Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-01-12

...............sIss.s.sAsasssi sal2 .ssass
mcnt and skill as an architect and
builder have implicit confidence.
These improvements hecstimates will
cost $3l, 100, which includes $4,000
for a new heating apparatus in the
main building, which would seem to
be required to enable the term to
open at the appointed day in the early
spring. The need of increased ac-
commodations is urged by the board
and the president, accompanied by
suggestions MS to the character of the
buildings which should be erected.
The plan proposed seems economical
and practical; and the reasons given
therefor are numerous and sound.
| am tempted to elaborate, but have
only space to touch single sngges-
ton, but which / regard as potential.
The statement is made that these i'm
provemcnts, which will cost $500
will enable the college to receive
double the number of students it can
now accommodate. Here are profess
sors, laboratories, a farm, and other
appointments sufficient to afford in
struction to $50 students, instead Of
277, the number enrolled in 1875, and
withal an endowment capable of COW
ering every expenditure to which its
proceeds can be applied under the
condition of the grant while through
out the state are young men and
women hungering for education
who stand ready to avail them
selves of the increased accommoda-
tons sought, and yet the want of this
small outlay, when compared with
the cost of past improvements, pre-
vents the Institution from receiving
them.
| The report of the President in ref
! erence to the labor department merits
| attention. and his statement of the
object of the college is worthy OF
careful pcrusal. In fact every farmer
and horticulturist in the State would
find it profitable to read this report,
and from the reports of the special
departments could gather many val
liable suggestions. not only respect
ing improved methods of cultivation,
but as to the destruction of the enc.
mics of crops.
THE pENITENTIARlEs.
The Penitentio1y Of the State.-The
condition of the .penitentiary at TT.
Madison, as shown by the warden's
report and the reports of the physi-
clan. chaplain and clerk. and uni
formly as testified by official visi.
tors, is very gratifying. A full and
lucid statement of the operations OF
this institution during the period Just
ended will be found in that report.
Its probable requirements for future
usefulness are also carefully set forth.
You will also find printed in connec-
ton with this document report to
the executive council of the commits
sioners appointed under chapter 35,
temporary acts of the 18th General
Assembly. to lease the convict labor.
1t may be proper to add that this labor
has never been leased more advanta-
geously for the State, nor more in the
interest of the health, safety. and NOR
al reformation of the convicts. than
under present contracts. The one
hundred and fifty men leased to q.
b. Dodge IL Co., manufacturers OF
shoc-pacs, is a peculiarly fortunate
contract. 1t is a work upon which
men untitled for the exhausting labor
of other shops may be employed
and as the manufacture of shoc-pacs
is an anomalous business i'm the West
it does not compete with the free Ia
Dor of the State and, requiring but
/ little machinery, il does not expose
the prison to fires or accidents Incl
dent to furnaces and steam engines
The warden and chaplain speak i'm
enthusiastic terms of the progress
made in the prison-schoOl, even with
the limited facilities which the build
ings now afford; and 1 trust there
will be no hesitancy, in view of the
good already attained through this
school, in building and properly
equipping school house for its nc.
commOdation. The warden recon-
mends several very important i'm.
| provements, which he estimates will
cost 1874 $50; and he states they will
furnish room in the penitentiary fol-
504 convicts, or 1856 more than It's
| present capacity-there being now
cell-room for 3lS, with 300 present
occupants. In view of the fact that
with the increasing population of the
state and the rapid growth of lis
larger cities, the number of convicts
must continue to increase for years to
come, these recommendation arc
worthy Of serious consideration. The
warden also recommends that The
deputy be paid 81, 200 per annum in.
stead of 81 600; that the clerk be paid
a salary Of $1,000, which should be
provided for by permanent law, and
that the guards be paid $50 per month
In consideration Of the arduous
duties or These Onicers and employees,
am of opinion their salaries should
be increased, and l hope the General
Assembly may be convinced of the
justice and propriety of this recon-
mendation. Ii is estimated that 1880
will be required for the transporta-
ton of prisoners. which should be
provided.
Special attention is invited to the
remarks of the warden and the
| physician Of the penitentiary upon
the subject Of insane criminals. that
are well worthy of thoughtful con.
sideration.
The additional PenitentiaaY. Since
the last meeting of the General As.
sembly the temporary cell-room for
which an appropriation was made has
been completed, This building con.
tains sevcnty-two cells and is built i'm
a workmanlike and substantial man.
ner. crcditablc alike to the business
management of the commissioners and
the superintendent, and to the me.
chanics Immediately in charge of the
4 work. And ii is remarkable that
nearly all the labor upon this build
ing was performed by convicts. but
few of whom had any experience i'm
stone-work prior to Incarceration in
the penitentiary. The commissioners,
seconding the recommendation of the
warden, ask that the general support
fund of that institution, now eight
and one-third dollars per month per
man. be increased to twelve dollars.
heartily indorse this recommends
ton, and would call special attention
to the reasons given for it. Provision
should be made for the employment
of a physician; and the physician who
has acted in that capacity for two
years, and whose report accompanies
the warden's, should be paid for his
services. There should be deputy
warden provided for by law, and the
guard who has faithfully performed
the duties of deputy in the past should
be compensated for this more rcspon-
sible and oncrous labor. Sound
policy, enforced by the spirit of our
christian civilization, demands that
provision be made for chaplain,
who shall also act as n teacher. In
view of the bencficent results Of the
prison-school at Fort Madison, which
is but repetition Of the experience
of all penitentiaries in which schools
have been organized, 1 need not
occupy space by an argument in
support Of this suggestion. An
appropriation of $4,000 is asked
for, with which to build prison-wa
There is no doubt as to the necessity
and prOnrintv Of mn CARLY iuclncuro <,f