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

In current expenses. until the next ses-
sion of the Legislature.
There were in confinement IN the
State Prison December lst, 1876, 500
convicts, 22l more than there are cells.
At the same date there were 633 in
mates in the Detroit House Of Correc-
tion, being ffty-one more than there
were cells. At this date the number is
still greater.
The establishment of the State House
of Correction at Ionia will require leg
islation regarding its management; di-
rection must be given az TO the class of
prisoners that shall be sent and con-
fined there, and provision should be
made for providing for the transfer OF
from other prisons.
A certain class Of prisoners, convict
ed of what are known az prison often
ses, are now sent TO the House of Cor
rection at Detroit. The number OF
this class now confined there is "A.
This law should be repealed, and
they should be hereafter sent TO one or
the other of the State Prisons. The
Detroit House OF Correction is none
too large for the use Of Wayne county,
and for what are known as county pris-
oners of other counties, and viii glad
ly be relieved OF them.
With the opening Of the State House
Of Correction at Ionia, the prison, De-
troit House Of Correction, and Reform
the State certainly has most
excellent facilities for the classification
and separation Of prisoners, and 1t
should no longer be delayed. The
suggestion has been made OF placing
our three penal institutions under the
control of one board, with an execu-
tive head whose whole time should be
given to the duties of the position, and
who, of course, would require salary.
Such board would cost no more than
the three now do, and in some regards
the plan might be an improvement and
in others perhaps not.
/ commend the suggestion for your
STATE POOR.
The public expense of caring for the
poor OF the State In 1875 was 1872 900.
OF this amount S207, 900 was for main
tanning the poor-houses. The amount
Of investment in poor.houses was 1922,
900. For this expenditure and as re-
turn for the investment, the value OF
labor in 1875 was estimated at
s., 900.
This financial exhibit, the increase Of
tramps and able-bodied paupers, the
OF our poor houses, as de-
scribed by the State Board Of Charities.
and many other reasons, induced the
county superintendents OF the poor ut
their last annual meeting. to adopt by
q unanimous vote a resolution in favor
Of district warehouses;. That this sys-
tenn would decrease pauperism and
save money cannot be doubted. Would
it not be wise to provide by enactment
that any number OF counties may be
to unite for the purpose OF
erecting and conducting n district poor
house or workhouse? 1t would enable
some of the new counties that have not
yet built their poor-houses to make the
experiment.
NEW CAPITOL.
The work upon the new Capitol is
not as far advanced as the Board of
Commissioners wished and expected.
The delay is from various causes, but
chiefly from the change in the cornice,
steps, etc., ordered by the Legislature.
The brick and stone work on the build
ing itself is completed, leavingUonly
the porticos, steps and west boiler
house to be finished. There is no
prospect OF the building being CON-
pleted at the time contemplated, and
the work will need to be hastened to
have 1t ready at the assembling of the
next Legislature. The quality OF the
material and work is excellent, end
board. During the past two years
have been entered into for
the tin roof, stone cornice, steam heat
ing, ventilating, and the electric work.
The total payments to September 30tb.
1876, have been 1916, ,S52.78. The Leg
islsture OF 1871 appropriated sl0, 900
for the preliminary expenses OF plans,
ETC., for the capitol.
The act OF 1871 appropriated 81 200,
900 for the erection of the building, in
services Of the architect and
plans, with amending or repeating the
act OF 1871; bat the Auditor General
construed the appropriation OF 1872,
to include the amount appropriated in
1871. This construction of the law
will require an appropriation OF the
sum SS, ,249 S5, this being the amonnt
expended by the board under the law
of 1871. The board ask for the
electric work and other necessary pur-
poses that the sum of S25, 900, or as
much thereof as may be necessary. may
be appropriated out OF the building
fund and made available during this
year. The history Of the construction
OF public buildings Of this character
fails to show anywhere so small an
amount OF extras or deficiencies as our
capitol up this time, and i commend
this appropriation as one necessary
and fit to be made. Full details Of the
operations Of tho Board OF Building
Commissioners will be found in their
report, to which your attention is call
ed.
The board have made, at my request
an estimate of the amount required to
furnish the capitol with seating. desks,
gas fixtures, mantels, CRATES, library,
shelving, etc. together with fence,
sidewalks, lamps, grading and other
accessory outside improvements. The
amount required, the estimates being
based on work and fixtures appropriate
to the building itself, is s75. 900. 90.
This estimate is for permanent fixtures
that are part of the building and
grounds, aud is exclusive of furniture.
For furniture for the different Offices,
mating, carpeting, desks, tables, etc.
no very close estimate can be made
but am Of the opinion that il will re-
quire from $4,000 to 5000 for this
purpose. / recommend, therefore, that
an appropriation OF s75, 900, or so much
thereof as may be necessary. be made
for the purposes first mentioned, to be
expended by the Building Commission
and the same amount, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, for furni
ture, to be expended under the direc,
ton of the Governor and Board o.
Auditors.
The lot upon which the present capi
tol building stands, with the building
now occupied for State Offices, is wortl
from $500 to sl25,OO0, and will g,
far towards reimbursing the treasur.
for these appropriations.
The State also owns four and one
half blocks Of land in the city, contain
ing fifty-four city lots. and Irecommene
that the Commissioners Of the land Of
fee be directed 10 plat the capito
block and dispose of all the State lots
at such prices aud upon such terms a
| may be fxed by the Governor, Treas
, urer, and himself.
The near approach Of the completiol
| of tho new capitol creates an impern