The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-26
THE PTNITENTIARY.

We have before US the full text of the
report o! the condition Of the West Viz
giais Penitentisry for the year ending
Dec. |, 1877. From it we learn that, in May
last. the labor Of so convicts were leased
to Mr.. A. Pollock, OF Wheeling, 10 be
used IN the manufacture OF CIGARS in
June, the labor of so was leased to Messrs.
MARDoRr s Co.. of Allegheny City, to
manufacture brooms; and in August the
labor of so was leased to Messrs. WEAVER
i BARDALL, Allegheny City, to manu-
fsohlrs whips. By the operation of these
leases an income is secured to the State
of about 81, ,025 per month, for convict
labor. There were at the date of making
up this report, about rs men yet remsin.
ing whose lsbo, was for hire in the same
way.
In addition to the above income, Su-
perintendent BRIDoEs used convict labor
in Che erection and creation Of permanent
improvements in and about the prison,
q, follows:
s54 days bricF laying at s2..........-.sl, ,'0s 90
1873 " grading and well digging
at T5c LILY 40
ll54 days stone cutting at s3.......... 3,i62 w
0li6 4" general work at &c......-..- S,u2 10
ss.O22 rs
This does not include the vast amount
Of labor done IN the kitchen, wssh house,
mending clothes, keeping the building
clean, and the thousand and one other
kinds of work that is required about an
institution of this kind.
1t Is evident that the most rigid econ
omy has been prscticed by the Superin.
tendent and those associated with him in
the management of the prison. A saving
of nine cents per man day over the
year ending December lat, 1876, has
been effected in the cost OF the food and
.clothing-which brings this expense
down from "A cents Of that year to Is
cents for the year just closed. The .total
aggregate expense per capita per diem
for the year 1876, exceeded by fraction
49 cent?; while for the year just closed
it has been but S9t cents-footing
up total saving for the year of about
$500. The prison ration alone has
teen reduced It cents per capita, saw
ing attributable solely, We are informed
by the Superintendent, to strict care and
soOpomicsi management, for the rations
Of that priion will yet compare fsvorsbly
in both quantity and quality with that
Of sny prison in the country.
The discipline Of the peniteptlsry is
believed to be as near perfect as is posi-
bic under our present lsws. No serious
revolts or Instructions have taken place
Ior has any disposition on the part Of
any Of the convicts TO incite insurrectIon
or lswlessness of any character been sp-
parent. Rare instances OF refractory
conduct upon the part of individual con-
victs have occurred, but every case Of
the kind has been speedily suppressed,
by the inalction Of reasonable punish
meat.
No escapes have occurred, nor hss the
general health OF the prison suffered By
the presence OF epidemic or contagious
disease.
The whole report shows clearly enough
that Captain BRIDGES has made, and
continues from month to month 10 make
improvements in the management, Of the
different departments of the institution.
The discipline in the prison, alike among
guards and convicts, has been raised TO a
very high point, and everything moves
along harmoniously.
We are glad to be able 70 speak in the
higest terms Of commentator Of the off.
GERS and guards Of the prison and espsci-
ally 30 Of the chief officer, Capt. w. L.
BsIpaEs,