The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-24
THE pENITENTIARY.
RECORD OF TIE FISCAL YEAR.
REPORTS OF THE BOARD. sUpERIN,
TENDENT, SURGEON, AND GEN.
ERAL. AGENT.
Astonishing Increase Of Crime.
INSIGHT INTO THE INSTITUTION.

the pe0lteDt1aTE 3HoGQ cOuptete history OIL
the State prison for the past fiscal year.
business the sales Of manufactured articles
increased number of convicts demands that
additional accommodations be provided, and
calls attention to what some may consider
defects In our criminal code. The superin.
tcDdept presents his tabular statements in
better form than ever before. The surgeon
reports that the convicts have enjoyed won.
derful exemption from disease. The gene,
raj agent furnishes a fair statemenS Of the
financial operations Of the institution.
Recommendations of the Board.
Governor the report Of the superintendent, !,
surgeon, and general agent, accompanied by
the usual tabular statements. The Board
say:
GA simple inspection of these documents
discloses great increase in the number Of
prisoners (nearly twenty per cent? over that
Of the previous year, and suggests the pro-
priety of timely provision for the probable
future number, which. estimated at the ratio
of increase since the 30th OF September last,
will amount 10 nearly one thousand two bun.
dred on the 30th of fSeptember, 1876. When
it IS also considered that the prison is now
overcrowded. with nearly forty per cent. of
the convicts hired out to contractors and
provided for outside Of its bounds, who may
be returned to the penitentiary at the eXpi-
ration Of existing contracts, the necessity Tor
additional accommodations becomes as i'm
peratve as apparent; and it is earnestly re.
commended that proper legislation be en-
acted at the approaching session OF The Le-
gisature in anticipation Of the probable exl-
gency. On a recent thorough examination
OF the building by the directors, not untre-
quently four or five convicts were found con-
1iued in small room badly ventilated and
imperfectly warmed-a q state Of things which
must epgender disease as well as endanger
the security Of the inmates. Double the.oc-
cupants (quite a possible if not probable
contingency within the next year or two,
and it will be a: once perceived that unless
measures are promptly taken to relieve the
anticipated difficulty serious if not disas-
trous consequences may ensue.
TIE SPRING LOT. ssnssss.s
ain this connection it may be proper to
state that the authority granted to the Board
of Directors BY the last Legislature to sell
the lot Tor so much of it as might be neces-
sary) commonly known as the Spring lot"
to the penitentiary, and to apply
the proceeds TO the erection of q suitable
building (very greatly needed) for the female
has not been exercised, both be-
cause the title to portion OF it is disputed,
and because the depressed condition of real
estate for some time plst forbade the idea of
realizing a fair price; and as these embarrass-
ments still exist In unimpaired force it is not
deemed advisable to take further action in
III or no
COMMISSIONS OF GENERAL AGENT.
"Tbe Board is Of opinion that the rate OF
commission allowed the general agent is too
high and should be reduced. Formerly be
made all purchases and guaranteed all sales;
but as most of the supplies are now pur.
chased by contract through the Board of
are made on time (some directly from the pen.
tentiary), the State assuming all the risk,
it is thought that lower rate would be
sufficient remuneration for the service rem
dcred. Could these expenses be justly re.
duced and the institution maintain its pre-
sent improved financial condition, the day
would not be far distant when it would be.
come self.supporting-' cousummation (so)
devouty to be wished for by the taX.pay.
ers of the State"
BURIAL OF CoNvICTs.
The Board suggest that further legislation
is necessary to carry into effect the act OF the
last Legislature in regard 10 the burial OF
convicts outside of the city limits. The
means have not been provided to meet the
expense which will thus have to be incurred.
MANUFACTURES.
The Board say A decided Improvement
is seen in the largely y.increased amount OF
p,,fo rfi
against S4S,Sl2.S7 for the previous year. 1t
is not unreasonable to hope that the sales may
be still further increased BY confning The
operations to fewer branches Of industry"
HIRE OF CoSvICTS.
"The institution has received from the
hire of convicts, within and without the pri'
son bounds, the sum of 500 927.0l, which
would seem 10 indicate hiring as the best
policy, and more profitable than manufactu-
ring, especially if a law were enacted limit
ing the period for which convict should be
sentenced to three years, leaving minor of.
fences to be provided for in some other way
RACES AND NATlyITIEs.
"In the table Of races and ndtiUttieS the
proportion Of achtteS to cOlored is seen to be
very small, being less than twenty per cent
OF whom only about three titths are natiues
of Virgania-a proportion which, it is
thought, will compare favorably with the
satisfies of any prison in the land"
superintendent Report.
The superintendent in his report to the
Board says: "With view TO an iHtelli.
gent understanding of the cost of maintain
Ing the prison, I have substituted in the
place of the usual general table series of Ia
bles numbered l, :, 3, 4, aud ., setting forth
respectively the following subjects:
No. containing the total expense account,
apart from the manufacturing operations,
which is S77.77S.91.
No. 2 SHOWS the balance against the peui.
Tertiary, after crediting the proti's on the
manufacturing operations, S27 ,515.64
No. 5 shows the manufacturing operations
and the profit thereon.
No. shows the account with the Treasury
this year, the balance against the penltea'
tiary being SsS's04.0S.
No. 5 shows the value of the labor per-
formed in the prison-yalung that In the
shops at thir;y-1ge cents per day, and that
on the Capitol Square and ip the garden at
taty cents per day.
The aggregate amount Of the products OF
the prison turned over to the general agent
is $50, ,49S 40. which is an increase over last
year of S34 $50 90"
THE PROVISION ACCOUNT.
1.-THE provision account for this year is
s23.7a2.74, which is iMge increase over the
year; which attribute to the fol.
lowing causes: The advance in price OF sew
eral leading articles OF food and the Ia.
creased number of prisoners fed, which Wih
acreage one hundred and 6fty more thau the
previous year. all purchases made on this
account haze been by contract to the lowest
bidder" j.
rHE FEMALE wAR2. ~