Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-01-16
Deaf and


1884. 131 26 1857 90 12,4sl -
STATE PRISON.
The report OF the inspectors and warden
OF the state prison fully informs you of the
catastrophe that nearly destroyed that insti-
tuition last winter and the measures that
were adopted for its reconstruction During
the nigh5 OF the Sth Of January last portion
of the shops in which the convicts were en-
ployed was burned, and on the 25th OF the
same month another fire reduced to ruins
the building of the prison proper, with nearly
all its contents, The affairs OF the prison
were, in consequence, necessarily reduced to
much confusion. All provision for che Sc
curity and the employment of the convicts
was destroyed or rendered useless for the
time. The only barrier between the convicts
and their liberty was the prison wall and the
prison guard. These must have soon yielded
to determined effort of $50 desperate men
had it been made, but FOR the GOODNESS and
exceeding good management of Warden
Reed and his aids, speedily reinforced by a
detachment OF the state militia. A portion
OF the convicts were at once removed to the
jails of Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, Da-
kota and Winona counties, and such provls-
ion made for the remainder within the prison
walls as was practicable Though the weather
was severe, very little discomfort was sui
fered by the convicts, not as much indeed,
as was endured by the militia in guarding
them. That portion Of the prison building
containing the cells had lost its roof. but
was otherwise not much injured, there being
but little combustible material in its con-
structon. A temporary roof was soon IN
place, and within week the male convicts
were returned to their cells, and the Work or
reconstruction commenced. One OF the
shops destroyed by the first fire was the prop
erJy of the state the others had been built
by the contractors for the convict labor 1t
was determined by the board OF inspectors,
after consultation with the attorney general
and myself to rebuild the shop that had be-
longed to the state, and also to restore the
prison building u pon an improved plan as to
it's interior arrangement and construction.
This has been done. and the structure are
completed and now in use. Respecting the
new prison the inspectors cay, "the building
as it now stands is a vast improvement on
the old one, good, solid, substantial struc-
ture all covered With heavy iron roof, with
iron rafters, and we regard it as almost abso-
speeding the condition and progress of affairs
following the fires, and also the work OF re-
building, refer Won 10 the report of the in
spectors and warden Of the prison.
wHAy IT COST.
The cost of the new prison building, in
Guiding the iron >oof OF the cell room, is
about $43 600. The new shop was con-
tracted for at 1923 900, and So, 700 was ex-
pended in restoring the engine and boiler
room, making total of 1878, 700 as the cost
of replacing the structures destroyed by fire:
The loss on furniture and supplies destroyed
with the buildings was 81, 738 So. The in
spectors had placed S2l ,O43. 81 Insurance
upon the property, which has been collected,
and to that amount has met the loss sus
tanned by the fires AS existing apnropria-
| irons did not contemplate such all exUraor-
binary emergency, the financial problem
involved in the restoration of the prison was
somewhat embarrassing, but was to some
extent relieved by an offer on the part of a
few public-sprited ciCiZens of the city OF
Saltwater to advance H25. 900 to aid in the
| work. The offer was accepted conditionally
and was held in reserve us a resource if re-
quired I did not, however, use any part OF
| it. The standing appropriations, together
! with the insurance and the prison earnings
have been sufficient to meet the cost OF 49,
| building within about 1913 5000, which
| amount is now due the contractors, and fn1
which an appropriation will be required.
! The inspectors were not authorized under
the statute to absolutely appropriate the
| prison earnings for the new buildings, but in
their report they say:
! We conferred with the governor and with his
! advice and consent the money received from in
| surance companies was used In rebuilding, an(
also the earnings If the conyicts since the fires
| have been allowed to stand an offset 10 al
equal amount each month against the bills 81
| the contractors. This action taken to cna
| bic US to meet the extraordinary emergenc,
| caused by the burning OF the prison. buildings
| and the absolute necessity Of their prompt re-
! construction. We trust the legislature will ap.
! prove the action thus taken, and that such leg.
! islatlon may be hal as may DC deemed necessary
| to confirm what has been done in this regard
| In addition to the restored buildings there
has just been completed a new cell building
! containing 100 cells, adjoining the old one
at cost of $49, 935, which has been pait
! from the standing appropriations for per1na
nent improvements. The prison now has q
capacity for 426 convicts, and at the date o.
| the warden's report. the close of the isca
two years. The warden estimates the cur
rent expenses Of the prison to be $50, OOt
for 1855, and $75, 900 for 1886, and tina
| the earnings will be $4,000 and $50, O0(
for the same years The expenses for the
past two years were S39, 595:6A for 1888
$50, ef3o;9 and $3s, 1880 for 1T th>
| same period The counties named
to which convicts were taken for care
during the time the prison affairs were il
| disorder are clearly entitled to reimburse
! nent for the expense they thereby incurred
purpose. The constitution clothes the exec
utive with authority to grant @reprieves ant
! pardOns at ter conviction, for OffenseS aga;lls
| the state except i'll cases of impeachment
Chapter l19 of the General Statutes provides
! that the governor may @grant pardon upol
and under such limitations as he may thnl
| proper" Cases arc sometimes tee
| wherein ali exercise OF executive Clenlenc,
would seem to be recommended by the hes
| interests of the convict, and without pref
| dice to publ justice, il wholesome condi
provisions of tbs !'tar quoted practically
! effective, an adequate remedy should be pro
| Vided in case the conditions upon which
pardon is granted are violated TO that enc
! recommend an enaCtm emit to the effect tina
! in case convict ccnditonally pardone<
shall fail to observe the coudi lions i,nI oscd
| he shall be deemed to have escaped from th'
| prison and become subject to arrest and re
| turn to confinement, under the operation o.
| his original sentence. The decisions OF court
| upon this subject assert the authority OF ths
| executive to enforce this penalty in the alb
sence of statute, out doubtless an effort tt
! do SO would be contested. Doubts may
! therefore be settled in advance by A legisa
tive enactment upon the subject The exist
ence of such statute would have restrain
! ing influence upon the person affected, by To
! information thus conveyed that he could no
ignore toe conditions upon which he received
and accepted his pardon.
REFORM SCHOOL
This model institution maintains its recort
for efficiency in the important work TO
which it was established Unlike some 0
the reformatorics for youths existing else
where, its name is significant and expressive
Of it's work Without walls or guards to re
strain the youth in it's charge, the manage
ment succeeds, by the moral influence
commands, in exercising the needed contro
over thelu and with rare exceptions effect
their reform. Since it's establishment il
1868 it has agraduated" over five hundre
boys and girls. most OF whom have becous
or give promise OF becoming usefu} mem
beers of the community. instead OF recruit
for the criminal classes, which would prob
ably have been their fate under the influence
of their early life The results accomplishc
by this institution commend it's management