Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-17
ruc STATE PRISON REPORT.

bin is now before the Legislature
relative to the appropriation OF Soo'o"o
for the continuance of work on the Reno
prison. The measure was referred ~
the Senate to a committee of six, and a.
these Mr.. Comins, of White Pine, Mr.
Westcoatt. of Lincoln, and MIR. Piper, @,
Storey, after careful consideration q
the matter, have made very elab"ra"
and logical report adverse to the aprio
priation. The principal points OF th'
same we have summarized as follows.
After stating the fact of visit to Reno
and a careful examination of the wal
already erected, the progress OF the "oiF
is noted, and slight mention is mad" a
the surrounding country. lin r's''d i
the adjacent stone quarry. We are '''''
that il is three miles from III biii'.in,;,
and should the work cont:nu". the qa''f-
~ could be used to some advantage. "u'
prison labor could never be utilized 10
any advantage here. owirg to the dis
tance of the quarry from the building
itself. Then, in addition. II Is situated
IN the land of the Central Pacific Rail
road Company, and it is uncertain wheth-
or a purchase could be M de ~ Inc State,
much less at reasonable terms.
To complete the building, 's' per plans
and specifications how ON HE III the
Office of the Secretary ii safe, III the
opipion of the Coinmiitee and architects,
the cost would be at ,e.Ss t'cO hundred
and nifty thO,t>a"d d".io''S in addition to
what has already been expended. After
stating facts III prof .. tie proposition
that Nevada does ~. need such large
prison, the Ca. - 1 son IS recommend
ed as being $500. Il sufficient for any
emergency which exists or may arise.
Even if mere room should be needed.
there is ample room east OF the main
building to construct new walls, which
could be done at small cost to the State,
since the convict labor could be utilized
in the work. Relative to the Carson
stone quarry, it is stated. that the stone
is of good quality, and so extensive that
it cannot be exhausted by prison labor
for many years. 1t has been said that
there is no profit in prison labor eApend-
ed on stone, which may be true; but 1t is
equally true that if there Is no gain In
working the prisoners on stone 1t the
old prison, there must be much loss to
the State in attempting to manufacture
it for sale at the new prison, for the
reason that at the old prison the quarry
is in the prison yard. and no extra guards
are needed to accompany prisoners to
the quarry, and no time lost in travelling
to and from their work while at the new
prison extra guards must be employed
and time lost in travelling to and from
the quarry, and extra expense In team
ing and transferring the stone to the
prison.
The title to the old prison ground is
considered a good one. yet even if the
opposite should be true. the disputed
title can be purchased for $40, 600, AMI
it ia much better to expend that sum
than twelve times as much for the COM
pletion of building which the State
does not need. and could not use to an
advantage after completion. In view OF
all these facts, and many more which
the Committee are unable to get on
paper. owing to the short time they had
to get up this report. and in view of the
still more significant fact that the avail
able funds in the State Treasury will be
exhausted at the adjournment Of the
present Legislature, and also for the
further reason that the property in many
counties of the State has decreased from
80 to 75 per cent. within the last few
years. and that the bullion yield is on
the decrease, and may decrease much
more, thereby materially decreasing the
revenue of the Stafe-we say, in view Of
these facts, and many more patent to all
fact gatherers, we do most earnestly
recommend that the State Prison be left
where it is. and that the present appro-
priation bill for the continuation of the
new prison do not pass. The report is
signed by the three Senators named
above, and will have great weight in de-
termining the final vote on the bill.