The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-01
THE DANGEROUS GLASSES.

The third annual abstract of the reports OF
sheriffs relating to jails in the state of Mlchi-
gan has just been published by the Secretary
of State, Hon. E. D. G. Holden, and from il
we make the following extracts:
The tables show that 1,543 or 22.07 per cent.
OF the whole number OF prisoners committed
to the jails IN thirty counties were white, and
born in the United States; or these the par
ents OF 556, or 36.03 per cent, were both for
eign SO, or 5.77 per cent, had foreign fathers
and native mothers; and SIS, or 1856 per cent :,
had foreign mothers and native fathers. The
total OF the three classes is 700, or 1887 per
cent. of the ,543 native white prisoners, Ac-
cording to the census Of 1870 (see statistics Of
Michigan 1870, p. xiii. y the parents of only
24.03 per cent. OF our entire native born popu-
ulation were one or both foreign born. In 9th
er words, assuming that what is true OF these
80 counties holds, or would hold. for the entire
state, while in 1870 the parents Of about one
fourth OF our entire native born population
were one or both foreign born, In 1875 the par
ents of nearly one-half Of all native born whites
committed to the jails were one or both foreign
born. The total number OF prisoners received
in all the jails, as reported, is 6, $50, OF whom
6,546, or 1857 per cent, were males, and 442,
or 6.33 per cent, we're females.
OF the total number, 347 males and As fe-
males were under Is years Of age. These to-
tails are not comparable with the corresponding
totals published in the abstract for 1874, for
the reason already referred to, that city and
village prisoners included in 1874 were excluded
in 1875. The number in the jails at the begin
ming OF the year is stated at 266, which, added
to the number committed, gives total of z. 256
confined In the iails within the year. The ay-
erage number maintained during the year was
Fl ,761. and the average duration OF imprison-
ment LIS days. or the whole number COM
mitted 1880, or 81 SO per cent. we're for high
crimes, and $685. or 1887 per cent were for
minor otfenses, OF the number committed for
high crimes 1,449 or 94.71 per cent were males,
81, or 5 20 per cent. we're females, and 81. or
5.95 per cent, were under IL years OF age +; and
OF the number committed for minor offenses,
1858, or 90. 50 per cent. were males; $40. or
GAL per cent. were females and 313. or s. so
per cent we're under IL years Of age. The
number OF witnesses committed to Jail was IS
debtors, s.; insane persons, &C and idiots, 8.
or the whole number Of prisoners confined In
the jails during the year, rhe convictions were
$40, or SIS per cent, to the State prison 617.
or $50 per cent to the house Of correction; and
5S or 73.10O OF one per cent to the State reform
school. There were 80 escapes during the wear
and 200 prisoners remaining in Jail at the close
OF the year.
The birth places of prisoners received In the
jails, exclusive OF blacks, mulattoes and Indi-
ans, were as follows; Males. United States.
2,456; British America, $40; England. 263
Ireland, 81; Scotland, 8; Germany, 1928; Hol,
land "a; France, %; Sweden, Sc ; Norway. 10:
Denmark, IL; miscellaneous. 26 and unknown
20, Females, United States. 1853: British
America, 80; England 10; Ireland, a.: Scot
land, A; Germany, IS; Holland, 6; miscella-
neous, 2; unknown, 143. The number of male
blacks committed to the jails, 131 females. 8:
male mulattoes, % females, 2; male Indians.
Is; females, 8.
or the number OF prisoners received in the
jails, Oh, or SIG per cent, could not read and
81, or 11.6O per cent, could not write, The
total number OF prisoners received in all the
jais was 52.100 of one per cent of the total
population In 1874, the male prisoners "a 100
of one per cent. OF the male population. aud
the female prisoners 7.100 of one per cent of
the female population. The total cost of
maintaining the iails was SS5,082.82; the
amount OF travelling and other expenses in
Cured in arrestIng and taking prisoners to the
jaIs, S35, 216,31, making the total cost of the
prisoners confined in the jais, 80 far as report
ed. $3.50, 299.13.
The expenses incurred in arresting and taxi
ing prisoners TO the jalls are mainly estimates !;
but tho sherIffs we're cautioned against making
the estimates too large, and it IS believed the
amount reported falls short OF the amount ac-
tually expended. The cost per week for board
and keeping Of each prisoner averages 1854.
and the average total cost OF each prisoner
confined in the jails was s11.73. The amount
expended in repairing the jails was "a. 93937 I;
for furniture, S1.1l1.02 and for all other nec-
essary supplies, SS.733.76.