Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-08-12
The Vermont State Prison.

Otale prisOn, iiou' u w.
Luneuburg, Hon. W. R. Shedd of New
bury, and Hon. G. E. Houghton of Ben
pippton, made their official biennial visit
this week, for examination and report OF
the institution to the governor. They
found cighty-fve convicts in the prison.
three being females, nearly all of whom
we're busy at their work in the shops and
doing we'll under the influence OF good
discipline.
The directors found the prison in good
condition on their entrance upon office,
December /, 1872, and they nave since
carefully watched its workings. One of
their first acts was to provide suitable
place for religious services 90 the Sabbath
and they have fitted up neat and COR
vsnieut chapel in the second story OF the
middle building within the walls, which
answers we'll its purposes. They also ex'
amined the buildings, and planned certain
improvements in the female apartments,
but finding, upon consultation with the
architects, that an additional appropria-
tiou by the Legislature for the expense
would be necessary, they have deferred
entering upon them until they receive
further directions from tho legislature.
The improvement from suath-making at
forty-iwo cents day to shoe-making at
seventy cents day, Is very manifest in
the influence upon the men and upon the
finances. They thiak the institution should
be rcformatory as well as punitive, and
that the inmates should be treated with
kindness, and every reasonable encour-
agement and help be offered them for
thorough reform. The officers should see
both that the convicts are industrious, and
that they are not overworked. They dc.
precate sentences to prison for short terms
Oh minor offences. Such sentences profit
neither the culprit DOR the State. They
also object to the granting of pardons
without thorough examination of the case
and fair notice to parties interested, and
suitable knowledge of the the views of the
court that gave sentence, and of the Of
ficers of the prison in whose charge they
are.
The report Of the finances presents
highly favorable aspect, there being now in
the hands of the superintendent an excess
of receipts above all expenses amounting
to $4,450,75, and due from the contrac-
tors So, 6S1 IS, being in all SS,l32.4O.
OF this amount they have ordered $1,000
to be paid to the State treasurer on or be-
fore Sept. lst, fact never before occur.
ring In the history Of the prison.
The chaplain in his report says, in
substance, that preaching service for the
men on the Sabbath with the usual forms
of worship, and biblical exercises for
the women has been regularly maintained.
He has visited the inmates at their cells
and in the shops, and privately conve rsed
with each individual. In this work he has
been cheered by the universally respect
full If not interested effectiveness to relig-
ious services and by their generally good
behavior.
The neat aod convenient chapel pre-.
pared by the directors and superintendent,
in which worship may be attended, with.
cut the sight of narrow cells and other
distracting associations, is proving great
benefit. Small hymn and tune books have
been provided for all attendants and 0
large number of the men now sing very
acceptably in the religious services. The
mai ntenance, also, of Sabbath School
by the superintendent and keeper ant
other officers and teachers, held on Sab
bath mornings, for the study of interna
tional lessons has had an excellent effect
7 Almost one hundred volumes of interest
3 ing and useful books have been added t.
the library.
: In conclusion he presents the following
impressions:
l. The Importance CT right home inhu
ences and the early training Of the your
: cannot be over-es estimated. No individ
: uals alone, but the whole State has an in
. terest in this matter. The idle, uucon
trollcd child becomes the indolent, vicou
: man. The Jail and the prison are the le
: climate receptacles Of the victimr of ba
homes and street vagrancy. From sue
quarters come most Of the inmates Of thi
institution.
. 2. The repression of dram-drinkins
. and the unlawful sale Of intoxicating lio
. vors, is of the highest Importance to th
I. moral and material well-being of the State
]. More than three-ffths of the inmates her
are confessedy addicted to strong drinks
|, and large majority Of them attribut
, their crime aud imprisonment directly
! the baneful influence Of liquor.