Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-08-01
THE GOVERNORS VETO.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, July 25.-Gov-
erner Marmaduke has decided that the
site selected for the branch penitentia-
ry near Kansas City is not the proper
one, and it now looks as though the
prison would be located elsewhere.
Governor Marmsduke this afternoon
addressed the following letter to the
prison commissioners, giving his reas-
ons for disappearing the site selected
near Kansas City for the branch peni-
Tertiary:
70 the Board of Inspectors of the Mis-
souri, State Penitentiary:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF
MISSOURI, JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, July
Entertaining as l do
the most profound respect for the intel
ligence and integrity of your board,
and fully appreciating the patient and
studious labors you have given the
matter of locating penitentiary No. 2.
and recognizing the grave responsible
ty | take in disappearing the judg-
ment of three intelligent gentlemen.
and personally holding each OF you in
such high esteem, it is only because l
feel compelled to return the papers
without my approval that do SO, and
respectfully submit the following reas-
ons:
OBJECTIONS TO THE SITE CHOSEN.
Section 1 of the act providing for the
location and building of this penitenti-
arv, says: "Such site shall contain
sufficient ground for the necessary
building and yard for prison for the
imprisonment of 1,5OO prisoners" and
also, 'sshall be so located as to afford
the best facilities for obtaining material
for the employment of the labor OF the
convicts," etc. regard these provis-
ions as wise and essential for the
economical building and maintenance
of penitentiary, and the land (only 20
acres) proposed to be purchased by
you is, in my judgment, entirely made
quate, and does not meet the intention
of the law makers. Nor is there to be
found on it the raw materials such as
wood or stone, which enter 90 largely
into the construction of such an instltu.
ton, as we'll as its maintenance after
being built. The available brick clays
on so small piece of ground must
necessarily be 80 limited as to cut no
figure in the building and maintenance
of such an institution.
THE SITE A MOST DEAR ONE.
Hence while the land may be cheap
enough at ST. 900 per acre for residence
or business property in Kansas City
am fully persuaded it would be very
dear purchase for the state for peniten.
tiary purposes, not only dear as pur-
chase but excessively 30 in view of the
fact that it involves the construction
and permanent maintenance of a large
penal institution in the heart of q great
city.
Nor do | approve making this insti.
tuition forever dependent OH the Kan
sas City waterworks or any other cor
poration Or person for its supply o
water. Such an institution necessarily
requires vast quantity Of water ant
should have its own supply of goot
water under its own control.
OTHER PLACES SAID TO BE NO BETTER
In my opinion branch penitentiar
is badly needed in this state, and
wisely located, as | hope it will be
would be a relief to the people and
humane thing to our now overcrOwde
penitentiary. There are places in tn
state that combine all the requisites fO
successful penitentiary. Raw mater
ial, such as stone, clay, coal, wood
etc abound in localities having suff
, cient transportation facilities to max
them available with convict labor, an
| located with a view of utilizing thes
raw materials, would relieve it, to som
extent, at least, of its dependence upo
, contractors, as well as help to protee
"square labor' against cOmpetitio
with convict labor, which should b
, done as far as it is possible to do so.
Very truly yours,
JOHN S. NARMADUKE,