Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-28

AsRecters 81 Prison anA y.sY. -
n.y. 40 eabeFAinats o0esrs ~ 81.


s-s7sss~ss-
sRectSrs 81 Prison auA JaiIs -
49, 40 s1berainats o6esrs a. ~.
We have been allowed. to examine .dv.nc.
nee" OF the An nsal Rspsrts ofshesIn.pec,.
or' Of Prisons'and Jails Of Maintvsud Of n.
Warden aad sabordinsAs Onic.rs. Of n. st.,.
Pri'on ofwhich. We make the. FOLLOWING All.
stract. - q tat se zsTfs Il .,s,ts
IssrEcroRs R.ro.r.
1t Is gratifying to the In.nec,o,,
Joseph W. Porter, D. g. Bean. and H.nrv
.. Osgooi, to be able to report that the Yea,
ending Nov. Both. 1886, has been a ,ucce...
iui year Of prison history. The of3cer. Of
the prison have been prompt to dutv. the
rules and regulations have been enforced and
ooeyed, and the conduct of the prisoners h..
pee. very satisfactory. 1t has not been our
wnois ain and effort to inausurate and main
IAN tnat management of the prison which
mas In view only the greatest amount of
money made from the convicts' labor. dis-
regarding all other interests, but it has been
our intention to advise and support such
~ a. shall benefit both convict and
state and bring the greatest good to both.
Inc inspectors discuss at considerab
length the subject of convict labor. and saw
that all agree that in States where the con.
Wet population is large, that the convict he
compelled or allowed to labor. In comnar.
ing the management of the Maine State
Prison with other prisons in the country
we md no PLAZA that has been. or 10 now, 90
satisfactory in its results as the working of
convicts on State account, doing all Of their
work without machinery. Doing the work
oy hand enables the convict to obtain q good
practicable trade. and does not put upon the
market but small amount of manufactured
goods, thus competing only in a small degree
with labor outside.
That the convict must labor 10 settled and
we believe that he should make that which
can be made better by hand than by machin-
cry, and do several kinds of work, 80 that no
one trade outside shall feel the full effect of
the product which may be put upon the mar
ket. About one-quarter IF the convcts are
placed in the harness shop, and the remain
der in the wood shop, blacksmith shsp, and
paint shop while about one tenth are kept at
prison duties The prisoner in a short time
learns trade and becomes q good workman.
1t should be the policy of the State to have
ALI OF its institutions use al the goods they
need that are manufactured in the State in .
situations. 1t is recommended that such
convicts as cannot be probably employed in
the harness or carriage department be worked
in preparing the site for the new harness chop
The supply of water at the prison is made
quate and it 10 recommended that some plan
be adopted which shall place upon the prison
grounds an Unlimited supply and it seems
that a satisfactory arrangement can be made
with the town of Thomsston to this end The
afa m firao ,iUh ha ;th
supply.
The financial condition of the prison 10
very satisfactory-the accounts properly and
accurately kept, perfect trial balance made
each month for the past seventy-two months
and all debts due from prison are paid
The discipline is firm, unyielding and
regular, bearing alike upon all.
No complaint has been made to US Of the
quality or quantity of food during the year
and there has been no cause for any.
reformatory institution for women 10
recommended and the Inspectors believe it
should be established in some central and
accessible location.
Some method should be adopted for the
treatment of criminals after their discharge.
In Massachusetts an officer is duly appointed
for the purpose. The inspectors in no year
before have found the services of the officers
and conduct of the prisoners more satisfac-
tory.
WAKDENs REPORT.
Warden G. S. Bean reports:
There has been expended upon buildings
and for repairs, S607 20 in addition to the
legislative appropriation, beside labor of con-
victs, paid from the current years earnings.
Unless new shops are erected or steam in
troduced. the warden sees no reason why the
appropriations for the two comiug years need
exceed those for the last two.
In view OF the fact that particular attention
has been called to Convict Labor" of late,
figures and suggestions are offered: The
average yearly product of the harness and
carriage department from 1888 to 1886 inclu-
sive was, harnesses, 1927, sol 80; carriages,
81, 402 GA; total, $72, 1904 At. The census
of 1880 shows that there were 7,94S horses
owned in the State. Assumed that the annual
cost of providing and keeping in repair the
horse furnishings is $40 to each horse, and
the annual sum of S878, 4S0 is expended. Of
this the prison product amounts to 3.14 per
cent. Call the yearly costs of vehicles of all
kinds to be 825 to each horse and the annual
expenditure is So, 1856 200, of which the
nual prison product is 03 per cent; or
grand average of "a per cent of all classes
of prison work. Another fact should be re
membered. There are twenty-eight citizens
constantly employed as oversesrs, guards and
instructors. representing fsmily population
of one hundred or more. If not so employed,
these persons, selected for their aptitude, fit
ness and SKILL would find employment out
side in the same or kindred manufactures.
This should also be taken into account The
warden believes that labor is necessary At the
prison.
Order and harmony have prevailed, and
served to strengthen the cord of discipline.
The following statement shows the loss and
gain for the year ending November 80, 1886 ;
Loss. Gain.
Expense department, 12.I03H
Clothing oof -
Subsistence BOO. 10
FueI and lights, 1905 ~
Transporting convicts, 800 10
Discharged l,0lt00
Carrirge department, &l3.7so a
Harness 2,407 IL
On