The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-04

and efficiency with which the Superin
tendent and bis subordinate officers have
conducted the affairs of the prison. Nc
better evidence of the economy practiced
need be given than is contained in the
statement which appears in the Report OF
the Superintendent, that the cost O
maintenance, including feeding, guard
ing, clothing and medical attendance, is
81 cents per capita per day, while the
entire cost, including improvements and
incidental expenses, is about 80 cents
per capita per day.
The Acts of the General Assembly
ITO provide for the more speedy devel.
opment of the Columbia Canal" author.
lied the Board of Directors of the Peni
tentiary to expend during the last year
in the prosecution of the work the sum
of SIT ,O50 of the income of the Peni.
tentiary over and above the amount
necessary for the support and mainte.
nance of the institution, and to employ
the services of 200 able. bodied conyicts.
Of the amount authorized to be expen.
ded but S130SO.29 was spent last year.
In consequence Of sickness prevailing in
some of the convict camps, the contrac-
tors declined to accept the full number
of convicts to which they we're entitled,
and the revenue of the Penitentiary tor
the hire of convicts was so much reduced
as to make it impossible, with proper
regard to all the interests of the institu.
tion, 10 expend on the Canal the full
amount authorized by law. A daily
average of 1872 hands was employed on
the work. The Manager of the Canal
states in his report that while a majority
of the hands so employed were able.
bodied, about one third were disabled
and therefore incapable of doing full
work. Of the able. bodied convicts, the
life convicts and those serving long
sentences were required, for safe keep.
ing, to wear shackles while at work, and
their efficiency as laborers was thus much
impaired. twill be seen, therefore, that
while the daily average of convicts EN-.
ployed on the Canal was 1872, the amount
of able bodied labor represented was
really much less. The work done on the
Canal should not be estimated by the
amount of money appropriated or of
labor authorized to be used, but by the
quantity of each actually employed.
1t is fact worthy of note that the
Canal furnishes employment to large
number of convicts who would otherwise
be comparatively idle.
TIE Engineer of the Canal reports
that one mile of the heaviest of the
work has been opened, and about 7S per
cent. finished. The cash expenditures,
after deducting the value Of machinery
on hand, has been $4,000. The Engi-
neer states that work has been done in
accordance with the plans and speciica.
tions, and is of a substantial character.
All plans and estimates have been care.
fully revised, and as the work progresses
no material difference is shown in the
classification or kind of material as
provided for in the original estimates,
nor is there any reason to suppose that
there will be any change. During the
recent drought, which has been Of un.
usual duration, Broad River, the feeder
of the new Canal, has been at its lowest
stage. Accurate gaugings taken at this
low stage of the water in the river show
that the supply Of water, under all cir.
cumstances, will be ample for the Canal
when completed. The Engineer makes
no estimates of funds necessary for the
future prosecution of the work, these
matters having been fully set forth in
his former reports.
In view of the importance of this
work, of the amount of money already
expended upon it, and Of the fact that
during the last fiscal year there was
deficiency, both in the labor and in the
money authorized by law to be used, l
recommend that the Directors of the
Penitentiary be authorized to employ on
the Canal during this year at least the
same amount of labor and Of money as
was allowed last year, provided that the
money so used shall be over and above
the amount necessary for the support of
the Penitentiary.
This Canal, when completed, will be
of great benefit to the State, and in my
opinion will well repay the cost of its
construction. 1t should be carried to
completion as rapidly as the finances of
the State will permit.
THE MILITIA.
The Adjutant and Inspector General
reports that he has made personal
inspection of all the companies in the
State, with the exception of three.
Notwithstanding the difficulties with
which they have had to contend, and the
insufficiency of the means provided for
sustaining these organizations, he has
found that, in nearly every instance,
they have increased in efficiency. There
has been a decrease on the rolls, as
compared with last year, of $40 officers
and men, while the number present at
inspection was 352 less than last year.
The balance of the appropriation
remaining after arms, ammunition, in.
spection expenses, &C., had been paid for
was divided among the companies which
produced at inspection the number Of
men required by law, each of these
companies receiving under this distribu-
ton $2.41 per capita. Seven companies
of the Volunteer State Troops and six
companies of the National Guard, failing
to muster for inspection the number oi
men required by law, were thus deprived
of their quota.
In accordance with an Act of the
General Assembly, Board of Officers
appointed by the Adjutant and Inspector
General met at bis Office to prescribe a
regulation uniform for all branches OF
the service. This Board adopted neat
and durable gray suit, similar to that OF
the United States Army, the complete
cost of which is from $3.50 to $3.50.
The Adjutant and Inspector General
after having inspected companies which
adopted this prescribed uniform, is
favorably impressed with its general
effect.
With one exception there has been no
call during the last year for the services
of any of the militia to aid the civil
authorities. The excellent material Of
which the force is composed induces the
belief that should such emergency arise
it will be found equal to any demand
which will be made upon it.
Tho Adiutant ard Tncnortnr Eanarul