, 1872-12-19
SPRINGFIELD.
Appropriations Asked for by the State
Board of Charities.
Coal Mine inspection.

Coal Mine Inspection.
Special Despatch to 1Hs Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Dec. 18.-The report Of the
Inspector Of Coal Mines for St. Clair County
says that, in consequence Of the refusal OF tho
County Court to fix the compensation for in
specting mines, he is unable to send L perfect
report. There are seventy-fve mines in st.
Clair County, employing $500 men and boys.
The coal is moved mostly by shafts. A few
mines are accessible by drifts and slopes. There
is but one vein Of coal averaging six feet, and it
is about 100 feet below the surface. No
estimate OF the capital is furnished,
owing to the limited time given tho
Inspector in which to report. He reports no
mines have noxious gases in them,s which rem
der them unsafe to work, some Of them having
what is known rs the 'sblack damp" In few
years, unless some system is devised for ventila-
ton, they cannot be worked at all About
twenty mines were inspected, q majority Of
which have no escapement shafts, aud fears are
entertained that q terrible disaster will occur
unless these necessary precautions are observed.
There have been four fatal accidents, two OF
which could have been avoidedif the Company had
complied with the law. The first, John Rock,
was caused by the failure Of the Company to fix
gates at the top Of the shaft. This occurred at
the O'Fallon mines. The other, at the Hog
gard Wilson mines, was caused by deficiency
in the machinery, and the carelessness of tho
engineer. The others were accidents. He
recommends, as amendments to the law, ashorter
limit in which to fix escapement shafta. The
time now allowed is one year for each lOu feet,
or fraction thereof, from July last; second, to
have two outlets to the mlness, without reference
amended, 80 as not to allow any person under Il
years old to be employed in the mines.
The Board Of Public Charities adjourned, to-
day, after making 3 classification Of approprla-
tion for current expenses and ordinary repairs
thought necessary By the Board, viz: Hospital
for the Insane, Jacksonville. $12o,000 per au-
mum; Institution for Deaf Mutes, Jacksonville,
S72, 500: Institution for the Blind, Jackson
vile, ST, 500; Institution for Idiots, Jackson
mai, s52, 500; Normal University, s28, 795; Eye
and Ear Intirmary, Chicago, $4,000 Northern
Insane Hospital, Elgin, "a, 900 State Reform
School, Pontiac, S25, 900 industrial University,
bonda1e, $4,000; Southern Insane Hospital,
Anna, $50, 900. Total, 94G4. .295.
The second class embraces the appropriations
for completing buildings in course of erection,
expenses Of immediate and P5easing necessity:
Insane Hospital, 5000; Southern Normal
University. ss0,o00 Ind dustrial University.
Ell Infirmary, s10,o00 School for Idiots,
instttien for Pet ei 9ntss aiaa
The third class embraces appropriations for
erecting new buildings, and other extraordinary
expenses Of less immediate necessity: Northern
insane Hospital, s1s6, SIS Industrial Univer-
School for idiots, $3.50. 900 Institution for Deaf
Mutes, s119,500; Institution for the Blind,
s125ooo; Reform School, 925,ooo. Total
The fourth class contains the apPopria!tiona Pr !a
pedient or of doubtful Propriety at present
Mutes, 81, 200; Soldiers Orphans Home, 81, 900;
industrial University, $4,000. Total. SITE. 200:
The pent1nt tea
Warden's, Chaplain'e, and Physician's reports:
a most gratifying exhibit is made in q Huccinct
and clear statement Of the affairs Of the insttu-
tion. They say that in submitting the report
Of the State on the improved condition Of the
Penitentiary. It is no longer burden to the
taxpayers. It is self-sustaining. There is .
surplus Of earnings over expenditures, and,
must continue to be self-sustaining. They
claim no credit for the result, except
that, by due diligence, application, and q sense
OF the trust reposed in them, they hope to have
discharged their duty to the people and the
State. The doubts Of some Of the best prison
authorities on the prospects Of leasing convict
labor seem to be removed by the result in one
prison, and the objection that it has the effect
OF deprecating the wages of 1aboring men they
are 10th to believe to be true, as it is hardly to
be supposed that 900 men shut up within tho
walls Of prison can have any perceptlble effect
on the great labor market outside.
The present contractors are a superior class
Of men; pay promptly, make no complaints,
Of the convicts, subscribing literally to every
way to reach the result They are not permit
ted by the authorities to interfere with the dis
cipline.
They refer to the Wardeu's report to show
that for the first year under the new system,
and while it was being tried, the excess Of ez-
penditureB over earnings vas sN ,o58.
81. In the present year, and when
the Bystem came into complete
effect the excess Of earnings over expenditures
was s., ,629.71. Deducting the permanent i'm
provements Of the prison leaves q balance OF
s25, ,254.56 to the credit Of the prison. These
improvements were rendered necessary and I'M
perative to accommodate the contractors and to
better the sanitary condition of the prison: A
fire brigade was also formed and equipped, in
case OF fire. The grounds in front of the prison,
which had been very much neglected, we're re-
paired.
The administration Of the prison is conducted
on the congregational system, and not on the
solitary plan, being the more humane one. Tho
books OF the prison show a constant decrease IN
puniBhments, and at the Same time, the discl-
pline is all that can be desired. The solitary
cells have been abolished, save one to meet ex-
conyicts, has dwindled down from 100 to go
cells. 10 keep up discipline resort to punish
ment must he had, and in this prison,
the largest in the United S:ates it is matter Of
congratulation that the discipline is steadily lm-
proving, and the resort to punishment ls becom-
ing less and less. While the State should main
tain the discipline necessary, it was 3 query
what means could be employed to lead the con-