Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-06
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.

THE STATE PENIIENIlAhI.
The Columbia correspondent Of the Ne'os
and Courier furnishes the following interest
ing information concerning the present man.
agement of the State penitentiary:
Gen. T. J. Lipscomb, the newly appointed
superintendent of the penitentiary, has already
displayed degree of intelligence and zeal in
his management of its affairs that promises
to secure the best results attainable under the
narrow minded policy adopted by the ere
form" Legislatures There are now confined
in the prison about 250 convicts, besides the
large number hired out to contractors. To
maintain this number (250) and pay all the
other current expenses of the prison, the
Legislature appropriated the. sum of about
Sl,66666 per month, which amount, as may
be readily seen, does not leave a very large
margin for improvements, experiments or
"side speculation" of any kind Such i'm
provements as are possible within the limits
allowed are being made every day, however,
and it is a matter of surprise that so much
has been and is being accomplished with so
little means.
A large garden within the walls shows
quantity and variety of wholesome vegetables
that would compare favorably with SONS Of
the finest market gardens" around Charles.
ton, and supplies large proportion of food
for the convicts at the smallest possible outlay
of money.
Very nearly all of the cloth used for uni
forming the sconvicts is woven and made by
themselves, ,at a cost of perhaps little more
than half of the price that would be paid for
it outside. Heavy and we'll made shoes
(brogans) are made in the prison shoe shop,
for the use of the inmates and those that
have been hired out, at an average cost of 90
cents per pair, and the superintendent con-
templates developing this branch of the busi-
ness by establishing a large tannery within
the walls, which will enable him to convert
all the hides purchasable in the State in the
best manner, where they can be sold at good
profit. ..u -...
The health Of the convcts has also greatly
improved under the new management. One
hundred and thirteen out of about six hum
dred died last year, and when the prison was
turned over to Gen. Lipscomb, the hospital
and rude clubhouse known as the barber
shop, were both filled with sick. There are
eral of these cases are Of long standing. The
credit for the improvement in this depart
ment is due to DR.. George Trezevant, the re-
Gently appointed physician, who, it may be
said too, is ably seconded in his efforts by his
assistant, DR.. Pope, of Newberry.
There is still very much to be done before
the institution can be placed in proper con-
dtion. 1t is crowded in every department to
a most unnecessary and unwholesome extent
The washing for the 250 men is done in a
small room about :on feet square; the kitch-
EN- is but little if any larger; the mess hall is
not as large BY one-half as it should be; the
shoe shop, wherein twenty or thirty men are
required to work, is about large enough to
accommodate half dozen similarly engaged
all Of which should be remeded as it is no
part of the sentence of the prisoners that
they should be denied light, air and reasona-
BILE elbow room.
1t is intended to enlarge the several work
rooms as rapidly as the work can be done
with the small appropriation allowed, and the
brick walls will be extended around the entire
prison enclosure as soor as possible. When
they are completed, the number Of guards
can be safely diminished fewer number
will be required on duty at the same time,
and the prisoners can be employed at work
in any portion Of the square without risk of
their escaping. .:........
In no department Of legislation, perhaps,
have the Democratic Legislatures made great
er mistakes than in regard to the uses and
capabilities Of this institution, and it is ear
nestly to he hoped that the next one will
adopt some more liberal policy than the
penny wise and pound foolish" ones which
have hitherto prevailed.
1t speaks for itself; is what a lady said Of
Dr. Bulls Cough Syrup the other day, for
single bottle cured my child of most dread.