The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-19

balances were not sufficient to support
and guard the cnnvicts from May /, and
the necessity for appropriations tn meet
the deficiencies, is at once apparent. The
Legislature at its last session apprOpri.
atcd $4,000 "iOr the further construction
Of the wall around the pCnitcntiary, the
old Board Of Directors drew and CNpcnd-
ed Sli,90i % Of this appropriation.
The largest portion Ot this sum WAS con.
sumcd IN the payment Of debts created
before the passage Of the act making the
appropriation, and il is believed that lit.
tie, II any Of it, was used Tor the COns,ruc.
| ton Oi the wall.
An examination Of the reports Of the
Auditor, beginning with lsGG, will reveal
the fact that the State has already cX.
pended in the construction Of the Pcnitcn.
tiary the sum OF $?iSj3i9 What
amount will yet he required To complete
| II, | have no means Vt knowing. The
Board estimate that twill require $50 900
IL complete the WardCn's building and
the wall and erect the outside walls ul the
north cell building. There can be little
doubt that the building and grounds were
projected on Il scale much beyond the ne.
Ccssilics Of the state, and her resources
have in consequence been iniudiciOusly
taxed, The south cell building, which is
nearly complete, contains two hundred
and twcnty.i0ur cells, while the number
Of COnvicis, October |, 1871, was but one
hundred and three The north CCllhuili.
ing, which is intended To he OIsimiar size
| 10 the other, il erected would not b. need.
Ell for the purpose Of incarCrrating con.
vicls, and could he OF use only rs work
shops, Add to this the fact that the wall
and buildings will make IN enclosure of
about seven and three iOurths acres, and
you will have some conception Of the size
Of the building and grounds. No shops
worthy of name have been erected. This
isa want severely tclt. 70 require the
Convicts To labor, is IN act Of humanity to
them, while at the same time they can
thus he compelled TO contribute 10 their
own maintenance. In some of the States
the penilcntiarics are scll.supporting, in
Others they are made to yield revenue
to the State. | earnestly recommend that
you will devise some means OF utilizing
the labor Of C0nviCts, so that the cost OF
maintaining and guarding them may he
gradually diminished until our pcnilcn.
tiary may become scl.supporting.
The financial condition Of the State will
not permit appropriations to the extent
asked by the Board Of Directors; but YOU
will doubtless meet the pressing wants OF
this institution rs literally ms Won will feel
authorized 10 do. The Board and officers
from their past management, give strong
assurance that they will wisely care for
the interests Of the State in the future.
The request Of the Superintendent that
the law be 50 modified rs to give the
Board power to restore 10 Il convict for.
icitcd good time" when he is rcpuntant,
is worthy OF your consideration. A list OF
the pardOns granted and the reasons
therefor will be communicated. to you ut
III carly day.
TIE MOKGANTOwE UNIVERSITY.
The Regents of the University report
that this institution holds on its way not
only with undated energy, but with still
continued and increasing success. Evi.
dCnCC of this is seen in the large number
of students on the rolls of the Faculty; in
the special enlargement of the higher
classes; in the increasing facilities in the
way OF apparatus, library, cabinets, and in
the whole tone and lie Of the institution"
a school that seeks to rank among the
first in letters and science is not the
growth Of Il year or of Il decade. In its
struggles and efforts it is most sensitive to
adverse influences; it demands iOrbcaranCc
towards wants and Deficiencies that can
not nj once be supplied, and claims Il
generous appreciation Of whatever is en-
CclIGnt in it. II is Il cause Ol graduation
that our University has escaped the i'll.
starred fate Of many similar institutions,
and that ii is gradually winning its way
into public favor
The finances Of the University are not
in very satisfactory condition. There
is debt Of $3.50, incurred more than a
| year ago on account OF constructing the
new building, and also deficit in current
expenses, the amount Of which does not
clearly appear; debts heretofore contract.
ed have been paid of, and thus the vi
cious practice OF anticipating the resources
OF succeeding years has grown up, and
the effect is debt left outstanding at the
close of each year. There is but one safe
rule in public as well ms private affairs,
aud that is to keep expenditures within
the limits Of annual income
The report Of the Board 0l Regents does
not cover the fiscal year, but extends only
to the 10Th day Ol June last. Since that
time, and within the fiscal year, the An.
ditor has paid SlO,OOO-thc amount mp,
proprlatcd for endowment purposes
also Sl,2iO-thc residue Of ihc apprOpri.
alton Tor current expenses recommend
that you provide the means to meet the
estimated deficiency for current expenses,
and also to pay off the Indebtedness for
construction, lUr which some oi' the Re.
gents have made themselves individually
liable; if you should be Of the opinion
that the condition Of the Treasury will
permit, it may he ne well tn appropriate
m amount sufficient to pay oil nil this in.
dchtcdnCsS. Even if our resources were
ample, conceive it would not he good
policy to grant the request of the Board
tor M additional appropriation for per.
mancnt endowment. This is nothing
more than the imposition Of IN cxtraOrli.
nary burden upon the present generation,
in order tO relieve our successors tor all
time to come. The University is pub.
lie institution, and there can be no good
reason given why It's future wants should
now he provided for, that would not au.
ply to the Hospital for the Insane, or the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind School. The lc.
Ultimate effect Of this policy would he to
build up corporation independent OF the
hcgislAturc-an end not to he desired.
by law it is made the duty of the Gov.
crnor to provide suitable place for the
storage Of arms belonging to the State.
For the want Of m appropriation for this
purpose this law could not he executed,
| invite your special attention to the re.
commcndation Of the Board of Regents
for IN armOrY or arsenal. The corps Of
cadets, under the very efficient officer de.
tailed by the War Department, can here
guard and take care Of the public arms
with little expense to the State,