The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-16

enumerated expense accounts and cur
rent expenses for the ensuing two
years. The estimates for other items
are all necessary, and should be grant
ed. The expense Of lighting the school
Is enormous, owing to the high price
charged for gas, being nearly ], 200 for
1876. / recommend an appropriation
OF 81 500 for the immediate erection OF
gas works, that the expense may be
lessened.
The Legislation of 1873 and the active
efforts of the officers of the institute
have secured the attendance of nearly
all the children Of the State who need
its care, yet there are still some remain
ing in families and poor-houses. The
deaf. dumb and blind who grow up In
ignorance, become either imbecile or q
permanent burden upon the communi-
ty, and no parent has a right to permit
| it, especially when the State provides
education, physical, mental, and NOR
al, free Of charge, for them. / believe
it to be the duty of the state to compel,
by law, the education OF all children.
but especially the deaf, dumb and
blind. The system of instruction at
our institution is constantly improving
the new method "articulation" having
Just been introduced with marked sue
cess. The boys are taught trade, and
the girls are instructed in housework
and sewing. i commend this work to
your kindly and thoughtful considera-
ton.
THE STATE PRISON.
Except in the fact that the prison is
largely oyer-crowded, its condition is
unexceptionable. The report of the
warden and board furnishes full details
OF the operations of the past year. The
convict earnings in money for the two
years ending September 30th, 1876,
were s203, ,O43 GA. This in addition to
the labor on State property, roads,
sewers, land, etc., is very creditable
showing.
The net earnings for the two years
ending September 30th. 1876. were
over $4,000. In view of the depres-
sion in business that has so generally
affected all manufacturing Industries,
and none more seriously than prison
work. the result has most agreeably
surprised the prison officials. There is
hardly prison in the country that has
paid expenses, and in many OF them no
labor at all can be procured for the
conyicts. The establishment of the
State shop, in which the manufacture
of brooms is conducted, has been OF
possible good. It's earnings have not
been large, but il has furnished en-
ployment to the halt, lame and blind,
to sickly and short term convicts, and
relieved the prison yard OF its idlers
that were formerly so numerous and
troublesome. It's effect upon the val
ne Of prison labor has been most
marked.
The number OF convicts September
30th, 1876, was S35; in 1875, 7SS; in 1S-
"a, 703. OF the prisoners received in
1876, thirty had served a term in the
House of Correction, eighteen in the
Reform School. and eleven in other
prisons. Eighty-five per cent. of the
convicts were committed for the first
time. Seventy-seven per cent. were
Incorporate. Eighty-six per cent.
were unapprenticed.
Is not the cause of the increase in
crime shown by these statistics to be
found in this large per cent. OF initem-
perate and idlers?
The reports of the warden and Board
of Inspectors as to the workings of the
good time and convict earnings law
enacted by the last Legislature, express
some doubts as to the amount of bene-
fit TO be derived from the latter provis-
ion. The experiment has not been
| tested long enough to really tell its ef-
feet, and / should be 10th to give it up
| as failure. am of the opinion, how
h. nIv
a larger discretion in the matter OF
amount and payment of convict's
earnings. Some provision should be
made by which the condition and resi-
dence Of conviet's family could be
made matter Of record at the prison,
and his earnings paid directly to them
instead of being boarded or squander-
ed as they so often are. submit
herewith, in accordance with law, a
list OF the pardons have granted dur.
ing the past two years.
STATE HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
In accordance with the provisions OF
Act No. 90, Laws of 1915, appointed
/ Hampton Rich, of Ionia, Charles Kipp,
of Clinton, and Westbrook Divine, OF
| Montcalm, as a Board of Commission
ers for the new House Of Correction at
| Ionia. A contract for two of the four
cell blocks, officers quarters, chapel,
! hospital, kitchen, boiler-house, and
one shop was entered into, September,
| 1875, with Knapp 4 Co., OF Detroit,
who we're the lowest bidders. The
work has progressed favorable, though
not az rapidly as il should, or as was
agreed upon. 1t will be ready for oc-
cnpancy by the 1st OF May next. The
entire cost of the building, including
extras, superintendent, expenses OF
the board, etc. will not exceed the
amount designated in the act, viz:
$4,000. The overcrowded condition
| OF the State Prison, and the House OF
Correction at Detroit, require that the
new prison be fitted and furnished i'm
mediately.
The board has prepared estimates OF
the sum needed for this purpose,
amounting to $40, ,45S. The amount
required to start a new prison OF this
magnitude is necessarily large, as it
will not fill up gradually but at once,
compelling the outlay to be made with
in a very short time. The new plan
upon which it has been constructed
and upon which il is to be conducted,
viz: that all the employees are to live in
the institution, will demand also a
somev hat larger expenditure for fur
nishing, though the State will be re-
paid for il in the reduction of expenses
in the first year of its operation.
The above sum, though asked for as
fitting and furnishing, includes water
aud gas supply, horses, wagons, tools,
fencing, steam engine, fire hose, etc.
that are not to be classed as furniture,
but that are necessary for the works OF
the prison. The original plan of the
prison provides for 5s2 cells, 3l2 OF
which are in the present contract and
are completed. Shop room for 15f
prisoners is also in the present con-
tract.
To complete all the cells and shops,
enclosure wall, barn and stable, war.
den's residence, including heating the
whole prison, aud furnishing warden's
, residence, the board estimate will re.
, quire an appropriation of $780, 1853.
The increase of crime, the number
|. of prisoners in excess OF cells in oul
, other prisons, the statistics Of which
} are given elsewhere, would seem to de
} mand that the whole number of cell
} and shops be built at once. The en-
closing wall must Of course be erected
} Immediately. I recommend therefor,
! al appropriation OF the amount esti
3 mated by the board. with provis'
I that the construction of the cell block
p NAV be discontinued by the governor