The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-13

z The annual reports of the inspectors of
prisons and jails, and of the warden and su-
bordinate 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 Bean 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 per-
petrator is still at large, The inspectors re-
commend that prisoners in jalls be placed in
separate cells, and not be allowed to com
municate, and that all prisoners convicted of
State prison crime be sent to the State Pri-
son 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 off of the profits in the carriage
and harness departments. The total expense
of the prison to the State, including every
thing, the past year has been $12,119.54; in
1884 it was $4,000.
The old chapel is fitted up for store-room
for iron, and the shoe shop made into chap
ell. Other improvements have been 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 meted out in accord
ance with the misdemeanor, and mneh credit
Is due the officers who have this in charge.
We are happy to say that the affairs of the
prison are conducted in a business like man
ner, and its financial condition is satisfacto
ry, its credit good, its accounts correctly
kept
wARDEN's REPORT.
In common with others, writes the warden,
our industries have suffered from the univer-
sal depression of business throughout the
country; while our relative expenses have
decreased SO have our receipts.
The average number of convicts during the
year has been III, against -157 In 1854 The
gross cost of their maintenance; including all
Salaries has been 81, ,119.54. There has also
been expended on buildings, for repairs,
$205.30 in addition to the $1,000 specially ap-
propriated for that purpose. By the expen-
diture of $4,912.47 of the sumof $500 appro-
priated for the erection and furnishing of a
needed new blacksmith shop,a thorough build.
ing, 165 feet long and 80 feet wide, has been
constructed, fitted up with Is forges and nee
essary appurtenances 1t is believed, with the
remaining 1888 uneXpended balance, we
can make the structure comfortable and con-
venient
Notwithstanding the net earnings from the
harness department are not what could be
desired, am not prepared to advise its
abandonment.
There has been 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 a keeper July %, 1881,
and escaped He was returned Sept 25,
1856, andis now serving the remainder of
his sentence.
Statement shows the loss and gain for
the year ending Nov. so, 1885, as follows: