Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-24
In Conclusion

the report says to quote from the report OF
The Prison Examiner Of the United States
Department of Justice in reference to the
West Virginia Penitentiary; There are two
hundred ard sixty prisoners now in the N.
thirty one Of whom are sentenced
by the United States courts.
twenty-three cells and these are too small
for two persons, a number have 10 sleep on /
cots in one Of the wards Of the hospital. !
From personal inspection Of the prisoners |
received the impression that they were |
treated well As in all other prisons their
food is charged from day to day, so that
variety tends to their good health. / was
not present at meal but from an inspee-
ton Of the kitchen, bake-holse and store
room, am satisfied that the quality OF
their food is good and wholesome, and bet
ter than in a number OF prisons l have
visited.
The numhsr Of diseaeed and MANNED
prisoners averages less than in large peni>
tentiaries. The discipline is not strict but
good or6As prevails, and that is the object
desired"
We quote from the report of The U. 5.
Examiner for the purpose of giving yon
disi,pterssted and critical opinion as 10 our
r,rison management, and we think We en-
safely congratulate the citizens Of the Sta 9
on the humane and economical manage
ment Of their State PenitenaarY.
Treasurer's Report.
October ISSa-Elance SilS 10
Received during the 500 W
~, 100 o,
-
Disbursements during sane period. SO'SiZ %
I Balance on hand for year ending Sep
TENDER 50, lSSi......... ..........'..''. S 5.
balance, ..''.--..-''''''''''' '''''''' se 80 M
ReCJivSdduyirg year. ''..-''''''' 49, -
Expenditures same period S-oAo %
Balance o, hand ... $3.50 "a
superintendent Report.
The report Of the Superintendent - but an
elaboration Of that Of the directors, he pr,u-
opal recommendations being as follows:
Hours OF Labor.
The law requiring the convict to labor on
an average ten hours day throughout the
year, actually requires him to be on duty
| above eleven hours day. This is too long,
/ The State Of New York requires of her pI.E
oners but eight hours day on an average
We impo-e Seyenty-seven days labor ofeigh'
bours each per year On each prisoner in ex
cess OF what the laws of New York impo-e
The average price of convict labor in New
York is ftty-four and half cents per day
The average price in West Virginia doe.
not exceed 6fty-fve cents per day, and wher
we include all prisoners for sos working
days in the year, the average is foTty-hyt
cents per day.
Let US give the prisoner at least one hour
reprieye from manual toll and add on to the
hour of rest and mental improvement.
Gas supply.
There is probably no institution in tht
country, be it workshop, mandatory o.
penitentiary of like extent with ours that i
not supplied with gas.
Common prudence, convenience ant
safety demand that we should no longer re
main in this respect so far behind the az
in which we live.
Steam Laundry.
A steam laundry for the prison would only
be a wise measure of economy. From
twelve hundred to seventeen hundred pieces
have to be washed by hand each week.
Then follows a detailed account of re
ceipts and expenditures, number of prison
ers and other items of like nature.
Prison Statistics.
Number OF prisoners in the Penitentiary during