The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-05-21
Tho penItent!ary.

Captain Bridges, Superintendent OF tho
Pcniteutiary at Moundsvilo, dropped It to
see US last evening, and during tho cOnvOr-
satou which ensucd We elicIod from him
some facts which vO have no doubt WILDE
Of interest to tho public.
The circumstances under which Captain
Bridges assumed tue coutrOl Of the Pcni.
tertiary arc well known, but the work that
he has accomplished, the reforms which
ho has iuauguratod aud is successfully
praoliciug, are rot so familiar. The show.
ing which will bo made in the next report
Of tho condition of tho Pcnitcatiary can.
not fail to bo highly satisfactory to the
taxpayers Of tho State.
When Captain Bridges took charge Of
the Pouiteuliary ho did so under very dis
ooqpgiug circumstances; but nothing
dauulcd by the tremendous current Of
popular opinion against him, quietly went
to work, With tho good Of tho State aud
the economic administration Of tho institu.
ton over which ho was placed earnestly at
heart That Eo has succeeded admirably,
the results will show
Not long siaco al article was published
one Of the State papers, sitting tho cost Of
keeping each prisoner in tho Penitsqllary
is between $500 and S4OOa year. Gap.
tain Bridges says that his books will show
that the average cost Of feeding each pris-
oucr, does not exceed sixteen cents a day,
or less than sixty dollars q yoarl We
doubt ifLhoro Is another institution Of the
kind in the country which eau make tS
good showing OF course tits nut to boz
expected that such food as Is generally !
served iu frst.Class hotel isfurnished tho .
prisoners, buttbCy have an abundance cf ?
good substantial victpals When Captain
Bridges took charge, tho shoe shop Hgs
s,,l. :. y:a...-,.i,--s -,gsl,
Etbo profsiroal tllsSbranct alone are bo.
tween $500 and $27Q per week. TlE.
wagon shop AdS also been made toincrca5o
It's profits; likewise The furniture shcp,
aud all other ioduslrial pursuits in which
the conyicls arc engaged. 10 one item
alone, through Captain Bridges care and
iudomiiablo determination to economic.
the State has saved between $1,000 and
$4,000. Under Captain Bridges direct.
ion, an estimate vas made BY two woll-
known and competent builders Of Wheel
Ing, of the cost oFcomplctiug the Ward
cn'B building That estimate fixed Tho
total cost at about $4,000 or $4,000,
exclusive of completion Of tho third story
and painting the woodwork Capt.
Bridges came to the conclusion that, with
two or three competent workmcn to over
sec tho job and do the most dilicultportion
Of tho work, he could finish The building
for much less sum. He laid tue matter
before the Board Of Directors aud obtained
their permission to 60 on With tho work
according TO bis plan. He did s9,audthe
result is that he will finish tho building aud
paint It Ssr something less thau $4,000
"a clear saving to the State d S6,OOOcr
1000. Iu several other ways care and
economy has served to reduce the expenses
Of tho institution. and we feol.suro that
people Of State will feel grstiiod at tic
showing made by Captain Bridges. We
will probably refer to this subject again
shortly, giving fuller statistical imtoEma-
ton. - Wheeling Standard.