Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-22
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BY an act OF congress, approved March 8,
1889, that portion OF the old TT. Dodge mill
Gary reservation upon which the buildings
were situated, including about one hundred
ana tWenty-seven acres OF land, was grant
ed to the state OF Kansas FOR the purpose o.
q soldiers home, to be located thereon ana
maintained by the state. In anticipation OF
such grant the last legislature provided Tor
the creation OF such home. ana apprOpri
eted SIC, 900 for the nrst two years. In pur-
Euance OF the act or the legislature, a board
of managers was appointed, and the home
has been accordingly located on the site
granted, I'VE miles east OF Dodge City, on
the Arkansas river.
A full statement OF the origin, location
and organization OF the home, likewise its
present condition ana future wants, viii
your hands.
The home is projected on the cottage plan
ana admits not the old soldier alone, but
benedcently includes his good wife and
such other members of his family as may
tention is called to the act OF congress,
above referred to, which requires that
home shall be supported ''ror the care and
maintenance OF officers, soldiers and mar
ines who have served IN the army, navy or
marine corps or the United States, their de-
RSnoent parents, widows or orphans
These terms make no reference TO when
the service was rendered, whether it was
or since. They would seem to i'm
pose an obligation upon the state
other than that contemplated by the act OF
the legislature, and wholly out OF keeping
with the value or the land granted, the
price OF which was Sips an acre. A modid-
cation OF the terms OF the grant in this par
hcular could probably be secured without
The inmates or the home on the first or
November last numbered 1913, including old
soldiers widows, wives and children. A
school is maintained TOR the children, and
In all respects the inmates are we'll cared
for A good portion of the land BELONGING
60 the home is ready for cultivation, which
VIII be a source OF some profit. and furnish
light employment for most OF the old SOL
The board has evidently employed the
limited means at its disposal Judiciously,
OF the legislature. And I trust it is unnec-
essary to commend a liberal policy on the
Institution.
THE ELLSWORTH REUNION GROUNDS.
The legislature OF 1899 appropriated $36,
600 to be used by the trustees of the Grand
Army of the Republic in the Improvement
OF the reunion grounds near the city OF
Ellsworth, and the money has been accord
dngly expended. The plan adopted by the
trustees, in conjunction with the state
board OF charities, was to erect building for
public gatherings as it might be desirable to
hold in the interest OF the soldiers and sail
Ors or the war or the union. Accordingly an
auditorium has been erected, with a seating
capacity OF 1000; a dining hall with
accomm odations for three hundred, has
been constructed; also q Headquarters
grand army woman's relief corps, sons of
veterans, and loyal legion. In addition to
these, nfteeR brick cottages, OF three rooms
ana cellar each, nave been completed, and
some or them occupied by INDECENT soldiers
and their families.
Enongh or the money appropriated re
mains unexpended to pay for the construct
ion OF system of water works, which it
was expected would be secured for use dur
ing the present winter.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
The financial affairs and general condition
of the penitentiary are faithfully set forth
In the accompanying reports OF the board
OF directors, warden and other Officers, and
biennial period covered by the report en-
braces the last ten months OF Captain John
months of the term of Colonel George Fl.
Case, the present warden, who, with the
gins and other faithful subordinates, has
fully maintained the deServedly high stand
Ing OF the Institution model prison.
During the nrsG year OF the Biennial
period there was received in cash and
paid into the state treasury from contract
labor, boarding United States prisoners,
sales Of coal and from other sources, the
sum OF S1O3, 1867. 40. During the second year
OF the period, the amount received in cash
and paid into the state treasury from the
same sources, was sos ,256. 10.
The expenses OF the institution for the trst
Of these years exceed the cash receipts as
above given by $50, $50. AZ, and the expenses
of the last year exceed the cash receipts by
$48, 1923. 36.
This showing, however. is much i'm
proved, the warden well says, II we take
Into account the cash and labor expended
furnished state institutions. for which no
cash is received. These items for the first
OF the years considered amounted to $44,-
284 SO, and for the last year they aggregate
reduce the excess OF expenditures over cash
receipts for 1889 to SIG, sci 49, and entirely
plus in the sum of So, 1851 SO. If the coal pro-
duced ana consumed at the penitentiary be
included among the earnings, as it some@
times is, the foregoing statement would APP
pear still better. 1t is q matter Of congrat-
ulation, indeed, that the maintenance OF
this vast penal Institution is such a light
burden, II any, to the taxpayers OF the
state.
The output OF the coal mine for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1889, was !, 733, 911
bushels, the sales for the year amounting to
e66, 5s5. 10. For the fiscal year ending June.
30, 1890, the output of coal was ,671 1920
bushels, the sales amounting to SOS, 0l3. 30.
Valuable permanent improvements have
been made during this period, mostly in
the way OF buildings, as detailed in the
warden's report. Appropriations are asked
to furnish more light in the yard and coal
shaft, and enable the prisoners to read
in their cells; also, to better the method OF
underground haulage in the coal mine, and
for other purposes, all of which seem reas-'
enable, and ought to be made.
The total number OF prisoners for the var
ious counties OF the state IN custody June
80, 1888, was ss7. The number received for
charged during the two years was 702. The
number in custody June 30, 1890, was 800.
oners confined in the penitentiary; on Jan
nary /, 1883, there were S99; on June 81 OF
1883, there were S61 and June 30, 1890, the
number, as before stated, was $50. These
figures indicate a slight falling on tendency
in our state prison population since 1887:
The board OF directors report the health OF
the inmates, and everything pertaining to
the Institution, as in excellent condition.
INDUSTRIAL REFoRMAToRY.
The state Industrial reformatory, created
by the legislature of 1885, and located at
Hutchinson, is still incomplete. It's pres
emit condition, and the progress made dur
ing the past two years, are faithfully de-
scribed in the report OF the board or COM
mfssfoners herewith transmitted.
The board has endeavored to follow the
evident intent OF the last legislature in the
use OF the 500 900 appropriated to complete
that part OF the building already under way,
and prepare it for occupancy as early as
practicable. Proceeding upon this idea the
board has made conmendab1e progress, and
1udiciously expended the means at their
disposal.
It is estimated that $40, 900 more will be re-
buildings now begun, with two hundred
cells, The probable cost and propriety OF
preparing one hundred and forty cells; for
use at an early period is also considered in
the report.