The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-01-04
BE. JUST AND FEAR MOTT
Il RICHMOND.

vile, KY, on the Ohio River, about
the year 1922. Like many of the
county jails the cells were built Of
hewed logs about fifteen inches
square, securely dovetailed togeth-
er. The doors Of thick oak planks
bound with iron bands. A hole in
the centre of the door three inches
square was the only arrangement for
ventilation. The first year there
were seven convicts,- three lessees
had charge of them, who received
from the State bonus of $500, in
addition to the proceeds of the Ia
Dor OF the prisoners. In course of
q few years this temporary building
was followed by a brick one, which
was occupied until the present build
ing was erected in 1847 and As. Il
is Of brick, surrounded by q brick
wall 3 IL feet thick and 26 feet
high, enclosing about four acres of
ground, in which are situated the
shops, as well as cell houses. The
Cells are Z IL feet by 4 and 6 IL
feet high, with no light or ventila-
ton except through the grated
door. There are now 4O6 prisoners
(about 20 of whom are women)
confined in the prison. The build
ing is considered wholly unsuitable
and the Directors of the Prison and
the Governor of the State unite In
urging it's abandonment, The sys-
tenn of leasing was abandoned in
1856 and the present plan adopted by
which the labor of the prisoners is
let to Contractors at a fixed price
per day. Most of them are now
employed in the manufacture of
Rail Road Cars, under the direction
OF foremen and men furnished by
the Car Company. The manage
ment and government of the prison
is in the hands of a board of three
directors, elected by the Legislature.
These directors elect Warden,
Chaplain, Physician and Moral In
structor. The Warden has the ap-
pointment of Deputy, Clerk and
such number of assistant Keepers
as the directors may deem neces-
sary. The Discipline at present is
kind, and the officers Efficient and
good men. Provision is made by
law for the Moral Instructor to
teach such convicts as the Warden
may send s.the art of reading, writ
ing, arithmetic, and geography. -
It is also the duty of the Moral In
stuctor, to ''superintend the mental
and moral improvement of the con-
victs, instruct them once every Sab
bath, visit them when sick, have
charge of the Library, and super
intend the distribution and use of
the books, and adopt such other
means for the reformation of the
convicts as he, the Warden, and Di-
rectors may deem expedient."
The increase of prisoners, togeth-
er with the fact that the jefferson
vile Prison is located at the extreme
southern part of the State, led the
Legislature in 1859, to pass q law
for the erection of another Prison
at Michigan City, on Lake Michigan
in the north part of the State. This
has been completed and in opera
ton several years and now contains
341 prisoners. The laws and regu-
lations for the government of the
Jeffersonville prison are in force for
that at Michigan City and the same
methods of labor, discipline, &C.,
are used The building is a good
one,-cells well ventilated and light
ed, and sufficient provision is made
for the health and comfort of the
prisoners.
The Constitution of the State pro-
vides that the Governor .sshall have
power to grant reprieves, commuta-
tions and pardons. The whole
number of convicts in both the State
Prisons at present is 1877 men and
20 women. These receive by law
$15 when discharged, .tand every
article of value which he may have
had in his possession when received.
No other provision is made by law
for discharged convicts-nor are
there any associations in existence
for the purpose. The number of
convicts discharged from both
prisons during the year was
266. A bill is now before the In
diana Legislature, providing for a
State Board of Prison Commission
ers, which shall have charge Of the
Prisons of the State, with q view of
bringing about gradation of pris-
oners, and other useful improve
ments in the prison system.