The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-29

that such poverty renders him unable
either to pay costs beforehand or to
give bond for the payment thereof.
THE PENITENTIARY.
1t has cost much moro to maintain
the State Penitentiary during the
present year than at any former pc
riod, from the fact that the appropri.
atoms for it's support were and arc
still unpaid, and nearly all the neces-
sary supplies were compelled to be
obtained on creditat greatly enhanced
rates, because of the uncertainty of
speedy payment. This extra cost is
estimated in the report of the Direct
ors, herewith transmitted, at not less
than ten per cent above the cash
prices of the supplies thus obtained.
The Penitentiary began the fiscal
year, commencing November /, 1871,
with deficit Of SE,557.11, which
has not yet been paid. Tho total
resources of the Institution, for the
fiscal year ending October 81, 1872,
were as follows:
Appropriated $50, 900 90
Hire OF fconvict labor, sales, &C.. 4,7l7 90
ss4,7l7es
The expenditures for the same
period were S74,699.43, leaving unex.
| pended Slo,0l825. Deducting this
lunexpended balance from the deficit
above stated, namely s17, 7,457.11,
leaves an actual deficiency ofS7 ,438. S5
for which amount the Directors
ask, and I recommend that special
appropriation be made. i.
The Superintendent in his report
claims, and [ think with reason, that
the sum of S74,659.43, given as the
aggregate expenditures for the fiscal
year, should be abated by various
items therein detailed, and that the
real sum expended for the support
and construction Of the prison, for
the fiscal year which commenced on.
November 1, 1871, should be esti
mated as s5S, 1882. 5
| The very aLle and lucid report Of
the Superintendent exhibits the graft
flying fact that the South Carolina
Pcnitentiary has thus far cost for it's
construction much less, relatively,
than any similar building in. the
col ntr;, while in plan and material,
b. ing Of granite, it is inferior to none
lie. institutes in proof of this fact,
from official data, a comparison be-
tween the cost Of the North Carolina
State Prison and our own /; in. the
former, the cost per cell was So, ,047,
while the cost per cell of the Peniten-
tiary Of this State, Of the same class
Of cell in every respect, is only 81, 900,
being little less than onc-third of
the cost Of the former. .,j..a,.-
The Board of Directors again urge
that the State should purchase u tract
Of land Of easy access to the Peni-
tcntiary, to be used US farm for the
prison. They namo ono hundred
acres as a>sufticient area, and !aliege,
seemingly with reason, that such a
farm, with good arabic land, properly
cultivated and managed, will furnish
all the brcadstuhfs and vegetables,
and all the meat required for the use
Of the convicts. As it is designed
that the Penitcntiary shall bo as far
as possible self:sustaining, as the es-
tablishment Of supply farm in con-
nectIon Herewith will contribute to
that end, and will be, from a practi.
cal point Of view, measure of econ
omy, recommend that the necessary
appropriation be made at the present
session for the purchase Of such
farm. .. M
Tho number of convicts in the
Penitentiary on the first day of Octo.
ber, 1871, was 3O9; the number now
in confinement is 2l9, showing re-
duction Of 81 during the year.
The directors state that this large
reduction is chiefly due to the pardon
of many convicts when near the close
of their terms, on account of good
behavior during their Imprisonment.
The Board express their belief that
this liberal exercise Of tho pardoning
power has tended greatly to improve
the morals and behavior Of the con-
victs, as it holds out to each the hope
of an earlier release as the reward for
exemplary conduct in prison. while
his exercise of the self.restraint thus
encouraged, furnishes in itself valu-
able discipline to fit him to resume
once more those rights of citizenship
which he has forfeited by CRIME.
Tho Board invite attention to the
very important fact that the validity
of the title held by tho State to a
great portion Of the land on which
the land is situated is again in dispute.
I recommend that the Attorney Gen
cral be instructed to institute the
necessary proceedings to quiet the
said title, and to defend tho claims Of
the State in the premises.
The accompanying report Of the
Of the Penitentiary,
which is full and clear in all necessary
details, will give your honorable bod.
les ample information as to tho prac-
tical working and cost of the institu-
tim, and the past and present diff
culties encountered in its admlnistra-
ton, and the remedies requisite for
the future; for all Of which I ask
your favorable consideration and
prompt action. ...., .. .a-f
The Board of Directors highly
commend tho Superintendent, General
CD. Stolbrand, for his untirng zeal
and efficiency in the discharge Of his
difficult trust during the past four
years. ..... ..... .. ..... ..:G