, 1873-01-17
First Annual Report Of Superintcnd-
ent FELTON,.
What an Earnest Man Has Ac-
complished.
Nearly Seven Thousand Pris-
oners Taken Care Of.
Interesting Remarks and Falua-
bic Suggestions.

UAS A1h3RN0tAo4@s
The Superintendent OF the House of Correc-
Ion, Charles E. FELTON,, completed yesterday his
,erort Of the workings Of tho institution for the
rsst yea., and submitted it to the Mayor, to be
presented by him to the Council next hIonday
u;cht. sub;oinea is en- abstract of the report,
uh:th is very interesting:
3: PEELMNARY.
At tic Cate Of assuming the dulles Of Super
ir.erdeut. Jan. 1, 1872, the system Of manage
r,e3 Of the prison WAS that usually in vogue in
t,ils Of the State, the prisoners being confined
in their cells, without employment: the city pay
iaz the Superintendent; in additioc to q nominal
eaisrv, = per diem allowance for the dieting Of
e.ch prisoner. T1;s number Of inmates wes not
large, and tho polio: Of the authorities Was to
release, without rigid inquiry into tile
csrsa Of imprisonment, with view generally
to E reduction Of the number Of
i,cltes. This system Of dieting prisoners being
e1ueusi7e, and other features still more jec-
tionxble, the Board directed such changes as we're
thought to be necessary, at least securing to tho
institution in its iirst years history
REAsos.BLE AND PEcuSAAY RESULTS,
and warrant;ng the hope that, as correctional
institution, it may, at early day mike claim.
The Kind Of prisoners in confinement; the short
ness Of their Imprisonment: their liability to he
discharged at any hour by the payment Of the
balance Of thei- fine, or otherwise; the location
Of the prison, remote from the city, and not ac-
cesaible fos handling material economically;
without workshops: tho grounds not enclosed
Ill contributed to repder
THE TASK OF ORGANIZATION
1t least en unpleasant one. Owing to the en-
bazrssscd condition Of tho city'a finances after
The fire, he Was not inclined to press the con-
t.ruction Of workshops until moro favorable
day. Hence, his efforts wero directed to the
employment Of his available labor at work con-
ne,ted with the institution. enclosing and i'm
proving the grounds, fitting up ths prisons,
establishing discipline among the inmates, and
preparing for productive industries. Brick
making gave to the male prisoners, during the
tu1iznez MONTHS labor for which they. we're
suited, and was productive Of satisfactory re-
cults. Nearly all the females who we're not re-
qui1cd to work for tho institution had been em-
ployed in the manufacture Of horse-nets and
SCREENS, and in washing for the Police Depart
meat.
An ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION.
Thcro was al impression In the minds Of
tioEe net familiar with prison management that
t1e industries Of an institution Of this kind
should pay its ordinary expenses; but there Was
very little competition for its labor when placed
in the market, showing 3 want Of confidence in
its worth, or fear IS to the ease OF it's manage
lnent. The labor can b utilized Ut many kinds
Of mechanical industry, and its management is
not subject to as great annoyances as are often
experienced with free labor. Prisoners desire
to se employed, and aro apt in adaptin their
talent to any industry they may be placed At.
and employers nre in error in thinking other
vie There was larger average Of intelligent
labor in this than in many other city prisons
where prisoners are employed, and the result Of
the -car's experiences should give confidence in
its r7oductivcueEs, if proper employment was (
secured |
The total earnings and receipts for the year |!
wars S22, ,093.53, and tho expenses s56, ,56l.80. |
Among other receipts was Sc, 522 for balances |
due upon executions. There Was manifest in |
Justice in the law which passed to the credit OF
this source. After prisoners passed out Of tho |
bands cf the police authorities, they were |
brough: to the House OF Correction and cared
for until their release by payment Of balance
the property Of another fund. Tho cost Of
anti1' release, ehou]d be an expense
to that fund, if .ne amount |
House Of Correction. Prison labor had been
r:ed in the making Of the improvements. and in
filing and grading the grounds. No skilled
labor from the city hnd as yet been required to
perform any OF the necessary work. The in
mates were also engaged in the garden, ct manu.
featuring Ehoes, clothing. and bedding for prison
use.
Eow Esr1oTEo
. Ihe following table showed the number OF
!. d.ys the prisoners had been employed during
the yesr: