The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-24


The Report OF the Board of Directors Of the
Peniten.iary, including the Reports OF the gu
perintendcnt and subordinate officers OF the
prison, and of the Engineer and Manager OF
The Canal, viii be laid before you. These Re
ports give full information concerning the
At the beginning of the last fiscal year there
were 9Ij prisoners confined In the Penitenti-
ary, OF whom sG5 were colored. and oe wntte:
During the year 5eS pris0ders were received OF
whom SIG were cOlOred, and 81 white. the
discharges during the year, fOrvarious causes,
were 5I3, leaving in confinement at tbe end Of
the fiscal year MS cOlOrrd males and u cooreo
females. and OF white males and white fe,
males, ar.reguting 9Ss prisoners, an increas Of
~ as com pared with the corresponding period
Of the last year. OF these there are
On phosphate works. Nv
In shoe and hosiery act0ries.-.-"..........-.Mt .Mt
On the different zZf
Within the walls and on the Canal.-..........f'S
There IL now but one contract for labor with
out the walls Of the Penitentiary. This con-
tract will expire on the 31st OF December en-
newed. Thereupon the institution will be de-
pendent, practically, for current expenses, up
on the income derived from the labor employ
ed in the shoe and hosiery factories within the
walls. This will amount only to about SS,oee
per month. This sum will be inadequate "
the necessities Of the institution. even II
promptly paid. II, for any reason, th,S sup
ply should fail, the Superintendent and Dtrec-
iors viii be greatly embarrassed uutil they
can realize from the farming operations of tie
ensuing year.
recommend that the sum of S25,OOJ he appro-
priated for the uses Of the Penitentiary, II SD
much be necessary, TO be returned 10 the treas
ury from the earnings OF the Penitsntiary:
No loss will he experienced by the Siateo on
This account. but twill greatly facilitate the
operations OF the Board Of Directors, viii re-
licve the superintendent of great emoarrass-
ment, and will save In the matter OF intereSt.
'rho mi crost last wear uDOn loans uladc by the
Board amounted to S5iSO2
The results OF the farming operations for tho
not discouruging. ard furnishes no justihca-
tion Of an abandonment Of TINT system.
These disasters were caused by agencies De-
yOnd human control. ,
ary is interested suffered serious injury from
high water. a large portion OF Two OF tnese
farms were entirely covered by water on three
several occasions, whereby the crops were
completely desroyed-upon large areas nota
vestlge remaining. A.,
Notwithstanding these di>asters. and the
mansnt improvements on the prison, and tho
work done on the Canal and 1Or the otate
House Com mission, the Directors report ci,sh
deficiency Of only s$dI TINS ihs bres nSS
farm produce OH hand.
The superintendent reports that the entire
expenses Of the institution, inciuaing tne cost
of material, wages Of guard and foreman ana
other charges, has been reduced TO 2lN cents
per capita per diem. This is the lowest point
yet attained, and will c0mpare iuroraDly Win
any other similar institution In the country.
In the matter Of maintenance simply, IN
cluding food, clothes, shoes, guards Elcaicine
and medical attention, the cost Is lIH cehIs
per diem per capita.
The record thus presented. undert the clrcum,
stances. is the highest testimony that could
bc offered of the efficiency OF the hahase-
ment Of the institution. , -
respectfully commend THESE seFcrai re-
90 t<Nx rnfr nj n