The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-10
:. she Penitsntisry seIf.supportlns :

-
.----.- -'-------r~-A APRIL 8, 1874.
10 the Eaisor ofsthe DipateH IL,
As \ matter Of public interest, l herewith
,res q, extrac.gfrom- tire reply tie Boaro
IF Directors of the, peuitentiary tns Response
~ certain resolutions of the House Commlt,
toe an Asylums and Prisons, aud an oincla'
statement Of the Auditor Of Pubic Ac-
counts, showing the cost OF the 11stitu.loh
from 1865 to 1873. ..yr., iA1'r Al
EXTRACTS. ,
OFFICE OF BOARD OF DIREcToRs OF =
-..- -. VraerHIA PEslTENTIARY,
R,cuxosp. VA, March II, 1879:
Colonel A. Fulkerson, chairman C0n'm.s
tee of Asylums and Prisons: Slr,.irI 80
sponse to the resolution OF the aousG oo ~
mittee of Asyums and Prisons, tnis NY toI-
ceiyed, 7 have the honor TO suoLDlI .nI
lowing answers to the quesIlo9s ' .on Of a
therein, which have been cons,ueieu -
meeting Of the Beard hela Io1 QUA, .,o rcnly
In respouse to the first resolution we lepy
+h, - ;, nder the existing laws controlling the
, .nau ctnrin0 operations OF the peniten'
,;"rv we are satisfied that the institution
connot he made selcsustainipg. An exam..
no,ion Of the affairs Of the penitentiarS ~.
CIV years prior to the war exhibits tne lacs
,haf the cost to the State was an average VI
nearly 100000 per annum. slm.nll ~
nuirv into the operations OF Inc insututlon
during the eight years since, exhioits an aye
u ua,a as exnense of over $4,000, subject to
crsdjt during the years 1871, 1872, ana 1870
u. or,;cts hired to contractors on the pub
lie works. A., o.,s
From an examination Of the reports
If tho superntendents for a perlod OF
thirty vears. we fail to find that one dollar
was ever paid into the Treasury as the re-
sult of manufacturing operations. l..,
To the second resolution, Whether the
soid institution can be made self-sustaiping
bv leasing or hiring the convicts out to
labor" we reply: If the entiranumber of
conyicts on the books of the prison could be
disposed of to one responsible party, with
proper safeguards as to their treatment and
safety, we think it would be far preferable to
any other plan. From the reports now BE-
fore US from Tennessee and Kentucky, we
have the most satisfactory accounts. n both
States the pententiaries have been leased,
and yield incomes.
As to the third and last question, "Whether
there would be greater security against loss
to the State and protection TO the prisoners
in leasing or bring the convict labor as
whole to one responsible individual or firm,
or hiring out under the present system :"
To this we answer, it would be far better for
the State to look TO one responsible party for
the hire Of its convicts. Under the present
system of hiring TO several firms or parties
we have had much trouble to collect what is
due, and at this time large amount is over
due, and may have to be collected by process
of law. ..-.,,..
In conclusion, we desire to say that the
failure to attain success in manufacturing
operations IS not chargeable to the superin-
tendeut or his assistants. They have been,
as far as our observation extends, dlligent
and faithful, and have sought to make the
institution selfsustaining, but causes that
they could not control have operated against
them, and made their efforts ,lnavailing.
AUDITOR TAYLoR's STATEMENT. 49,.
Amounts paid into and out of the State
Treasury on account of the peniten.iary
from 1st of October, 1865, to 5oth Jspten-
Der, 1873: ..i.... ...
7ot1L maid Cost Of