The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-23

49, -Ste~ hS Slo VI llG
trustees was received but Yesterday. 1t lis
herewith. The deaf mute school
at Sioux Falls has an attractive site. and the
new building provided for by the last legis-
azure has been completed and occupied. 1t
is o7x99 feet on the ground, and two stories
and q basement in height. The material is
OF Sioux Falls stone, with pressed brick
m There is a present attendance OF
LnIty,one pupils, n the superintendent
nus tne names of eighty additional deaf
mntes now resident of the territory. The
management suggests the desirability of
constructing additional buildings
TERRITORIAL -pEN1TENT1AR1Es.
Tbs report of the directors of the Southern
penitentiary at Sioux Falls shows the follow
ing receipts and expenditures:
Total receipts from Jan. 1, 1883, to
LOYAL expenditures for same period. S6.59S ~
Inc Following table is given in the report:
Average number of prisoners for 1885,. AZ
Averaee number of prisoners for 1854. "a
Average cost OF maintenance for all persons
per week Including ohicersl for 1888. ST 60
Average cost of maintenance for all persons
per week dncluding ot1icers) for 1SS4..,, / 80
Average cost for caring for prisoners per
week, including all expenses except pay
OF Officers, for lSS3, per prisoner. ....... 3 90
Average cost per week per prisoner for Off
GERS and guards for 1888. o 40
Average cost per week per prisoner for
GERS and guards for 1854. Q O6
The prisoners have performed 7.379L
Ways idDoI III 1le uNaTTy ana construction of
new buildings and 6. 57Ol4 DAYS IN and about
the prison. No complete report has vet been
received from the directors, aud this yexa-
tious delay renders it impossible to sum
Marie many facus which might prove inter
esting and require comment It seems that
the prisoners have performed 7,379la DAYS
labor IN the quarry and in the uction
OF new buildings. and 5,570l4 DAYS sin
and about the prison" I am unable to say
what this latter service consisted of. but
L I'm X inui III for pr,ntoj that IL ,,,n - - =
represents the earning capacity of the pris-
oners II under contract, there was q total of
l2,94912 days work represented from which
an income may be estimated. 1t seems that
me directors have been offered AS cents per
day for the labor Of prisoners, and Mt this
rate the work performed during the past
year wo;ld amount to S5.S27.27. Iam in
c!ined to think the earnings of the prisoners
IN the quarries would amount to consider
ably more than this, but the directors seem
to think that this labor cannot be prottably
continued.
The total appropriation by the last legisla-
ture for the Sioux Falls prison, excluding
buildings, repairs and improvements, was
expended for maintenance, officers, en-
p!oyes. fuel. medicine. clothing, etc, was
Eo4 The average number of
prisoners for The two years being 59l,. it
Will be seen that the total cost per prisoner,
per year was S477.iS, and per week SO. IS,
The cost of keeping the prisoners at the De-
troit house of correction was $7S per year.
or $1.50 per week, per man. The expense
OF transporting, however, was much greater.
averaging about H46G per man, while to
lne present prison 1t averages but SOL.
With q small number of convicts, a peni-
Tertiary is an expensive institution to main
tain, and though the time had come when
the territory demanded a place of her own
Tor the reception of prisoners. this expense
is considerably greater than when they were
sent to a n%eighboring state. The expend1-
ture per capita will diminish, of course. as
the number increases, and it does not an
pear even now that the cost is very
much greater than states East having
something like an equal number of conyicts'
Below ! give a comparison approximately
correct between our prison md the states
prison OF Vermont, which last year had los
prisoners in her penitent1ary 1.-THE number
now ut Sioux Falls:
Total cost Of salaries and labor for two
years IN Vermont prison ST., e1s 81
Total cost at Sioux Falls for two years,
not including paw of directors or war .
Total cost Of maintenance Of Vermont zze's Is
prison, for two years, not counting
buildings. repairs and improvements. 81, 2o3 90
Total cost of Sioux Falls for two years.
not including fuel, clothing or lights. 2s,40o 90
to.al COSY per week per nmate..... s. As
as per directors Statement. 90
Cost Per wcek .cr inmate in Vermont
for salaries and labor. .......... 10
Cost per week per inmate at Sioux Falls
for officers and guards. Q OC
Average number Of inmates TO each per-
son employed regularly in Vermont. III
Average at Sioux Falls eli
Average amount per year for four years
paid Vermont as income from prison. 10, o95 70
amount paid the territory by
prison at Sioux Falls. .......:...... 5.sa7 90
Net cost per week per inmate in Yer
Estimated cost per inmate ncr week for %
ensuing two years at Sioux Falls ..... q %
These are but hasty figures and based on
Insufficient data, but 1t is hoped that the
complete report of the directors of the Sioux
Falls pen.tentiary VIII show n full statement
of all expenditures in detail, in order that n
reliable comparison may be made with what
is recognized as one of the most economical
state institutions in the country. The esti-
mate CT the directors O. the Southern peni-
Tertiary for the ensuing two years is in
round numbers $6s,eOO. This is for the or
binary running expenses of the prison, and
is made on q basis of 1875 prisoners. No
calculation is made for the earnings of pris-
onerE. The estimate of the directors of the
Bismarck prison for the same purpose Is
$685. 52. This is based on an estimate of
sixty prisoners and eighteen employees for
two years. The directors of the latter prison
also ask for IN appropriation to make GER
tain improvements amounting in all to $47,-
900. Some of these improvements, such as
n workshop. heating and plumbing, tempo
rary yard wall, sewerage, etc are necessary
to the occupation of the prison. The direct
ors also submit n full report of their expend-
itures in constructing the prison, with such
recommendations and suggestions as they
have thought necessary. The building
seems to be well adapted to it's purpose, and
is q fair beginning to what will ultimately
be made no Doubt, when the wants of the
territory require it. q structure OF harmo-
NOUS design and finish.
The prison at Sioux Falls is of an imposing
design, and would be regarded anywhere as
an admirable structure for the purpose. The
completion Of the United States wing and che
warden's residence adds much to the appear
one of the most complete penitentiary build
ings in the West Tn Whole edifice is capa-
bic OF accommodating two hundred prison.
ers, but what disposal will be made of the
wing constructed for the general government
is still uncertain. The directors have been
in correspondence with the attorney general
OF the United States, with u view to assuming
control of it, agreeing in return to care for
all United States prisoners free of charge.
What will be done. or whether under the law
any contract Of this character can be made.
is a matter of some doubt. The whole prison
ia capable of accommodating two hundred
prisoners. If it can be controlled by the ter
ritory. the accommodations thus furnished.
together with those afforded with the Bis
marck prison, would, in my Judgment, be
sufficient for The necessities OF the territory
without further enlargement before the next
meeting of the Legislature. 1t is important,
however, That this question be settled and a
careful estimate be made, in order that the
present legislature may make such prepare
tons us appear necessary, 1t is probable
that something definite will be known before
the adjournment, when action can be taken.