The Dickinson press., 1885-01-24
TERRITORIAL pEN1rEST1AR1Es.

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constructing additional buildings.
TERRITORIAL pEN1TENT1AR1Es.
The report OF the directors of the Souther,
penitentiary at Sioux Falls shows the follow
ing receipts and expenditures:
Total receipts from Jan. 1, 1883, to
Nov. 20, .$S7,547 OF
Total expenditures for same period. SG.59S a
The following table is given in the report
Average number of prisoners for 1ss3..... 4;
Average cost OF maintenance for all persons
per week Including o%fficers) for 1888. &. 81 G
Average cost of maintenance for all persons
per week dncluding otficcrs) for 1854. / 81
Average cost for caring for prisoners per
week. including all expenses except pay
OF officers, for 1883, per prisoner. ........ 3 OF
Average cost per week per prisoner for Off
GERS and guards for 1888. 9 IS
Average cost per week Fer prisoner for Off
GERS and guards for 1854. 2 OF
The prisoners have performed 1891
Gays labor in the quarry and construction OF
new buildings and 5. 57Ol4 days in and about
the prison. No complete report has yet been
from the directors, and this
tious delay renders it impossible to sum
Marie many facts which might prove inter
esting and require comment. 1t seems that
the prisoners have performed 1901 days
labor in the quarry and in the construction
OF new buildings, and 5,57Ol4 days sin
and about the prison" I am unable to say
w aoo Sdlo 4eAUCCA COllSlSOcu VI. Dul
taking it for granted that it was labor which
represents the earning capacity of the pris-
oners il unde contract, there was a total of
l2,949lo days work represented. from which
income may be estimated. 1t seems that
the directors have been offered As cents per
day for the labor Of prisoners, and at this
rate the work performed during the past
would amount to $5,s27.27. 1 am in
ciined 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 protitably
The total appropriation by the last legisla-
ture for the Sioux Falls prison, excluding
buildings, repairs and improvements, was
for the year $77,625. The total amount
expended for maintenance, officers, en-
fuel. medicine, clothing, etc, was
,462. 46. The average number of
for The two years being 59lo, it
per year was $477.48, and per week So. IS.
The cost of keeping the prisoners at the De-
troit house of correction was $7S per year.
or ST. so per week, per man The expense
of transporting, however, was much greater,
averaging about $IGG per man, while to
the present prison it averages but S1O1.
With a 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 w
for the reception of prisoners, this expense
is considerably greater than when they We're
sent to q n~e;ghboring state. The expendi-
ture per capita will diminish, of course, as
the number increases, and it does not APP
even now that the cost is very
much greater than states East having
something like an equal number of convicts.
Below | give a comparison approximately
correct between our prison and the states
prison of Vermont, which last year had los
prisoners in her penitentlary 1.-THE number
low at Sioux Falls):
Total cost of salaries and labor for two
years i'll Vermont prison ST., 91S 81
Total cost at Sioux Falls for two years,
not including paw of directors or war;
Total cost Of maintenance Of Vermont ~-'-'1 20
prison, for two years, not counting
buildings. repairs and improvements. 37,2O3 90
Total cost OF Sioux Falls for two years,
rot including fuel, clothing or lights. %, 400 90
iolal COST per week per lnmate....... 43
cost per inmate at Sioux Falls,
as per directors statement. .... 8 90
Cost per week per inmate in Vermont
for salaries and labor. 10
Cost per week per inmate at Sioux Falls
for officers and guards. Q OG
number of inmates to each per.
son employed regularly in Vermont. 7la
ut Sioux Falls. Gil
Average amount per year for four years
paid Vermont az income from prison. 1o,o95 70
Estimated amount paid the territory by
prison at Sioux Falls ....,, 5.827 90
Net cost per week per inmate in Yer
cost per inmate per week for
ensuing two years at Sioux Falls.... Q 25
These are but hasty figures md based on
insufficient data, but it is hoped that the
complete report of the directors of the Sioux
Falls penitentiary will show a full statement
OF all expenditures in detail. in order that a
reliable comparison may be made with what
is recognized as one of the most economical
static inctifntinnc in tho oo,1ntry rpb,, o.&:
mate Of the directors OF the Southern peni-
Tertiary for the ensuing two years is in
round numbers SOS, 500. This is for the or
binary running expenses OF the prison, and
is made on a basis of 1875 prisoners. No
is made for the earnings of pris-
prison for the same purpose is
$5G, 652. This is based on an estimate of
sixty prisoners and eighteen employees for
years. The directors of the latter prison
also ask for an appropriation to make GER
tain improvements amounting in all to S47,-
500. Some of these Improvements, such as
a workshop. heating and plumbing, tempo
rary yard wall, sewerage, etc, are necessary
to the occupation Of the prison. The direct
ors also ublni q 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 we'll adapted to it's purpose, anl
is a 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.
Thu prison at Sioux Falls is of all imposing
design, n would be regarded anywhere a
an admirable structure for the purpose. Th,
completion OF the United States wing and tn,
warden's residence adds much to the appear
anceo of the structure, and makes it altogethe
n of the most complete penitentiary build
ings in the West. The whole editice is capa
BILE OF accommodating two hundred prison
ers, but what disposal will be made of TIL
wing constructed for the general government
is still uncertain. The directors have bee
in correspondence with the attorney genera
OF the United States, with a view to assumin
control of it, agreeing in return to care TO
all United States prisoners free of charge
What will be done, or whether under the Ia,
any contract of this character can be made
is a matter of some doubt. The whole prise
is capable of accommodating two hundre
prisoners. If it can be controlled by the tel
ritory, the accommodations thus furnished
together with those afforded with the Biz
marck prison, would, in my Judgment, b
sufficient for the necessities of the territor
without further enlargement before the mex
meeting OF the legislature. 1t is importan'
however, that this question be settled and
careful estimate be made, in order that TIL
present legislature may make such prepar:
tions as appear necessary. 1t is probabl
that something definite will be known befor
the adjournment, when action can be take1
YLUMS
One building of the North Dakota insan
asylum provided for by the last legislator.
and located at jamestown, has been CON
pleted, and the report of the trustees is pre-
sented herewith. This asylum, which is dc
signed on the modern cottage plan. can {
course be enlarged to any extent. The pres
ent building will accommodate fifty patients
Th increase in the number of the insane
very large; and, although accommodation
are already provided in the territory for 25
patients, l fear that additional provisio
must be made to meet the necessities of til
next two years. There are already fifty p;
| ,apacity of the jamestown buildinp) in th