Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-13
MAINE STATE PRISON.
Annual Reports Of the Omcers Of the In.
Stitutioa.

The annual reports of the inspectors of
prisons and jails. and of the warden and sub
ordinate officers of the Maine State Prison
have been placed before the Governor and
Council. Following Is an abstract:
INSPECTORS REPORT.
The officers of the prison and the sheriff of
Knox county are commended by Inspectors
Porter and Became for the manner in which
they performed their duties in enforcing the
stern requirements of the law in the cases of
the murderers hung Attention is called to
the attempted swindle upon the Pennington
bank last August, and the fact that the perpe-
traitor is still at large The inspectors rec
ommend that prisoners in jails be placed in
separate cells, and not be allowed to communi-
cate. and that all prisoners convicted of
State prison crime be sent to the State Prison
If the sentence be one year or more The
cost of the prison for the year has been in
excess of that of the year previous,
owing to the falling of of the profits in the
carriage and harness departments. The
total expense of the prison to the State, in
Guiding everything. the past year, has been
Sl2, 1884 in 1884 it was s., POO
The old chapel is fitted up for store-room
for iron, and the shoe shop made into 4
''epNa- CehNi Improvements nave Uetn
made as far as the means would admit
The time spent in punishment during the
year has been less than for many years
Good discipline is maintained and the rules
and regulations are strictly enforced and
obeyed. Punishment is mete out in accord
ance with the misdemeanor, and much credit
is due the officers who have this in charge
We are happy to saw that the affairs Of the
prison are conducted in business like man
ner, and its financial condition is satisfactory,
It's credit good. its accounts correctly kept.
WARDEs's REPORT
la common with other, writes the warden
our industries have suffered from the uni
versal depression Of business throughout the
country; while our relative expenses have
decrrased, 80 have our receipts
| The average number Of convicts during the
year has been l76. against l57 in 1884. The
| gross cost of their maintenance. including all
salaries, has been SlI.ll9 81 There has
also been expended upon buildings for re-
pairs, S205.3O, in addition to the $1,000 spec
| tally appropriated for that purpose. Bv the
expenditure Of s49l2.47 Of the sum of $500
appropriated for the erection and furnishing
of a needed new blacksmith shop, thorough
building, 1876 feet long and so feet wide, has
been constructed. fitted up with 10 FORCES and
eccssary appurtenaDces. 1t is believed, with
the remaining S5S7.53 unexpended balance,
we can make the structure comfortable and
! convenient.
| Notwithstanding the not earnings from the
harness department are not what could be
desired, | am not prepared TO advise its aban-
! donment.
There has heen no escape during the cur
rent year, and none at large by escape during
the last five years. One convict whose health
seemed to demand it was placed to work with
others under keeper July 23d 1881, and
escaped. He was returned Sept 25th, 1885,
and is now serving the remainder of his SEN
tence
St,tement B shows the loss and gain for
the year ending Nov. Both, 1885, as follows