The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-12-05

COLUMBIA, S. C. October 81, 1877.
To the Directors Of tie South Carolina
Pemitcntid1y:
GEHTLEMES: The average number OF
convicts per day was .lGj, making the pe,
capit0 expense for the year $3.50. This
amount might have been much reduced
if we had been able 10 make payments
with greater promptliess and avail of the
advantage always obtained by 4 cash pur-
chaser.
There have been several applications
for labor, resulting however in only TWO
contracts, as follows: One hundred con-
victs to Greenwood and Augusta Rail-
road at s. per month, from September "a,
maintenance; twenty-five comvictS (af-
forwards reduced 10 twenty to Charles
Mathew, ut $3.50 per month each, from
July Is, for work at dam on Saluda Riv-
er, near Columbia.
In january last an arrangement was
made by your predecessors with Mr.. y. G.
Seeyers. of Columbia, for the employ
lncnt of l5O convictS, at his plantation,
twelve miles below the city. without 9TH
er CON pcnSation for such labor than the
entire maintenance Of the prisoners SO
employed, including clothing, medicines,
&c. There are " 10 convicts located
there under said contract, which will OK
plrc January l, IUS
am aware that some persons believe
in the eXpcdicncv Of hiring the convicts
outside of the pcnitcntiary, and that a
sufficient income may be derived from
such service for the support of the entire
prison population. or 20 far towards il.
My opinion is that the proper protection
Of society and the necessity for punish
mcnt of crime require other ways of u!il-
iZing the labor of State prisoners. Our
prison should he made secure by the
erection ST Il suitable wall around so
much OF the prison property rs may he
necessary for actual occupation by the
convicis. Shops should be erected with
in such enclosure, and industries cs,ab-
lislied in accordance with the modern
system for employing unSkillrd convict
labor, by which the prisoners arc divided
into groups or 'tcanlS,' each having but
II branch OF the work 10 perform, and
hence not requiring any previous train
ing rs mechanics.
BY the use Of the pcnitcntiarv water
power, which cen easily be transmitted
by wire ropcsto the shops and the auxil-
larry aid Of simple machines and apparat-
us, we can organize Il shoe shop and wag-
on shop, which will employ most of tie
convictS.
With the approval of the Board of Di-
~rcctors, / made an extended tour among
the pen%itcntiaricS of other States, in Sem
TENDER last, for the purpose of examin-
ing the practical management of convict
labor where Sel:-Supporting. I acquired
much valuable data OH this and other
branches Of prison economy, and with the
Support Of the proper authorities, | can
see the way clear for placing the pcniten-
1 tiaary ina position to yield Il yearly rev.
cnue to the State. This cannot be done
however, without the outlay required to
organize and continue the industries I'M
til properly established.
In some OF the States ~cOnvicts can be
economically employed outside of prison
walls, but only in coal mining or other
work where large numbers can be profit
ably c~ongregated in small space and Sc
curely guarded by n small force.
I am not uWare Of any publirOr private
enterprise which will do so at present,
except the development Of the Columbia
water power. This work the convicts
can do more proiitably, either for the
State or on contract.
The most serious objection to the out
side contract system, as demonstrated in
every State where adopted, is the large
proportion Of escapes, which are una
Voidahle under that plan, ranging from
II TO % per G per aHlnum.
In the accompanying report yOu Will not
the escape of 73 cOnTicts during the year. o