part
ofthe wall, could be used to great ad'
vantage for work shops for the convicts'
So soou az the wall around the prison
ground is completed, there will be but
little employment for the convicts,
until proper shops are provided to man
ufacture such articles as are found 10
be most profitable in penitentarles;;
We already see the necessity OF keep
ING the convicts employed; it tends to
the maintenance OF better order and
discipline, besides assisting very materl'
ally in supporting them, ard we believe
no other provision can be made that
would serve the interest OF the state
better than by completing the north
cell building. We therefore recon-
mend an appropriation of 100000 Tor
that purpose.
Warden's building is $4,000. This
building is a very fine structure, and
has been built at great cost, and has
been, and is now, being seriously dam,
aged by reason OF its incomplete and
exposed condition; and as matter OF
economy to the State we urge an appro'
nristion of the amount estimated as
necessary to complete this building
By making these appropriations they
will 80 far complete the Peniten'lary
building as to require but little II any
further appropriations for these pur'
noses for many years, and will not only
Mace the buildings in such condition as
will be creditable to the State. but Will
largely diminish the expense OF guard
inc the convicts and will afford iacill'
ties for making their labor more pro-
ductive. p,
There was appropriated in February
last, for the support OF conVicts' lhe
ann of $4,000, OF which the former
BOARD of Directors had drawn and ex'
nepded $l4,455.32, leaving only $3o93.'
n subiect to the order OF the
nresent Board for that purpose during
the five months between the LIST OF May
and the Let of October. 1t Is thought
that il a special appropriation be made
N cover the deficit Of the last year, the
snm of $4,000 will be sufficient Tor the
support Of convicts during the current
year. ,p.hu,arr sor
the nav Of guards was $500 for the
s.ooI year out of which the former
Roard had drawn s693O.l3, leaving
only Sl57O.s5 for the FIVE months end
ing September 80, thus creating a
deficit in that fund Of $43l5.S9. II an
anpropriation is made to cover this de-
ticiency, it is thought that $soOo viii DC
sufficient for the pay Of guards during
the current year. Attention ID caiieu
to the fact that the sums expended for
the support Of couvicts, and for the pay
NJ guards for the five months during
which the present Board has had
charge Of the Penitentiary, do not ex-
coed q proper proportion OF the sums
appropriated for these purposes ana
tbat the deficits referred to occurred
befo-e the present Board Of Directors
came into Office.
The Board desired to furnish a state
mept embracing the amounts OF all the
snpropriations made for the institution
s;nce lie establishment, with q detailed
account OF the disbursements; also q
statement of the condition of accounts
individual and otherwise, as they ap'
Deared on the books of the Peniten.
tisry; but such was the condition OF
the bookp when they came into the
ha,5. ~ ,hs nresent Board that such q
abatement was found to be Impossible
at present. Steps have been taken to
have the books examined, rewritten and
balanced and . detailed statement o.
sccounts will hereafter be submitted.
n Il recommended that the salary OF
che Clerk Of the Peniteutiary be fixed Of