New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-01-14

dill Openings communicating through them.
A precaution OF this character saved the st.
Peter hospital from total destruction at the
time of the fire in 1880
The estimate for current expenses for all
the schools will require $74, 800 for 1886,
and $77, 800 for 1887. The expenditures
the past two years were as follows:
Dumb. Blind. 1mbecle
1883 ..2l,068 16 1874 Is 6,917 80
1884, 80. 131 26 16, ST. SO II, 4s1 40
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 it's reconstruction. During
the night 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 it's contents, The affairs OF the prison
were, in consequence, necessarily reduced to
much confusion. All provision for the 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
detachment OF the state militia A portion
OF the convicts were at once removed to the
ja1ls of Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, Da-
kota and Winona counties, and such provis-
ion made for the remainder within the prison
walls as was practicable. Though the weather
was severe, very little discomfort was suf-
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 it's roof, but
was otherwise not much injured, there being
but little cOmbustible material in it's con-
struction. temporary roof was soon in
place, and within a week the male convicts
were returned to their cells, and the work of
reconstruction commenced One of the
shops destroyed by the first fire was the prop
erty Of the state; the others had been built
by the contractors for the convict labor. It
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 upon 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 say, sthe building
as it now stands is vast improvement on
the old one, good, solid, substantial struc-
ture, all covered with heavy iron roof, with
iron rafuers, and we regard it as almost abso-
lutely fre-proof." For further details re-
speeding the condition and progress of affairs
following the fires, and also the work of re-
building, refer you to the report of the in
spectors and warden of the prison.
WHAT TT COST.
The cost of the new prison building, in
GLIDING the iron roof OF the cell room, is
about $4S, 900 The new shop was con-
tracted for at 1913 900, and 50, 700 was ex-
pended in restoring the engine and boiler
room, making total Of $73, 700 as the cost
of replacing the structures destroyed by fire.
q on
with the buildings was $4,73S So. The in
spectors had placed $21 ,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 appropria-
tiOns did not contemplate such an extraor-
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 philosophical citizens of the city of
Saltwater to advance $25, 900 to aid in the
work. The offer was accepted conditiOnally
and was held in reserve as 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 re-
building within about $1S 900, which
amount is now due the contractors, and fol-
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 hif
advice and consent the money received from in
surance companies was used in rebuilding, ant
also the earnings of the conyicts since the fires
have been allowed to stand as an Offset to al
equal amount each month against the bills o.
! the contractors. This action was taken to ena
BILE us to meet the extraordinary emergency
caused by the burning of the prison buildings
and the absolute necessity OF their prompt re
construction. We trust the legislature will ap
i prove the actiOn thus taken, and that such leg
i tslatiOn may be had as may De deemed Qecessar.
i to confirm what has been done in this regard
In addition to the restored buildings ther,
/ has Just been completed new cell buildin,
containing 100 cells, adjoining the old one
| at cost of $49, 935, which has been pail
from the standing appropriations for perma
nent improvements The prison now has
capacity for 426 convicts, and at the date o
! the warden's report. the close Of the f1sca
i year, it contained 356-an increase Of 78 il
two years. The warden estimates the cur
for 1855, and $75, 900 for 1886, and tina
the earnings will be $40, 900 and $4,000,
for the same years. The expenses for tn
! past two years were $39, 595.64 for 1883
4 and $50, $685. for 1854; earnings
1922 ,913.O9 and $33, 1880 for tn
same period The counties nance
1 to which convicts were taken for car
during the time the prison affairs were il
i ment for the expense they thereby incurred
and an appropriation will be asked for tina
Il purpose The constitution clothes the exec
utive with authority to grant sreprieves an,
pardons after conviction, for offenses agains
the state. except in cases of impeachment
Chapter 10 of the General Statutes provide
that the governor may grant . pardon upo,