The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-20

Of good order with the minimum of punish
ments is being gradually approached
during the last year, the trustees state, new
cellnouse, with 200 cells, OF TWO beds each, al
Iordlng accommodations for 400 prisoners, has
been completed 1t has been in since the
first of last month, and there are now $50 con-
Vlcts occupying it. Before It's completion, the
corridors and ali other available space in the
prison had to be utilized for sleeping quarters.
The additions have aided greatly in the improve
ment of the sanitary condition of the prison, ms
well as the comfort and safe keeping of the
prisoners. There are several buildings which
heed repairs and Improvements. and special
appropriation, the trustees state, is needed for
tnls purpose. They further say that "with the
present income from contract labor it is impos-
slDie to meet the expenses of the prison without
s su from the state The contract lot
for the boot and shoe service will expire in Feb
fuary and January The trustees hope 20 OBJ
tain better prices for the labor than they have
Deen receiving under the existing contract.
Az the beginning of the year Warden Howard
renOrts there $50 convicus In the prison,
while at the close the number had decreased to
24S. The daily average during the year was
51S, and since 1877 this average has decreased
40. Since the organization OF the prison IN 1922,
1t has received 7,963 convicts, aud has dis
charged 7, 315 The discharges are classed as
follows: BY expiration of sentence, All; par
doned, 1,157; died, All; by mandate, 26S; trans
ferred to the House of Refuge. "a; transferred
to other prisons, 407 escaped, 277. The aver
age death rate during the whole period has been
4 LILO per cent. while during the last eight
years 1t has been Ito per cent. From the he
ginning Ia per cent. of the couvIcts
have heen pardoned In 1888 less than
per cent. were pardoned. OF the 54S now IN
prison, 24l born in Indiana, so in Ken
lucky 1873 in other States, and 80 in foreign
countries. At the time of conviction II per
cent. were thirty years old under. Fifty-nine
per cent. can read and write, Is per cent can
read only, % per cent neither read or write;
50 per cent. have been married, per cent, are
widOwers, 81 per cent. have admitted inteInper-
ance FOrty-slX of the eOnvicts were sentenced
to i'm pris0nment for life. The average period
below the life sentence is four years and eight
days There are S2o convIcts under contract
each; 80 for coOperage at As cents day each;
rs for boots ami shoes at As cents, and so for
boots and shoes at 80 cents. T is estimated that
80 per cent. of the coEvcts are available for
tract work. The cost of the management
OF the prison during the last year
was S82, 1920. The cost per man, in
Guiding all expenses, SO 95 cents day.
averages 1913 cents each. The earnings from
contract labor during the year amounted to
$66,62411
DR.. Sherrod, the prison physician, reports that
there were seventeen deaths during the year,
but the mortality resulted largely from CON
sumption and chronic diseases contracted before
the cOnvicts were placed in prison. at ia
some of the prisoners when first brought here
some almost naked, even in the coolest weather,
with constitutions seriously impaired, incurable
diseases contracted by dissipation and excuses
of every sort, and, with their previous long con
fnement in county iails it is not to he wondered
at thar IN any die soon after being received"
l.. L. Mccain, the moral instructor, reports a
very marked improvement among the prisoners
since his connection with the prison in that
paclty,