Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-08
The Vermont State Prison

liz 1AhO14u OUWNS s~SSAt
The Board of Directors Of the YER
mont State Prison, Hon. j. w. Harris
horn, of Lunenburg, Hon. w. r. Shedd,
of Newbury, and Hon. c. <. IIough-
ton, of Bennington, made their official
biennial visit, this week, for examina-
ton and report of the institution to
the Governor. They found eighty
five convicts in the Prison, three be-
ing females, nearly ali of whom were
busy at their work in the shops, and
doing we'll under tie influence of good
discipline. From the Directors Re-
port we are PERM tied to condense
the following:
The Directors found the Prison in
good condition on their entrance up
on office Dec. 1st, 1872, and they
have since carefully watched its work
ings. One Of their first acts was to
provide a suitable place for religious
services on the Sabbath; and they
have fitted up a neat and convenient
Chapel in the second story of the
middle building within the walls,
which answers we'll for its purpose.
They also examined the buildings,
and planned certain improvements in
the female apartments, but finding
upon consultation with the architects,
that an additional appropriation by
the Legislature for the expense would
be necessary, they have deferred en-
tering upon them until they receive
further directions from the Legislature.
The Improvement from snath,nak-
ing at forty-two cents day to shoe
making at seventy cents q day, is
very manifest in the influence upon
the men and upon the finances. They
think the Institution should be re-
formatory as well as punitive, and
that the inmates should be treated
with kindness, and every reasonable
encouragement and help be offered
them for thorough reform. The
officers should sec both that the con-
victs are industrious, and that they
are not overworked. They deprecate
sentences to Prison for short terms
on minor offences. Such sentences
profit neither the culprit nor the
State. They also object to the grant
ing of pardons without thorough ex
animation of the case and fair notice
to parties interested, and suitable
knowledge Of the views of the Court
that gave sentence, and Of the officers
of the Prison in whose charge they
are. On the 1st of April last, the
present Superintendent, who has here
tofore occupied, with his family, thu
Prison house, removed to his OWL
residence short distance from tht
Prison, and the Directors thereupor
employed competent young mar
and his wife, the one to be shop
keeper, and the other a house-keepe
for boarding the shop-keepers an'
guards, in the financial interests of tn
State. The change has, in all re
spects, worked well.
The report of the finances present
a highly favorable aspect, there be
inc now in the hands of the Superin
tendent an excess Of receipts abov
all expenses, amounting to 4,450.75
and due from the contractors So, 681 g.
being III all S8,132.40. OF thi
amount they have ordered Sb,OOO u
be paid to the State Treasurer on o
before September LIST, fact never be
fore occurring in the history of tn
Prison. The Directors speak of tn
contractors, Messrs. Mawhinney
Co., of Boston, as prompt, entefpris
ing, and honorable business men
who, Notwithstanding the depresslo
of business and the losses to whic
they have been subject by fire in Bos
ton, and the general stagnation @
the market, they have stood squared.
to their contract without flinching,
In conclusion, they advert to th
marked improvements in the Institu
.