Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-22
our STATE pRIson.


nep,st Of Wudsn AlIsa on ths Pris-
/ oseu md Their welfare
/ Warden Allen IN his report Of The Maine
State Prison to the Governor and Council,
says among other things that be is stiIl coz
vinced that By concentrating the labor Of
the rrisoress span fever branches the
State Would be better served. For the past
tvo yeass the custom Of selling goods oc
exsaaded credits or Of c,nsigning them 70
various parties has been discontinued "The
serious Icsses Of the past iesd me- he
says, 80 sell directly to the customer, and
very largely 70. cash or short credit, . con-
ssquently he has on hand from two year,
sales but one note Of less than $50.
There has been no direc. sppre p-istions
for the prison since 1886. .'but the time is
near at hand when the State must,
Ia order to protect lis own property ex-
perd = few shoussrd dollars "snd in
order.r the Warden adds. SO keep up With
modern ways, and oar real needs. . fair
amour. should be annually appropriated.
He advises the repeal of the Law whereby
only 20 per cent. OF the male convicts can
be employed on any one industry. He sees
no benefit from the present limitation when
so many of the msnufaesuYs are sold out
side the State. He recommends the pur.
ehsse Of an adjoining house
and let which he thinks would
afford convenience and add co1sid.
ably to the state of prosperity. He sug-
gss,s tina. a bath room and laundry be
provided for the prison. He has provided
| more liberal diet at no more cost per
| man and has enlarged the list of reading
| matter. The warden makes some very in
teresting remarks regarding ancien. and
| mordera ideas Of prison and says: ut
has been my constant endeayor to encour
age the men towards better life. have
| have introduced 90 far as practicable with
our buildings and surroundings such help
toward making the prison less prison and
and more Of reformatory."
The men as a whole appreciate such
treatment. OF course there mus. be in 50
great a number some violent natures who
will Weld to no gentle impulses. But there
has been, l think. better feeling than
usual among the conv.cts, more desire to
be manly, more resolutions formed for the
future in the world, more study ard read
ing of the better class OF books The men
upon the whole look brighter; less sullen;
more as If something bad come in their
lives that might be helpful to them. Ard
IL The building was so arranged as to admit
Of a comfortable division or grade of the
men in work, food and privilege, subject
10 their behavior, am sure that good re-
suits would follow.
The whole number of prisoners in the
institution at the close of the year, Nov.
30th, was ia, an increase of 81 from last
year. The number received from each
county was as follows: Androscoggin, 7;
Aroostook. ] Cumberland, l6; Franklin,
/; Hancock. 4; Kennebec, 5; Knox, 81
Lincoln, l.; oxford, 4 Penobscot, 4, Sag
adahoc, / Somerset. 2; Washington, 3;
York, 4; United States Court, 3; total, 81.
The nativity of prisoners was: Maine,
81 Massachusetts,, 3; Come cticut. l New
Hampshire, /; Vermont, l. New York, 2;
Louisiana. Ireland, l. Nova Scotia, 3;
New Brunswick. 4; Italy. l; Canada, A.
Prince Edwards Islaud. England, 2;
Scotland, /; unknown, 2; total. G5.
The religious preferences of the prison.
ers are Methodists, As; Roman Catholic,
SO; Free Baptist II; Baptist, 20; Congre-
gationalist. IA; Episcopaiian, 6; Universa-
list. /; Church of Disciples, /; Adventists.
/ Presbyterian, l Lutheran, ! /; no prefer
ance, Is,
Commitments were msde during the year
for the following crimes: Breaking and
entering in the night time, Z; breaking and
entering and larceny, II {; compound larceny
3 larceny, u; rape, 2; burglary, l as
.ault and battery, 2; cheating by false pre-
lenses, l. assault with intent to kill, |;
larceny from person, l murder in FIRST de-
gree, 3 +; obstructing railroad, murder in
second degree. aiding prisoner to escape,
manslaughter, opening mail boxes,
poligamy, l robbing postofIice, l !; robbing
the mail, | burning building for insurance,
/ entering and larceny, 3 receiving stolen
goods, /.
The average ages of the prisoners COM
mitted during the year was 81 years
months. Seven cannot read nor write, 50
can; 5 can read. but cannot write 3S have
previously been committed in prison jails
or reform schools; aversge sentence, ex-
Guiding life, 2 years, 2Sl days; life men
sentenced, 5; who had mechanical
trade. "A,
Recapitulstion--In custody Dec. |.
1889. $50; committed since, So; discharged
by expiration of sentence, SO ; psrdoned.
|; pardoned (conditionally), /; died, 6
present number, ia. The whole number
committed since the establishment of the
prison is 3 ,045.
The prisoners have consumed during the
year, 2 430 pounds of beef; 1921 pounds
of pork 20 2S9 of potatoes *, sos Of fish
65s1 OF beans; 2s4 barrels of -four; 3ol
pounds of tea; 1919 pounds of coffee 1925
gallons Of molssses. 800 pounds of sugar;
Il .395 quarts of milk; 1888 pounds of to-
bacco ! box of lemons; 275 pounds of
soup bones; 3703 pounds of peas; t760
pounds of SALT 10 barrels of rock salt; 1856
pounds of soda; "A l-2 bushels of corn
meal; SCI pounds of oatmeal; 935 pounds
of beeis; 5ll quarts of CLANS; 1888 pounds
of lard; III pounds of rice; 1886 pounds
Of tlrnips; 90 pounds of pepper 100 gal
Ions of vinegar; 1920 pounds of soap; $50
pounds of onions; $3.50 pounds of cabbage
6i2 pounds of hard bread and 1919 ears of
corn. Statement showing gains, losses and
cost;