The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17
THE REFORMATORY,
Report of the Board of Trustees
to the Gov ernor.
All the Buildings Completed and
Ready for Youthful Criminals.
Some Idea of Its Future
Needs.

The following IS the report OF tne DOard
of trustees of the reformatory to the gov
ernor:
We herewith submit to you summary
of the work done and expense attached to
the construction and erection of house of
correction and reformatory, which we ask
to be taken as our fifth quarterly and as
an annual report.
You will see by the annexed statement
that the cost of construction has aggre-
gated the sum of 72,981.90. In the cree
ton of these buildings we have had to en-
counter many vexing and harassing qGes-
tions; but each of them we have honestly
tried to meet fairly, and while on each &C.
casion we have felt that our first duty
was to the state, we have always tried to
give due consideration to others claims
and rights. Paramount amongst the
troubles we have experienced has been
that of water, the institution being located
on high hill just north of the town of
Gatesvllle, where there was absolutely no
water. The first thing which engaged our
attention after the organization of
our board was that of water sup
ply, and we began Immediately to ad-
dress ourselves to the task of solving the
question. We thought of supplying the
institution from the Leon river, which is
distant about twelve or fifteen hundred
yards, but as this involved the expense
of an engine, engineer and pump at the
river, in connection with the further fact
that we had no river front, and no right
of way over which to lay our pipes, and,
of course, no water rights, it was the
unanimous conclusion of our board that,
if possible, some other expedient must be
tried. 1t then occurred to us that the
best means of securing water was by an
artesian we'll. In favor of this plan was
the fact that in the town of Gainesville,
not more than two miles distant, there
were then flowing four wells, none of
which exceeded $40 feet in depth; and the
further fact that the we'll of Mr.. James
Powers, not exceeding three-quarters of q
mile distant, was flowing a volume Of
water sufficient for the needs of the re-
formatory, and this we'll is only
497 feet deep. Knowing these wells
and the depth at which they had
been secured, we felt that we should have
no trouble 10 securing water at the re-
formatory grounds. But in this We have
been mistaken. We had well dug to the
depth of 992 feet, and while the water rose
to within thirty five feet of the surface OF
the earth, it will not rise higher. At this
depth, however, we seem to have an mex
haustible supply, as we have placed q
pump in it and we cannot'lower the water
In this extremity we employed another
and more experienced man to go down il
the valley about 400 or 500 yards and sink
US another we'll to the depth of 800 feet
or until we should stop him. At a depth
of about 600 feet he secured flowing
weil-about $50 barrels per day. This
seems to be very excellent quality Of
water, and while it gives us all the water
we shall probably ever need, still it is mo-
well located, and for that reason we fee
somewhat chagrlned. Still it was the bes
that could be done.
1t has been our constant endeavor during
the progress of the work to see that the
state should have an honest job, and thai
our buildings should be in exact accord
with the plans and specifications, and, al
this time, looking back over tie work WI
have done, and the buildings erected under
our direction, we feel that we may witt
psrdonable pride say that we have giver
the state two buildings, fitted with al
modern appliances suited to the same, o.
which she may well ne proud. Our engin'
and engine house, cleo ric light machine
as also the laundry machinery,is first-clasi
and works admirably. The steam heating
apparatus is not yet all complete, but tn
same is being rapidly pushed forward and
will be complete in very few days, wheI
the same will be given very thorough