Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-03


and probably much below those of the fu-
ture. The surgeon of the Penitentiary has
repeatedly urged upon the attention of the
board of directors the Importance of cOnfin-
ing but one prisoner in cell. While it is
often necessary to assign two, and sometimes
three prisoners to one cell, the board OF
directors recognize the fact that this crowd
ing of convicts in violation of well estab-
lished sanitary laws is most prejudicial to
the health of the prison. The death rate
during the last year has been greater than
during any previous year OF the lncumDen,
cy of the present superintendent "a result
which is due in large measure to the crowd
ed condition of the Penitentiary, and to
tions. The report of the State Board of
Health sets forth forcibly and clearly the
evils produced by these causes, and makes
important suggestions for the improvement
of the sanitary condition of the institution.
AS soon as possible the construction of an
other wing of the prison should be begun.
During the last year the quarry has been
extended and is now available for furnish
ing stone to be used in erecting additional
buildings. From thirty,to fifty hands have
been employed on the farm, and hands have
been furnished as required for work on the
State House.
The financial embarrassments Of the prs-
on have been unusually great during the
last fiscal year. This has been due, in part,
to losses sustained by the explosion of boil
er in March last. The cost of repairs rem
dered necessary by this explosion was about
So, 900, and the loss incurred in wages of the
hands hired to contractors within the walls,
while awaiting the repairs, was about the
same amount, making the total loss from
this source about $4,000. The diminished
income of the Penitentiary has been due
chiefly to the fact that the board of directors
heretofore for the hire of convicts. The
amendment to the law governing the hiring
of convicts, passed at the last session of the
General Assembly, which was intended to
correct, as far as possible, the abuses of the
lease system, has had the effect designed,
but it has greatly reduced the income of the
prison. In some instances the board of di-
rectors have been compelled to refuse to
lease convicts because of the report Of the
surgeon that the work was not safe and
healthy and in others, persons desiring to
employ hands have declined to complywit
the provisions of the Act. The experience
ofthe past year gives no reason to hope that
under existing laws it will be possible to
make the institution self-sustaining. l be-
lieve that the revenues of the prison would
be considerably increased if the laws gov
erning the hiring of convicts were further
amended so as to permit the board of direc-
tors to take contracts for the performance of
specific work, the work to be done entirely
under the control and direction Of the Off
GERS of the Penitentiary. If this authority
were granted, many contracts, large and
small, could be secured on terms which
would prove remuneratiVe; and with results
more satisfactory as to the care and super
vision of the convicts than can be attained
when they are hired to contractors. If this
recommendation should meet the approval
of the General Assembly / would further
recommend that the sum of $4,000 be ap-
propriated to be used as may be necessary
for the support of the institution, the amount
so used to be returned to the State treasury
from the net earnings of the Penitentiary.
Such appropriation would provide for any
contingency by which the cash receipts may
at any time fall below the demands of the
prison. During the last year, in conse-
quence of the failure of some of the con-
for the hire of c0nvicts, it became necessary
for the board of directors to negotiate loan
of $4,000. This amount will be repaid
when all the collections for the last fiscal
year are made, but with the loss of the in
terest charged on the note. With contin-
uance of the care and economy heretofore
practced in the management Of the prison,
any portion of the 900 which may be
used will be refunded to the State treasury
before the close of the fiscal year, but the ap.-
preparation of the sum as recommended
will prevent the possibility of recurrence
of such embarrassment as may render it ne
cessary to effect loans for the temporary
maintenance of the prison.
| 7 woul6 fi1rt thnr S1ppact for the rOnSlQ9ra-
tion of the General Assembly the expedien-
cy of purchasing land to be cultivated by
the convicts for agricultural purposes. The
experiment of working few of the con-
victs on small farm now belonging to the
State has been SO successful as to induce the
belief that the employment of a considera-
BILE number of them in agricultural pursuits
would increase the revenue of the Peniten-
tiary, and would thus do much towards the
solution of the difficult problem of making
the institution self-supporting while provid-
ing properly for the care of the prisoners.
The use of a large number of convicts in this
way would have the additional advantage
of relieving the over-croWding of the pris-
on, and of furnishing that steady, healthful
and useful employment so necessary for
the attainment of the great object of pris-
on discipline-the reformation of the GRIM
inals. | have given careful attention to
this matter, and l believe that the au-
thorizing of the board to take contract for
work, and the purchase Of land to be titled
by conyicts will certainly increase the reve-
nues of the prison, and may possibly lead to
the complete abandonment of the lease sys-
tenn, which has produced so many evils.
These evils, which are inSeparabe from the
lease system, cannot be wholly prevented
when convcts are hired to contractors,
. nboco obiart pnuet alvayC bp to SppIlrp the
largest profits possible, without regard to
the motives which influence a humane
and enlightened Government in furnishing
those who have violated its laws.
The establishment of retormatory in
stitution for juvenile criminals is matter
which should engage the attention of the
the General Assembly. The financial con-
dition of the State may not warrant the
establishment of such an institution at this
time, but as part of general scheme for
the punishment and prevention of crime,
it should be established as soon as practica-
BILE. From the opening of the Penitentiary
in 1868, to October 81, 1885, the number of
convicts under ID years of age was 223.
There is no record to show how many of a
similar age have served sentences. in the
county jails. BY proper punishment the
youthful prisoners first lesson in crime may
he made to serve as a warning against fur
ther violations of law, but Jail or peni-
tentiary, in which promiscuous association
with habitua criminals must be allowed, is
for the young but a training school in vice.
1t is unuuestionably true that many viola
tions of law by juvenile criminals are not
reported because those persons having
knowledge of the crimes are unwilling to
prosecute the youthful offenders, who, if
convicted, must be punished by incarcera-