Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-11

i've Tabulative Statements - Nativity,
Character and Calling of the Criminals.
The annual report of the inspectors aud
wardens of the State prison for the year
ending Nov. 80, 1879, was received by Gov.
Pillsbury yesterday. From the report of the
inspectors it appears that the number of
criminals in the prison at the date of last
Number received during the year.. .146
Number discharged. Ito
Number in prison. Nov. 80, 1879. $50. .249
The expenses of the prison over the earn
ings for the past year were 500, 1872. 81,
net expense per capita of $97.2S. This Is
the smallest per capita cost yet obtained in
the history of the prison.
OF the current expense fund for the year
there remains unexpended the sum OF
$6,3Sf93.
The earnings of the prison for the ensuing
year are estimated at $4,000. Upon this
basis the opinion is expressed that the ap-
preparation for the current year will be
ample for all expenses, and possibly bal
ance will be left in the treasury une1pended
at the end of the year.
The inspectors commend the efficiency
and fidelity of the officials of the prison, and
express their satisfaction with the general
management of their several departments.
PRESENT LOCATION AND FUTURE NEEDS.
Commenting upon the location of the
present site and the necessity for providing
other prison grounds in the near future, the
inspectors, Messrs. E. G. Butts, John De
Laittre and L. E. Reed, say:
No impartial observer acquainted with the
facts csn deny that the location of the prison
on the present site was peculiarly unfortunate
in an economical point of view. The land
owned by the State is simply two hill sides
and deep ravine. Many thousand dollars
have been spent already in grading, and it
vii! cost at least $4,000 to put the surface
of the prison yard in condition to make it
available for shop room and for other pur-
poses necessary to its use.
1t also costs great deal more to construct
the wall around these hill-sides by reason of
the heavy grading through clay, sand-rock
and quick sand beneath than it would if the
location was level.
About 500 feet of wall has been built dur
ing the past season, costing nearly $4,000.
About 1. 200 feet more remains to be built,
which, with the heavy grading and retaining
walls that must be built to prevent the steep
hill side from sliding, will cost not less than
$35, 200. Yet, in spite of all these drawbacks
and unfavorable conditions, and after care
fully weighing the matter, We are unhesitat-
ingly of the opinion that it is unwise to think
of abandoning the present location, or what
would be tantamount thereto, to leave it in
its present unfinished condition. One thing
is certain: this wall must be finished, and
shonld the next legislature fail to make
sufficient appropriation to fully complete it
and an outbreak occur, it would cost the
State vastly more to gather up the convicts
than to complete the. wall. In its present
condition, it is highly dangerous. Nothing
but few stout hearts and pine plank
fence stands between these desperate men
and liberty.
Again, at the rate of increase of about rs
convicts per annun, the present cell room
will be all occupied in the next winter, and
more room must be provided. With suf-
ficient amount of grading to give additional
shop room and an increase of 200 cells,
making the capacity of the prison $50 to
500, aud completing the walls SO as to make
the prison secure, is the extern in our judg
ment to which the State should go, but this
much is imperative. With 500 convicts put
at labor by contract or otherwise, at about
the price now obtained, the prison could be
made self-supporting. An addition of $50 to
the present number, aside from their sus-
tenance, would entail but little additional
expense and would almost double the earn
ings. When the point has been reached
that this number of convicts have been pro-
vided with cell and shop room, and the
prison made secure and their labor, at about
the present price, will pay for their care and
maintenance, then we say no ore money
for extension of buildings or grounds shonld
be spent here, but the State should then
select better and more available location
for permanent prison. From our past ex
perience we think 500 would be self support
ing, and we believe there is room to work
that number within the present grounds.
We would urge the necessity of selecting
the place for a new prison without delay,
that ample time may be had for the inclosure
of the grounds and the erection of suitable
buildings for this class of our fellow beings
to whom restraint for a longer or shorter
period is necessary, as we'll as for the pun
ishment and reformation of the criminal"
REPORT OF THE WARDEN.
In connection with the report of the in
spectors, as above, the warden, Capt. ]. A.
Reed, presents report in detail of the work
ings of the institution, showing the number
of convicts, crimes for which committed, ma
tionality, occupation, social condition, re-
ceipts and expenditures, ETC., etc. The de-
tails under the various headings, as tabu-
lated by the warden, are as follows:
Males. Females. Total.
Total conviots Dec. /,
1910. Sio 40
Received during the
year;
From the g. s. dis
trict court. 8
From county courts. 1856 40
s47 1854
DISCHARGED.
Males. Females. Total.
Expiration of SEN
teQCe.. o. o.
Pardoned by the Pres
1Qent. i
By order of Q. s. court
commissioner. 2
Pardoned by the Gov