Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-11

while we find it wise and economic, and a
great benefit to the State in all ways to
maintain a prison at Folsom, at present /
having but 42l convicts, those in both !
south number 1884,
These are but partial statistics; testi-
mony self-developing suggests other show
ing which will be made, and financial
retrospect and calculation in support of
the proposition. Bat even this mere
preface to subject which has so impor-
tant bearing upon the economy of the
State would be ill-ciosed without inviting
a thought to the trnism that State starts
best that starts right. Into the causes of
crime, the moral questions involved, the
prevention of vice and the reformation of
prisoners, it is needless to inquire for the
purposes of the present. We must accept
as fact that the criminal population is
keeping abreast with the settlement of the
State, and must continue to increase with
the growth of the State. The question of
further provision for the detention and
punishment of felons is, then, the only one
presents itself with tive plans in the
effort to start the State fright enlarge
ment of our prisons in the near future or
the erection of new Penitentiary. In sup
port Of the latter proposition, as said,
there is every reason of true economy and
Just distribution of State institutions. To
increase the number of our prisons differs
from enlargement of present penitentiaries
only in the matter of original cost in excess
of cost of enlargement of the old prisons if
new one is not erected, for we believe it
susceptible of proof that the item of
transportation would offset, in compar-
atively short period, the cost Of offering
and guarding the new prison as already
stated.
But, as general proposition, it is not
well to group great number of prisoners.
1t may well be considered for instance,
whether the 1877 at San Quentin, with
the augmentation that will naturally re-
suit from the rapid growth of the north
and central sections, will mot constitute as
large aggregation of convicts in one prison
as Is discreet or economic. In fact, part of
those now in San Quentin ought to be trans
ferred to Folsom to help on the splendid
State work IN progress there Three prisons
will have upon each other a reactionary
effect, stimulating economy of administra-
ton in each, and generous rivalry in at
tanning the highest percentage of reforms.
The State of Indiana, with territory of
33,SO9 square miles against 156, 592 in Cal
ifornia, and a population of less than q
100000, against our 100000, finds
1t economic to maintain two State
prisons, one upon the far south at
Jacksonville, the other in the uttermost
north at Michigan City, yet the extreme
length of the State is but 276 miles, or less
than half the distance that must be trav-
eled by Sheriff conveying prisoner
from San Diego to Folsom.
The reasons that in our opinion justify
the establishment of branch prison at
some favorable point in Southern Califor-
mia, crowd upon each other; indeed, they
suggest themselves, and ought to prevail
upon the people in this formative stage
of State development, to adopt the policy.
We can only afford, we repeat, to begin
right, to forestall necessity, and to do in
time economically that which delayed until
inevitable will exact immensely greater
outlay