Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-14

The mortality was larger than that Of the year
before, owing, says the report, Ito the Increased
number OF patients treated and 10 the large
number Of old paterts we have in the asylum.
One patient died at tho age Of ninety-eght after
n continued residence In the asylum OF more
than for,y-two years, six were between seventy
and eighty years OF age, five between sixty and
seventy, and eight between hfty and sixty.
The report urges the necessity Tor better
water supply as protection against fire. and
also recommends that some plan be adopted
" by which the transportation o. patents 70 ahd %
from the asyium be moro directly under me
charge Of the asylum authorities, whose interest
IL Is TO keep down this expense
In this connection two tables arc submitted
together With the following comment:
Tho first table shows that the expense OF bring
ing 337 and sending homo 40 patients Then
brought 10y shenffs coet 916,S1El9, while the
second table, when 337 we're brought and lS4
sent home by our agent, II cost the State
81, ,J04.00 In two periods Of fiyo years, showing
a saving by the present method OF Sl4,2o3lO
out Of a total Of e16,s77.1o.
The Penitentiary.
The report Of Superintendent w. w. Moses
shows the number OF cOnVtcts in tue penlten-
tiary at the end Of the fiscal year 70 have been
1,I92, divided rs follows: White men, 2l2;
colored men, 500 white women, 2; colored wo-
men, 90. During the year there was a net gain
to the institution OF $36,170.16, and In COM
menting on this the Board Of Directors say:
''Ihs result shows the wisdom Of tho policy OF
providing facilities for the employment within
pacity beyond such as are sought for by the rail-
roads.
"The employment outside Of the prison Is ir-
regular and Rain, frequently continued du-
IiDg the season OF the year when railroad build
inR can be probably prOsecuied, and the con-
victs returned 70 the penitentary during the
winter 70 be charge 20 the State. OF the several
hundred employed on the railroads during the
past year all have been sent back except about
sixty, and these are looked for soon.
TIE BEST POLICY.
"We believe II, therefore, the best policy 20
provide means Of employment within the prison
walls for all the conVics capable o. work In such
manner as will afford least competition with
free labOr. The shoe-factory anl the tobacco
factory row in operation furnish employment TO
about 735 Of the total number OF COnyicts.
Another factory capable Of employing 200 would
furnish employment 10 the balsn;e able to
work.
ave believe the cost Of such bGilding could
be provided in the near future from the earn
ings OF the institution, and section 4l53 OF the
code Of 1887 appears 90 empower tho board 70
use the funds OF the institution for this purpose
but we wonld be unwilling 20 do so unless II Was
made clear that the policy above indicated met
tho approval Of the General Assembly"
Second Auditors Report.
The report Of SecOnd-Audltor +. @. Rurln
gives the condition Of the public debt for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1891 OF tho
literary fund tor the year ending July 81, 1871
Of the commissioners Of the Sinking Fund OF
Virginia for the fiscal year ending September
80. 1891.
There we're no disbur soments from the sink
ing Fund for the fsoai year ending SepieNber
%, 1891, 20 that the balance IN the Treasury 70
the credit Of tho Sinking Fund October i, 1881,
was Sl7J, ,732.*S.