The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-10
ABOUT THE PrSIrENrrARY.
ihs Strike Among the stons-Cutters-The
"omen's Department and the Old Nau
narvin-lmprovements Made and Some
Contemplated.

narvin-1mprovements Made and Some
Contemplated.
Recently there has been a deal OF talk
about the penhentiary and the management
There. IL could hardly be possible that
there should have been so much smoke
without some Gre, but it is equally true
that much OF the talk about the Board Of
Directors has been exaggerated.
The Board consists Of Mr.. wray t.
Knight (president), Mr.. Patterson.
and Mr. John G.. Andrews. The Board
went into authority on the 1st OF March,
and shortly afterwards took hold OF mat
ters at the penitentiary, and commenced to
vigorously inquire into everything that
came within their Jurisdiction. In some
matters they elashed with the Superintend-
ent Captain WiIliams), and the Governor
was appealed to. In nearly all, il not in all,
the cases the Governor sustained the
Board; but in many instances the truth
about the irregularities was
WITHHELD FROM THE PrBLTc.
The true inwardness Of the charge Of the
sale OF places by members OF the Legisla-
ture to guards residing outside Of the
limits appOrtioned by the ReadiUster eau
Gus has never been revealed. The particu-
lars OF the abuses in the cooper establish
ment are still suppressed; but there has
enough Of truth leaked out TO give faith TO
the statement that Governor Cameron has
bad 10 be appealed 70, and that he has rem
dered In some Of the cases important deci-
sions. The eonvicts in the barre-factory
were heavily tasked-at least one fourth
more work being required u them than Is
done by hands vino work for themselves.
Failing to make up these tasks, they were
TIED TO THE wHIPPING-POsr,
and the lash was laid upon their backs.
Sickness 30 an alarming extent followed
one OF Marvin's neatly-executed reports,
gotten up after the style adopted AZ West
Point, showing that the sickness in this
department was one fourth greater than
in any other. Indeed, the expenses in
CURED in properly
CARING FOR THE SICK
swallowed up the entire profits accrulng
from the hire OF the cOnvIcts.
The Board directed the superintendent
to reduce the task Of the men from twenty
to the regular standard-fifteenp per day.
The Superintendent ut first refused, but
the Governor decided against him. The
reduction in the task was made, and the
per cent. OK sickness has now dropped
down to an ordinary average. This Is one
thing the Board has done, and 1t was both
economical and humane.
THE IMPROVEMENTS
bv the new Board consists Of an increased
sCnplv Of water. introduced from the city
works; that for drinking purposes Is
caused to run into & deep well, in which it Is
kent starding until it cools. Two foun-
tains play in the court, and steam radia-
tors have been put in the hospitel, and 4
large steam boiler put up IN the old cooking
deDartment. Instead o; a fire in each room
the loiler will heat all the buildings, and
furnish steam for cooking purposes. ms
will be a great saving OF money.
HOT BREAKFAsT
after awhile will be given the convicts, in
stead Of the cold bread and behring's now
cooked for them overnight. Nine ire
plugs. with hose attached, have been put
in the shoe department, and gas-works
erected bv which the buildings are sup
piled with light at a considerably less cost
than il could be furnished by the city OF
Richmond. These are some OF the works
Of the Board that are most-noted.
THE voXEN's DEPARTMENT.
The prison set apart for the women Is a
shameful tumble-down frame building,
west Of the prison proper, and separated
therefrom by high plank-lence.
A new building became imperative, ana
an appropriation Of $4,000 was made Tor
This purpose. The Idea at hrst vas 70 Dtllld
II Of brick. but the profits OF the prison,
coupled with the appropriation, caused the
directors TO decide 10 build partly OF
granite. Marvin drew the plan ior the
/ building, and the
CONTRACT WAS AWARDED
70 Mr.. John Marshall, with Mr.; KoDert
Wendlinger as security. Marshall set
about the work with force OF stone
cntters that belonged TO a union. Marshall
LOST standing with the union by falling 10
nav ms dues. and strike followed. M
Wcndlinper at once got rid OF 3larshall,
and tooIc the contract himself in order to
avoid loss.
The striker, then complained OF negro
mason. and he was discharged. The men
then set 10 work, but seeing Marvin arouhu
another difficulty seemed imminent, uhtii
fine stOnC-cutters were shoWn tnat Mar' II
was not A boss that he was under gllu u
and was doing duty a. a convict. Ills au'
,,ico was sometimes asked by the con-
tractor. but Marvin gave no orders. ana
was not allowed any authority. Inc "0rs
now hines ONLY for lack Of granite, Du'
Mr. WendIincer i doing all he can 70 nave
the building completed by the 2Oth oil NO
vember. ,.bo poor5
Mr. John G.. Andrews, one OF the BoarC
q, directors. Is the superintendent OF .n'
;mnrovements going on. He gives az
doilv attention To what is being done, ahe
seems to be intent upon dong the pest loi .!
the state. He receives for his services =
nor d,v In the front Of the building lneI'
, will be two granite wings two stories hisu
Tbe centre will contain the cells, Owe
tbree hundred in number, the bulidlhS 3, u
ha brick. and three stories hish' In' "
lower stories Of the granite Wings VII
10 nsed bv the officials OF the PRISON
! ahoye. ON either side, will be the hosliIais-,
| White and black respectively. Inc Gel
door. are to be OF iron, and the window
z sjIls the same. The bricks OF the stare At
l mory. corner Of Fifth street anu caual, VII
! he nsed for the construction OF the brick
/ ,yorL the Governor having 30 ordered
e Tbe granite comes from our James-rVe
: dnarries and down the Richmond ana A
r Iaghanv railroad. When completed, IN
Y b1iIding will be i very handsome one
q vast Improvement over the present arrange
: ment. ,...s :, = .or
tempIated 10 erect a brick wall where i1 IN
nresept plank fence stands, thus Drlngln l
al the buildings inside OF proper inciosuT'
p sIong the line OF this wall rooms ior u
. Guards viii be built, bringing them 1
within easy call.
MARVIN.
: Marvin makes himself as insinuative