The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-12

the two years II became almost epidemic.
There were % deaths.
The report OF the direetors for 1873 showed re-
pairs amounting to Sl7,sO2 %. They stated that
the work done had put the prison in good repair.
Bat the report for lo1i shows an expenditure Ior
additional repairs OF Sll, jT Fl, making In the
to nave been erected. The description 81 the
work done, requiring 80 large an expenditure
executive to Judge OF its extent and pro-
priety. / understand that some OF the prisoners
were employed upon Improvements about tie
prison, and their labor was charged at sixty
cents per day to the repairs, and thereby the
expenditures upon that account appear larger
than they really were. The wardens reports
show the ordinary expenses for the Two years 10
have been slls,7t3 rs, and the proceeds OF prison
an expenditure for repa rs, and, also, portion
Of the $4,000 received from the state treasury,
and also the labor OF , portion oil the cohNie's
There are constantly insane conVlcts IN Doth
prisons. They should not De kept WIN tne
other prisoners. concur in the recommends
ton OF the wardens that provision should De
made for their separate confinement.
During the last three years the greater portion
of the convicts in the southern Prison have
been employed by the southwestern Car Com
pany. Prior 10 that use OF the prison labor the
Ohio Falls Car and Locomotive company beu
eTected extensive aud valuable works 10 the city
of Jehersonville. aud were employing large
number OF mechanics and labOrers IN the con
structiOn of railroad cars. During the last elght-
cen months the competition has interlered
with the business or the outside works: aud IL
is claimed that it has seriously disturbed the
employ menJ of free labor. IL mas caused mucn
dissatisfaction and diScOutent in that locality.
/ think IL is a hardship that should be remedled,
ii p ssible. The Falls Company hsa expended a
large sum of money in the construction OF their
works and had attained successful operation,
and large numbers OF mechanics and laboTerS,
amounting 10 several hundre n had removed 10
the city Ond obtained Teliat6 employ ent, as
they supposed, when the new car company
was organ Zed for the use OF the prison LABOR In
d rect com petition. The constitution, as well as
humanity. requires that the treatment OF the
sonvictS shall have reference 70 their reforma-
tiOn. Reformation Oy confinement without
LABOR Is impossible. Considerations OF policy
also require their employment at such useful
labor as will support the institution, Bnt
direct and destructive competition with free la
Dor, especially in q case where Tree labor had
M vii, ra10sjr' IN SSrce for
about two years. During that time no complete
remedy can be found, but after the expiration OF
the co.. tracts the prisoners should be otherwise
thoriZe the commencement OF the Asylum for
the Insane, perhaps you can provide Tor Tie en-
ployment of a portion of the prisoners upon
that work. other states have found such use OF
the labor convenient and expedient.
THE REFoRMAToRY INSTITUTION FoR WOMEN
AND GIRLS.
By tie appropriation made at the last legisla-
ture the indebtedness on account Of the Reform
atOry was paid and the building completed.
Mrs. Sarah j. Smith was appointed supeTinten-
dent, and in every respect has been a most
faithful and efficient officer. Ia september,
1873 the institution was opened, aud soon there
after the female prisoner, Is in number, were
removed To IL from the state prison south:
There are now 50 in the penal department, aud
gS girls In the reIOrmatory. For detailed state
ment OF the expendlt ureS in completing the
building and maintaining the inmates, lrsier
yOl 10 the reports OF 1878 and ISI4. some addi-
JiOnal Improvements must be made. The fnsd-
tuition should be SO iucloSed as 10 allow the
prisoners out door exercise and prevent escapes,
recommend that the law regulating admission
10 the reformatory departe dment De SO amended
| as 10 admit girls within the age OF 10 years.
Experience has shown the wisdom OF prOYld.
| ing separate prison for female couvicts. The
probability of reformation is greatly increased.
The building, in its present condition, Is not safe
from fire. Ii has been on tire on two occasions.
Upon one occasion II was probably the Work OF
| a prisoner. 1 recommend that the board OF
m snagers be authorized to make such improve
\ ments as will make IL more secure.
| The institution lost devoted and valuable
officer by the resignation OF ,. y. FletC her, Jr
| Esq, the president of the board OF managers.
appointed j. IL. KapPes, Esq, 10 nil the va
| cancy.
THE HOUSE or REFUGE.
The House OF Refuge, at Plainfeld, Hendricks
county, was established pursuant to a require
ment Of the state constitution. II Is upon a
tract of land OF two hundred and twenty. ii We
acres. There are now two hundred and sixty
Ave inmates. The expenditures Of the last year
| amounted to So .OO3 81. OF which Sl5,5S2 p was
| for improvements and buildings, leaving SIl,-
40 . the expense of the institution. OF the en-
| counties. Two large buildings have been erected
/ during the year, one for a shop, and Ihe other
4 for a family house The family house will pro-
vide for fifty boys. The entire improvement
made during the year are OF the estimated
was for the labor Of the boys. They made the
| brick an did all the other work not requiring
skilled labor. Tue inmates OF the lnstitu-
| heir reformation is its object and purpose. The
reports show the reformation of sixty per cent,
| and the i'm provement of others, As far possible
4 they o
| sentiments. They are taught in the schools, and
are REQUIRED to do useful labor These are the re-
| forming infiuences out door and farm labor is
| found TO be the most useful. In his report the
superintendtn says: Give the boys pienty oi
| is infinitely lightened." concur Ia his recon-
Imendation that additional farm lands be pur-
chased. 1t Is necessary 10 give employment to
the boys, and TO provide supplies for the insttu-
/ ton. ask your attention 10 the reports OF the
! board and the superintendent.
, THE STATE HOUSE AND LIBRARY.
! For the management Of the state library and
the care taken of the state house aad adjoining
grounds 1 refer you to the carefully prepared
| and very full report OF the state librarian. The
| library has been put In excellent order, man =
/ missing volumes restored, lost volumes supplied
and useful additions made, and the rooms nave
/ been reftted and made inviting 10 visitors
/ Repairs aud improvements have been made IN
| tins state house which had become almost indis
| pensable to its occupancy. They were made
1 with the approval OF myself and the state OH
| cars, and executed with cultivated taste ano
| rigid economy.
| NEW STATE HOUSE.
On the lGth day of March, 1873, concurrent
resolution was adopted by the general assembly
declaring that g necessity existed for the build
ing of new state capitol and awarding thu
sum Of two thousand dollars a premium fo
the best plans, Specifications and estimates TO
the same. By the resolution 1t was also provided
that joint committee representing the twe
houses be appointed, whose duty IL snouid Os Il
receive the plans, specifications and estimates
That committee has given careful attention 4
the matter refss red. In their pr ted regula
| tons they required the plans to be for sIruc
, ture TO cost not exceeding two million dollars
They have received many plans and specitca
| tions, with detailed estimates, and have with
gre at diligence examined and compared theil
respective merits They will, doups max
10 you a full report OF their Proceedings, witt
their recon mendatiOns,
The work thus inaugurated by the last legisla
ture comes before you for consideration and &C
: ton. IL can hardly be questioned that q neg