Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-22
SUPT. WARMERS REPORT.
He Recommends the Employment of Con.
vlcts on the O'Hnra Road-Tbree Per.
sons Sent to the Workhouse 526Times
-Iutercstiug Facts and Figures,

He Recommends the Employment of Com
vlcts on the O'Hnrn Road-Tbree Per-
sons Sent to the Workhouse 81 Times
Interesting Facts and Figures.
Henry Warner, Superintendent Of the
Allegheny County Workhouse, has just is
sued the twentieth annual report of the in
stitution. 1t is an interesting work of 6S
pages, and is replete with facts and figures
in regard to the prison. Mr.. Warner says
in speaking of the employment of convicts
on public roads:
The less dangerous class of prisoners may be
trusted to work on the public roads at not too
great a distance from the prison. But the
more dangerous and desperate portion of the
prisoners, which compose a large percentage of
our population, would be a standing menace to
the community. OF course, they could be
heavily guarded and shot If attempting escape
but it would, in my opinion, soon be found that
the advantages derived from the general en-
ployment of our prisoners in this manner ex-
cept;ng under the most favorable circum-
stances, would be greatly over-borne by the
disadvantages which would be made apparent
upon its trial This system is often quoted as
being successfully tried in the Southern
States. But 1t must be remembered
that the conditions existing in the North and
the South are entirely disSimilar, and also the
fact that in no department does the South give
greater evidence of progress than in the treat
ment of her prisoners. The abandonment of
her lease systems, and consequently the chain
gang bring the prominent evidences in this dl-
rection. L would, however, recommend as a
trial of the plan suggested that If possible an
arrangement be made with the authorities of
O'Hara township, in which the workhouse is
located, for the improvement of its roads. The
roads in this neighborhood certainly need i'm
proving badly enough, and there is no doubt
but that the work could be carried on success
fully near at home.
L..
S262, 425 S. OF this amount $50, 900 was re-
ceived from the license fund of Allegheny
county. The total expenditures were S240-
1913 06. The daily average cost of each in
mate was 36.32 cents. The daily average
cost, after deducting the earnings of each
inmate, was 1914 cents. The total number
of prisoners received since the organization
of the workhouse, August 6, 1869, is 4S, ,903.
One hundred and twenty-eight escaped
without recapture. Three prisoners were
sent up 81 times, and person 62 times
Twenty-eight thousand three hundred and
fifty-two were residents of the United States,
were from China, from Brazil, 4 from
Central America, l from Portugal, 1 from
Greece, from Chilli and from the West
Indies
Five thousand, one hundred and seventy
four were under 20 years of age and 1.228
were over 60; 2,724 were widowers and !, $40
widows; 6, 774 could neither read nor write;
4,04S were total abstainers, 1904 were mod
crate drinkers, 1924 intemperate and %, 579
were white males, 1920 were white females,
3, 226 colored males and 581 colored females.
The number of prisoners received during
the year was 3,264
Chaplain John Henderson pays tribute
to the religious observance of the prisoners.
He says: 81 must say that many q voice,
the melody of which has been heard in the
paths of sin, make good music ip prison
chapel service" The report of physician
T. Mex. White is also very interesting.