The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-09
WORTHWHILE LETTER.
rhe city and the Penitentiary.

MouNpsvILLE, July sth, 1875.
Editors OF the Register,
Matters about town here are very
quiet. Except an occasional row with
potato bug there is but little exciting
eolng on. Hans Criswell did kill a
Chicken the other day, but no arrests were
made.
A good deal of building is going on,
and the town looks quite spruce with ITS
new houses sandwitched among the old
one,. One of the best buildings put up
this summer is that owned by Captain
McFsddcn, opposite the Court House
and occupied by Mr.. Davis rs n drug
store. It would be credit to your own
city.
Making a tour through the peniteutia'
nv. for the first time in two years, | was
astonished at the many and great changes
that have taken place When | was
here last all the convicts were engaged
in cutting Stone. Now | find part OF
them ut that noble but body-wearing &C,
cupation, part making shoes, another
portion building buggies and wagons,
another erecting stogies, tips and fine
cigars; another engaged in the beautiful
art of making brick, and still another
taking huge chunks of board and tim
Der, and producing elegant and substan
tial parlor and bedroom furniture
Captain Bridges, the able Superinte-
dent has got things down to II fine point.
In every department is seen the utmost
cleanliness, the most thorough economy
and the greatest efficiency. 1t seems as
if his eye was everywhere and that he
saw everything.
The buggies, carriages and wagons
made in this institution have already
achieved noteriety, and are sought for
because of the thoroughness and com
plcteness OF the work and the excellence
Of the material used.
The cigar making department has only
lately been established, and the nine con-
victs engaged in the manufacture Of
cigars, tips, stogies and smoking tobacco,
have not reached that degree Of pro-
ticcncy that a few months more practice
will give them, yet they make about ~,
600 tips and stogies as it is. They will
soon double this. This department is in
charge of Adolph Weidebusch.
There are now in the institution III
persons .l07 men and women. -Four
of the women and thrty-six of the men
are negroes. A. j. Martin, Esq, the
Commissary- General, informs me that
during the month of June he fed an
average Of 1861 persons, at an average
net cost per capita Of Is! cents each per
day. Lest this should look too cheap, We
give the bill of fare, showing the differ
ent articles furnished by General Mar
tins department Tor the past month:
Beef mutton, bacon, wheat
and corn bread, potatoes, onions,
lettuce radishes, dried apples, rice, hon.
my, beans, coffee vinegar and molasscs.
A good square meal could be made out
Of The above rations, we think.
Mr.. Armstrong, OF this city, is making
brick in the penitentlary, by steam, and
finds market for all he can make. The
brick are true in form and extra in
quality.
The penitcntiary walls are all built,
and the entire force Of stone cutters and
masons Is now engaged on the north
wing. When this shall have been COM
plcted, It's it will be by November West
Virginia can boast Of having one of the
most secure as we'll as comfortable prisons
IN the United States.
| have some more facts and figures for
next week. Yours, =.