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

lcent. 1 nave frequently observed
convicts in the different shops, who
have finished their task by the mid
die of the afternoon, but who neces-
sarily must sit in listless silence un-
til the hour came for marching to
the cell. AS it has been suggested
that to be denied the privilege of
attending the Sabbath school, is a
penalty dreaded more than any 9TH
er by the convict, it has occurred to
me that attendance upon this secu-
lar school might not only be made
an incentive to good behavior, but
also TO DETER and more active and
energetic performance of prison
tasks.
Ii the General Assembly resolve
to continue the system of contract
labor, which I believe is generally
conceded to be the best mode of Civ
ing employment to the convicts, it
will become your duty to provide
for advertising and letting the con-
tract. 1t is to be hoped that the
next lease maybe for better price
than we have heretofore obtained.
Labor in the Illinois penitentiary
sold for price nearly double that
of ours under the present contract.
This difference could be neither in
the more fortunate location of the
prison nor in better facilities to Sc
cure effective work. In compliance
with joint resolution number 23, ap-
proved April 23, 1872, l appointed
Robert S. Finkbine, a competent
builder to examine and estimate the
value of material furnished and work
done by the contractors for the con-
vict labor at the penitentiary, in
building two shops, upon which
they claim money is due them. AS
the Genera! Assembly also made
provisions to raise these shops ano-
ther story, l thought it proper to
have this work done before they
were disturbed, preparatory to this
improvement. Accordingly Mr..
Finkbine visited the penitentiary,
made the estimate as required, and
his report is on file in the executive
office for the use of the General AS
sembly.
| THE ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY
Herewith there will be transmit
ted to you the report of the Commits
sioners of the additional penitentia-
ry. 1t gives in detail the transac-
tions of the Commissioners in the
performance of their duties. 1t ap-
pears from the accompanying pam
phlet that there were differences of
opinion in the commission, which
led TO the preparation of two sepa-
rate reports, both of which were Or
dered printed, and will be found in
a single pamphlet. 1 have not
thought it necessary Or profita BILE to
summarize these documents. In the
details going to make up the histo-
ry of the transactions of the Com.
missioners, there is no substantial
difference; the differences of opin-
ion being in matters of policy more
than in matters of detail.
The reports show that the Com.
missioners obtained one tract of
land for farming purposes, and
another of fifteen acres, ten of
which was donated by the citizens
of Jones county. The other five
acres are to be paid for, and the
Commissioners ask that the Gener-
al Assembly appropriate 800 for
this purpose. Near this fifteen
acres, upon which the penitentiary
is located. there is an everything
spring, SO much higher than the
prospective walls of the prison that
it will afford abundance of water,
which can be conveyed to every
part of the prison-yard with very
little expense. The quarry which
was purchased for $4,000 is two
and one-half miles from the peniten-
tiary. So far as developed, it is an
excellent quarry, and is believed to
be fully worth the money paid for
it. The expenses thus far, as shown,
exceed the appropriation by 81, ,232,
35. The prison is in debt $4,000
for general support. Thirty prison
ers have been confined therein, of
which twenty-five remained at the
date of the report. call attention
TO the appropriations asked for by
the Commissioners. The visiting
committee having examined the
work of the Commissioners and
considered the propriety of further
large expenditures, l will defer ex-
pressing an opinion here, as l be-
lieve that committee has acted upon
information which makes their re-
port worthy Of full faith and credit.
There are two things in connec-
tion with this matter, however,
which, seem to me to be dictated by
sound policy and business economy.
One is that outstanding obligations
of the institution should be paid.
This is also demanded by good faith.
And the other is, that the work now
commenced should be carried for
ward to a point at which it will not
only secure the property from waste
and deterioration, but utilize it, and
as far as possible render it produc-
tive. That this can be done with a
little additional expense, the exper-
iments already had with the stone
quarry, though under great disad-
vantages, seem.to demonstrate.
| THE VISITING COMMITTEE.
In accordance with joint resolu-
tion number six of tho l4th General
Assembly, | appointed Hugh Nj.
Thompson Of Scott county, p. Cad
Bryan of Warren, Sylvester L. Ca
rey OF Howard, aud Albert w.
Swain Of Greene, as the committee
to visit the two penitentiaries and
report upon the points named in the
resolution. When notifying these
gentlemen of their appointment l
informed them that no appropriation
had been made by the General AS.
sembly which provided for the Bay
ment of the committee, but as /
deemed the information contcmpla.
ted in the resolution important, 1
asked them to do the work and
await your action for pay. They
did SO, with what result you will