Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-01-23

two students, who shall be entitled
to admission from his district. Any
plan, however, by which the pr.vi
legcs ofthis school shall be disiribu-
ted according to population, giving
the Board of Trustees the right to
make selections where districts
have not availed themselves of the
right thus accorded them, would
be preferable to the method now in
force.
THE PENITENTIARY OF THE STATE.
Your earnest attention is invited
to the report of the warden of the
penitentiary. 1t is document
which will repay perusal even by
persons who may not be called to
legislate in reference to the man
agement or support of convicts. In
my visits to tnis institution during
the past two years. and in my Off
cial relations with the Warden, l
have uniformly been pleased with
his earnest efforts to meet the on
erous requirements of his position.
While he has laborcd to bring the
management of the penitcntiary into
entire harmony with the humane
tendencies Of the age, he has neith-
er relaxed the discipline of the con-
victs, nor diminished their efficiency
as laborers. 1t is to be hoped this
institution will soon reach the point
of elfsupport.
The number of convicts borne up
on the books at the date of the re-
port was 276; of which 213 are
''State prisoners" to which may be
added 20 sent to the additional pen
tentiary at Anamosa. November
6, 1871, there were 23O estate pris.
oners," showing, when the increase
of our population is taken into ac-
count, an encouraging decrease in
crime. The report shows balance
in the general support fund Of s14,-
44s.04, Notwithstanding repairs and
cost of transportation had been ta-
ken out of this fund. You will learn
through this report that the appro.
priation of the last General Assem-.
bly, to enlarge the shop-room of the
prison was judiciously expended,
and that the additional shop-room
contemplated has been completed.
That portion of the appropriation
designed to light the prison with
gas, instead of oil, was not used, as
it was found to be insufficient for
the purpose to which it was to be
applied. The warden recommends
an additional appropriation OF
$500 for the purpose Of supplying
gas, and to this l give my hearty
approval. With the small appro-
priation necessary to make this
much needed improvement, it seems
to me that the use of oil, with its
explosive and dangerous properties
and the unhealthy gasses generated
by SO large a number Of lights as
are found necessary for the pur'
poses of this institution, makes il
not only cruel parsimony, but in
reality an extravaganza, to withhold
the appropriation asked. A fire oc
Cured April oath, 1872, destroying
the roof of the boiler-house-an old
shingle roof very much exposed
which was repaired, raised, and all
covered with slate at a cost of S411
Another fire occurred on the 29th Of
July, 1878, which destroyed two o,
the shops, and neccssitated an ex
penditure of $5,29O.6O out of the
fund placed at the disposal of the
executive council for emergencies
of this nature. BY this expenditure
the shops were placed in better anG
safer condition than before. Fire
walls were carried up between
them, and between each Of then
and the other shops with which
they were connected. 1t will b'
the duty of the General Assembly
to consider the propricty of the 9th
er improvements recommended.
make no specific recommendations
but refer you to the report of th'
visiting committee authorized b,
the Fourteenth General Assembl,
for information rs to the necessit,
for those improvements.
The warden has stated the fact o
his appointment as delegate to thu
National Prison Congress, and ha.
detailed to some extent the proceed
ings of that convention, in which h,
was a participant. The convention
was composed of gentlemen, man,
of whom had not only had valuabl,
experience in the direction and con
troll of convicts, but also of human,
men, who made the matter of pris
on discipline subject Of though
and study for years. 1t seemed t.
me that, when the public mind wa
awake to the question of how bes
to conduct prison discipline so a
not only to protect society but t
make 1T educational and reformato
ry as well as exemplary, Iowa shoult
lend encouragement to this spirit o
progress by proper representation
in conventions called to promote it
and that she should have the bene
fit in her own prison of all wise sug
gestions made at these conventions
1t was therefore gratifying to M
that Major Craig accepted the com
mission and attended the CONVEX
ton. 1t was source of regret t,
me that there was no fund at m,
disposal out of which felt author
lied to pay his expenses, and i
seems to me that the General AS
sembly should make the small ap
preparation necessary for his REIN
bursement.
l must be permitted to reiterat
and emphasize the warden's recon
mendation for prison school. Hav
ing visited the penitentiary Sabbatl
school, l have seen the anxious an,
eager efforts these poor convict
make to improve the hour or two de
voted to religious exercises and in
struction, to which the good peopl'
who live in the vicinity contribut
their presence and their voluntar,
teachings. 1t should be the objec
of the law, and the discipline t,
which the convict is subject, to s,
temper his punishment with mere,
| as to make him a heffnr and mlsn