Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-01-07
state Prison Report for 1872.

The Third Annual Report of the
State Prison Commissioner, Geo. F.
Wheeler, which has come to hand,
gives a satisfactory exhibit of the af
fairs of that institution. A great m a.
ny interesting facts are TO be gather
ed from careful study Of this re-
port. A few Of these are here given
as extracts.
The Governor has pardoned out
20 cOnviots during the year, many OF
them probably little before their
time expires, to restore them again
TO citizenship.
There were present 10 the institu-
ton on the 30jh of September, 1871,
l9l convicts. Total number present
at this date, 1856 Total number re-
ceived during the year, 80. Number
discharged, 100 Daily average, 2Ol
In the prosecution of the necessary
business Of the prison, and under full
sanction of law, cow cts are employ
ed outside the walls TOR the purpose
of loading and unloading cars, NOV
ing and pIling lumber, etc; none be-
ing 80 employed except such as IN
the judgment OF the officers can be
safely trusted aud having always an
officer in charge. Among those en-
poyed were Charles Myers and Da 4.
vid High, the two prisoners who es-
capped, the former convicted OF burg
larry in the Crawford county cir
cult court, November 90, 1870, and
sentenced for two years, and the lat
ter of manning, at the Grant county
circuit court, March %, 1872, aud
sentenced for eyoar. They escap
ed by jumping from wagon. Jo-
ssph Edwards, employed as chpre
boy in office, scaled the wall on Sun.
day afternoon, and was absent until
the following Thursday. when he was
recaptured by the sheriff Of ID ldge
county,to whom the reward of 800
offered was paid.
with these exceptions, the con-
duet Of the prisoners has been gener.
ally good. Cases ri refractory con-
duct have been rare, aud of a trifline
character. Solitary confinement and
the dark cell are the only means EN-
ployed in Furnishing for disobedience
and | am happy to state these are
not frequently necessary.
The cost per capita of the prison
population in this prison for officers
wages, including commissioners sal.
airy, Is about one hundred and eighteen
dollars to each prisoner. The tota
cost would be little less if the num-
Der Of prisoners was but one-third o
the present average, aud it would b'
but little more if the priton popula
ton was increased threshold.
have to say, that in good order
discipline and obedience, no prison il
the country excels tho Wisconsin
State Prison. The prisoners very
soon learn, after coming here, tina
good conduct will invariably secur,
them mild ant humane treatment
hence q cheerful obedience TO all tn
rules Of the institution is secured ant
maintained. Tae absence of tha
downcast, logged, dissatisfied look
40 noticeable to Strangers visiting
here, may be attributed mainly,
not wholly, to that cause.
The Legislature, at It's last session
appointed $500 to be expended Gu
ring the current year 10 the purchas
Of books for a prison library, and $40
annually thereafter. This is tb
drst appropriation of any importanc
that has ever beer made to the Stat
prison for the purpose Of estabiship
"a iih-arg Altha"sh ions- = AlAy'~A. i
is one step u the right direction.
The receipts of the year endin
Sept. 80, 1872, have been Sll3 4i6, |