The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-27
MATTERS IN MAINE.
THE STATE PRISON.
Annual Report of Warden Rice.
Especial Despatch to the Press.l

for the year ending Nov. 30, 1875 will be made
public in few days. The reports of the sew
eral officers are commercially brief, but con-
tain all the Information required.
Warden Rice begins by saying that with few
exceptions good health and good order have
prevailed throughout the prison. Only one
out of total population of 400 has died by
natural death. The year commenced with 1877
convicts, fell down to 126 in July-the lowest
number since 1866-but increased to 14S at the
close of the year. The warden thinks that the
number will be considerably larger at the close
of the year 1876 During the past year fifty
three convicts have been committed, from the
following countless Cumberland II, Kenne.
bee 9, Androscoggin 6, Washington 5, Penob-
scot 5, Somerset 3, York 3, Waldo 2, Knox,
Lincoln aid Piscataquis each. OF those COM
mitted the past year, 2 are sentenced for life,
each for ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five
years, 2 for seven years, for six years, for
five years, 10 for four years and over three, II
for three years and over two, 8 for two years
and over l, for one year. The crimes of those
committed are as follows: larceny %, cheating
2, rape 3, burglary 5, manslaughter 2, forgery1,
arson 5, breaking and entering 1, felonious
assault 8, adultery 2, assault with intent to
commit incest, perjury, assault with inten. to
kill, ENLIGHTENMENT, assault to ravish murder
IN the second degree, each.
During the past year, the prison buildings,
wall etc. have been repaired, the blacksmith
shop heightened and other permanent improve
ments made, all costing $S481. %, The warden
adds that the old wing of the prison needs
some repairs, and that the harness shop should
be enlarged, which, with a few other improve
ments, will be all that will be required for the
next ten years.
During the year the profits of the income
departments of the prison have amounted to
1924, 354 40, while the expenses including salar-
les amount to $50, 058.69-sbowiDg a balance
against the prison of $5,7042O. The deficiency
is due to the hard winter, the wet season which
interfered with the sale of carriages, the pre-
vailing dizziness of business and the shrinkage
of values. The want of sufficient capital with
which to do the business of the prison has re-
suited in great disadvantages. In this connec-
ton Warden Rice remarks:
I do not, however, consider the financial as
pect of prison, material as that is, the most
management and compare results. The prime
object in providing the Institution was to 'pro.
tect the person and property of the citizens"
and l do not forget the important fact that
about ninety.fve per cent. of the convicts sent
here are to go out again either to become law
abiding citizens or to pursue alife of crime
with all its possibly mOmentOus results. The
difference in the termination of the two roads
is wide and the consequences no man can cal
culate. And my experience and observations
hnr- ry,Iy1 Iat.A kh,k 49,
if he is properly supported, may be in meas
ure responsible for the course the discharged
convict takes.
The Inspectors desire that in the control of
these men, regard should be had to the causes
that led them into the commission of crime,
whether from ignorance, Incidence, want of
self-control, or on account of actual criminal
tendencies in their dispositions, with view Of
applying the remedy so far as practicable.
And for that purpose some instruction is pro-
vided for the iliterate; the ndolent are stimu-
lated into the formation of Industrious habits
by an opportunity to learn trade at which
they can readily obtain employment when re-
leased from prison; and those whose habits and
surroundings from childhood have been such
as to SO blunt their moral sense that they can
not be reached by any higher motive, it is
aimedsto convince, if possible, that it "pays
better" to obey the laws than to lead life of
crime.
And may state by way of encouragement,
that during the twelve years ending to-day, l
have discharged from this prison five hundred
and twenty nine convicls, of whom only thirty.
six. less than seven per cent. have been re-
committed here. 1t is probable, however,
that about as large percentage as return here
lind their way into other prisons. Still leaving
large proportion who, if not reformed it is
hoped are lifted from the criminal classes"
The State Prison and Jail Inspectors,
Messrs. Wilson, Prince aud Billings, make a
report which follows that of tine Warden. The
report shows that the expenditures of the
state prison not including the salaries and
of tho Warden and inspections for tho
year ending Nov. 80 1875 were as follows; Ex-
pense account $2,9352l; Clothing, 2,1S5.2O;
fuel and lights $2.72SS1 subsistence, $500. 4S;
convicts discharged, $651.4O; transporting con-
victs, $317. O3; officers salaries $14,231 40.
The earnings were as follows: Carriage de-
partment, $22. S34.72; shoe department !, 231 70
fees from visitors $258.00.
The Inspectors speak in high terms of the
prison. The progress made in the establish
ment of Jail workshops is reported at length
which has been commendabe. The system
has not been long enough in operation to judge
of its merits. but it cannot be otherwise than
beneficial to the convcts as schools are con-
templated in all of them. There has been a
marked Improvement during the year in the
management of several of the jais.
The reports of the prison physician and chap.
lains contain no items of general interest. The
report of Mr. Buffum Of the Executive Council
heartily approves of the policy pursued by
Warden Rice.
Fire in BiddefOrd.
ITO the Associated Pressl
BDDEFoRD, Jan. 26.-Abner McDonald's
house on Main street was damaged by fire this
morning.
Request to the Methodist Missionary
Society.
BANGOR, Jan. 26.-Rev. j. S. Aver, recently
deceased, bequeathed $4,000 to the M. E.
Missionary Society and $500 to the Preachers
Aid Society.
Dedication of Hall.
DAMARIsCoTTA, Jan. 26,-Lincoln Hall was
formally opened tonight BY an orchestral con.
cert and dress ball. Chambers Band furnished
the music. Supper was served at Maine Hotel
Building cost $4,000.
Convention of County Comm issioners.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 26.-A convention of the
County Com mssioners, sherffs and jalors of
the state commenced at the Court House in
this city this afternoon. Nearly all the coun-
ties in the state were represented, and consider
able interest was manifested in the discussion
John Read of Androscoggin county was chosen
Chairman, and David Chamberlain of Lincoln,
Secretary. Reports were received from the
five Jail workshops in the state. While they
have not all proved successful financially, the
labor received with moral and religious instruc-
ton had a salutary effect upon the prisoners,
and helped to make better men of them as
they go out into the world. Animated dis
cussions were had on the topic of schools in
jails, discipline of prisoners, &c. In the even
ing an able address on "Prisons and Prison
Reform" was delivered in the Representatives
Hall by Rev. j. K Mason, D. D., of Thomas
ton. The convention will continue tomorrow
forenoon.
The New Railroad Project.
A needing was held in this city to-day of
railroad men interested in the project of build
ing graded through line of railroad to Quebec.
passing through the Kennetec valley, and
having an outlet at Wiscasset and Portland
Prominent gentlemen, representing the various
connecting lines of the proposed line, were