The Portland daily press., 1878-01-16
THE STATE PRISON.
Annual Report of the inspectors and
Warden.

In the annual report of the Inspectors and
Warden of the State Prison for the year 1877,
it appears that the amount of property belong
ing to the state and connected with the prison,
not including real estate according to a recent
appraisal, is $9,SO5.21. There has been three
distinct branches of business carried on, viz -
Manufacture Of carriages, of boots and shoes,
and of harnesses The sales of carriages and
harnesses amounted to S47,746.12; and boots
and shoes to $7,1954S, exceeding those of last
year nearly 81 per cent The earnings of the
Institution for the year have been So, 299 A. the
expenses $50, 10944, leaving balance against
the prison of SO, $40, for which an appropriation
will be required. The deficit is attributed
largely to the shrinksge in values, depression
in business the expense of fitting up new cells
and furnishing clothing to SO large a number of
new men who have earned little. There are Sc
more convicts than year ago, and further in
crease of numbers is expected. The earnings
of the next year are estimated at $4,000 and
the expenses at $33. 900.
The west wing of the prison has been ex-
tended during the year 60 feet. furnishing ac-
commodations for SO prisoners. hospital and
school room, at cost of $19,483.05 Two
thousand dollars is asked to enlarge the harness
shop. The number Of convicts for the year
1877 was: Males 169, females 2, average for the
year 100. The present number of males is 203
females 4, average for the year 1873.
There were "a committed during the year for
the following crimes: Larceny, 80; breaking
and entering z; assault aad battery, 5; forgery,
r..
slaughter 3; murder, 2; robbery, 2; arson, adul-
terry, assault to ravish and assault to rape, 1
each.
The number admitted, "a, is less than for the
year 1866 when it was SO, and in 1869, when it
was 81, and the number is claimed to be far
smaller. in proportion to population, than any
other of the United States for the same time.
A less proportion were committed for "crimes
against the person" than heretofore. An un-
usually large number appear to belong to the
tramp" species.
Of the 267 convicts 1856 are serving for their
first conviction, IL their second, 3 their third
and his seventh; thus 10 per cent. are repeat
ers. A change of law SO that this class shall
receive increased length of term is recommend
ed.
The general health of the convcts has been
good; no epidemic or contagious disease has
prevailed. There have been two deaths, both
of consumption. Two prisoners have been
sent to the insane asylum. Religious services
have been held each Sabbath by the clsrgymen
of Thomaston in rotation. Instruction has
been given in reading, writing, spelling arith-
metic, geography and grammar to IS inmates;
the number will be increased to about 100 the
coming year, or as soon as the new school room
is opened.
The whole number committed to county jails
during the year has been 1854; in 1876 it was
1878, including those awaiting trial, and for
debt 1877 have been committed to jails having
workshops. The shop connected with Bangor
Jail has paid its expenses. at Augusta realized
net profit of $545. and at Portland net profit
of $500; the others have rendered no account
to the inspectors Religious services have
been held on the Sabbath in the jails at Au-
burn, Augusta, Portland and Bangor, and in
the latter a school has been maintained.
Pardons have been granted during the year
to convicts in the state prison, of which are
conditional, and the sentence of 1 was COM
muted to the same length of time in the county
Jail at Auburn; 8 convcts 10 county jails have
been pardoned, 3 of which were conditional.