The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-31
at'Aesliag gr9lster.
THE PENITEN rIAKY.
A t;rowI from Brick Top" ut the
Grumblers.

Cor1espo ndence OF the Register
Isn't it about time the foolish twaddle
of newspapers demagogues aid other per-
sons, VINO know nothing about the mat
ter about this institution being made
sseli sustaining" should cease? Can any
of these over-wise individuals sugges! 3
plan by which this much desired state OF
things can be brought about? Have any
Of them ever attempted to build rail
road, blast furnace, hotel or dwelling
house, and make it self sustaining" trsm
the time they first commenced work upon
it, and succeeded in the undertaking?
Whenever they succeed in doing some
thing OF this kind, have no doubt but
that the Board of Directors and Superin-
tendent here will be glad to profit by
their experience.
According TO the estimates OF the cur
rent year, the institution will only re-
quire an appropriation of ten thousand
dollars to cover all expenses. Superin-
tepdent Bridges shows by his report tor
no year ending Dec. LIST, 1877, that the
labor performed by convicts on permsn-
emit Improvements, improvements that
were absolutely necessary to the institu-
ton, calculating the labor at the very
low price at which it has been calculated,
(Which, in some Cases, is less than one
malt what laborers could be hired at),
AN ounts TO something over nine thousand
dollars during that period.
For the labor of the one hundred and
fifty leased to contractors, the State re-
celves twenty-five cents each per day.
Can the management be held responsible
for not getting higher price? If SO,
gentlemen, please submit your plan, and
if possible it will no doubt be adopted.
Of the entire number of convicts here
over two fits are kept at work for the
State, and the profits or benefits arising
rom their labor does not show in the H.
nanclal report of the institution, and
still they are to be fed, clothed, guarded
and have medical attendance furnished
them. That the salaries paid officers here
is too high, no person preterds to claim.
The assistant warden of the Western
Pennsylvania Penitentiary receives the
same salary as the Superintendent here
titeen hundred dollars per year.
AS to the pay of the guards at this in
stitution, l have correspondent with the
officers OF quite a number OF similar in
stitutiors, and with but one exception
(Kentucky penitentiery) the pay here
is less than any of them; IN some cases
less than one.hslf. while the number OF
hours of duty required per day is greater.
venture the assertion that there is not
a prison in the United States, containing
an equal number OF prisoners, that can
compare with this in the cheapness with
wnIch the prisoners are kept, viz: Thir-
" nine and one-hslf cents per capita per
day, which amount includes officers sa,-
aries, pay of guards, feeding. clothing,
bedding and medical attendance. As q
matter of course, if we had double the
amount OF convicts, the per capita cost
would be very materially reduced, as it
would not nece:sitate any increase OF off.
cers or cost of medical attendance, and
but small increase of the guard force
Taking things all in all, l am of the
opinion that the people Of the State have
every reason to congratulate themselves
upon the present management OF their
State prison.
It would be unreasonable, l suppose,
to expect every one TO be satisfied with
the management of an institution of this
kind, and not to find some fault finders
and grumblers. Some of them prompted
by one and some by aro.her>motlve, and
some of them by-uo motive at all, except
unconstitutional disposition for grumbling.
"B. T."