The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-04
VOLUME Xxx. -NO. 2l

can bear testimony TO the zeal, economy
and efficiency with which the Superin.
toudeht aud bio subordinate officers have
conducted the afairs Of the prison. No
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 oi
maintenance, Including feeding, guard
ing, clothing and medical attendance, IL
Il cents per capita per day, while the
entire cost, including improvements and
incidental expenses, is about 33 cents
per capita per day.
The Acts of the General Assembly
ITO provide for the mere speedy devei.
opment Of the Columbia Canal" author.
lied the Board of Directors of the Peni.
tentiary to o,expend during the last year
In the prosecution of the work the sum
of $l7,050 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.
Or the amount authorized to be expen.
ded but Sl3,0S0.29 was apent last year.
In consequence of sickness prevailing in
some of The convict camps, the contrac.
tors declined to accept the full number
of conyicts to which they were entitled,
and the revenue Of the Penitentlc for
the hire Of convicts was so much reduced
as to make II impossible, with proper
regard TO oil 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 majority
of the hands 30 employed were able.
bodied, about 0ne,third were disabled
aud 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 shnckles while at work, and
their efficiency as laborers was thus much
impaired. 1t will be seen, therefore, that
while the daily average of convicts EN-.
ployed on the Canal was l92, tine 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 10 O fact worthy Of note that the
Canal furnishes employment to large
number of convicts who would otherwise
be comparatively idle. a
Tie Engineer of tho Canal reports
that one mile of the heaviest OF the
work has been opened, aud about 78 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 10
accordance with the plans aud specifica.
tlons, and Is Of substantial character.
All plans and estimates have been care.
fully revised, and as the work progressea
no material difference is shown In the
classification or kind of material as
provided for in the original estimates,
DOR 10 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 oil cir.
cumstances, will be ample for the Canal
when completed. The Engineer makes
NO salimates of funds necessary for the
future prosecution of tho 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 a
deficiency, both in the labor and in the
money authorized By lew &C be used,
recommend that the Directors of the
Penitentiary be authorized to employ on
the Canal during this year at least the
came amount of labor and of money as
was allowed last year, provided that the
money go used ahall 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 nv
opinion will we'll repay the cost of ita
construction. It should be carried to
completion as rapidly as the finances OF
the State will permit.
THE MILITIA.
The Adjutant and Inspector General
Sepcrts that he has made personal
inapection of all tho companies In the
Stale, with the exception of three.
Notwithstanding the difficulties with
which they have had to contend, and the
insuficiency Of the means provided for
sustsia;nE si,sss Organisations. be has
found that, in nearly every instance,
they have increased in efficiency. There
has been 9 decrease on the rolls, as
compared with last year, of $40 officers
and men, while the number present at
inspection was 352 less than laat year.
The balance of the appropriation
remaining after arme, ammunition, in.
spection expenses, Co., had been paid fol-
was divided among the companies which,
produced ct inspection the number OF
men required by law, each Of these
companies receiving under this distribu.
tion S2.4l per capita. Seven companies
of the Volunteer State Troops and Hix
companies Of the National Guard, failing
to muster for inspection the number OF
men !equired by law, were thus deprived
Of their quots. asF
In accordance with an Act of tn,
General Assembly. q Board of Officer,
appointed by the Adiutant and Inspecto,
General met at bis Office to prescribe 4
regulation uniform for all branches o
the service. This Board adopted a neal
and durable gray suit, similar to that o
cost Of which Is from $3.50 TO $3.50
The Adjntant and Inspector Genera
aler having inspected companies which
adopted this prescribed uniform, 1,
fayorably impressed with its genera
effect. e : 81
With one exception there has been nj
call during the last year for the service.
Of any Of the militia 70 aid the civil
authorities. The excellent material o
which the force is composed induces til
belief that should such emergency arisl
IT, will be found equal to any demand
which will be made upon Il. i,4Ss5; &. = !
The Adjutant ard Inspector Genera