The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-02

cscape from disease OF 'o"'"e''N
malignant Sn ian We commend the su-
.trm,oo6cnt surgeon. officers, ana guards
Tor faithful discharge OF uu'E'
,ur sr-rKBrSTESDfNT's REPORT.
T., the same pamphlet is Superintend-
ent T. ". Lynn . Iepoi'' III ""'0" ''o
says, ai'l0iis ,1 'i The wear with 1880 prison
mel cain of l5y since my last re-
mort or an increase oil ~ per cent IN
ar prisou population, which. you VIII
Soc from the following hgures, comes
mainly from the colored race. .,-,.-.
Formulation 1870. .......... 12G9 olZ'Sit
Number iu penitentldry. ,,, l45 on, cig
Formulation lNSl.......... 6Wh1 Noi'oolU
Number i'm penitentiary. ~ ca 90
Population lNn........... liVl',l-Y "-V' o.
Number I'm pcnltenuaTy. 30 -. - ~
Proportion of convicts to number OF
inhab itants of each race 900 .ooo.
Whitc-lS1O. / 10 5,V1, 1871, 10 ''VVV'
Col6red %ois50. 8 to 5000; 1850. to 5000;
1890 : Il TO 300 , III,
ton during the decade from 1880 10 lh'V
as a fair basis upon when 10 estilIld'
the present population OF said race,
find that there are now ABOUT . u CUn-
victs 10 every 300 Of the ColOred popula-
ton This remarkable increase shows
the necessity for and wisdom OF the ACt
OF Assembly providing additional quar-
tiers and means Of employment LOT oui
convicts In the ~urchase OF d farm.
MAINTENANCE.
As viii be seen by Table no. /, me tot pa
cost OF maintenance OF the prison ior tHe
wear has been $1S,I4, which includes not
only food and clothing, but every other
expense. such as guarding ana mahd6hl6
PRISON. fuel, medicines, &c. Inc cost PEI
capita as YOU will see by reference 70
the table has been reduced 10 OlJ iL-lOO
per diem as expended by the state bui
by reference TO Table No. ., you VIII
SEQ that the additional sum OF $u,9t6 20
bas heeu expended through this once
Icy the prisoners themselves, Whlch was
made by overwork Inc CneSpness o!
prov. sions and clothing bought from tlrst
hands or al lowest wholesale prices, pay
ine the cash at all times, with the large
number confined here. has enabled me
10 feed and Clothe them well. giving them
EXCEPT sunday when they have tWo),
three meals each day OF good quality
and ample quantity at this low figure.
KABSINGs.
The net earnings OF the institution in
side the walls have been notwithStan 40.
Ing the dun times through which we
have pa ssed during the fiscal year, larger
than ever before from Whch a SUBS dH-
tial balance remains I'm our FAVOR dileI
paying for the farm and permanent I'M
proVements
COST OF BUILDINGS.
The BUILDINGS necessary to enlarge the
industrial plant 50 as TO accommodate
the contractors have been lnisned. lhtS
are very substantial and complete, anu
me shoe. shops are probably the most eA-
tel siVe single plant il TINS country. l. ne
total cost of the new addltl ms, lhcludlus
the automatic TIRE cNtinB usher Hfe biiHuS
and doors (Which render the bullGinS SO
secure nom nre that the sLOe company
was enabled 10 get late of insurance
oue-fouTth what IT cost IN sing SlhS) Is
as fplloWs-V,z. Tobacco factory, $5,-
1870. shoe shop, $25,tSpSJ. boiler house,
!l1fl.Sl. including cost OF raising smoke
STACK. all OF which have been paid Tor
out of the net earnings oil the insutu-
ton.
PENIrESTIARY FARM.
After personally examining scores OF
farms which were offered. and consider
iuE every advantage Ct cdCn size SIG
gested. / came TO the conclusion that FOR
pemtenuary farming purposes no better
investment could be made by the state
than TO buy the properly 81 the late Gen
eral Joseph X. Anderson, in Goochland
county, tWenty-siN niles West 0l itch
mond the Richmond and Allegheny road
passing through IT. with station on the
tlace The tract contains 9S6 acres, 40 OF
which are valuable low grounds
While the farm has been very much
neglected and the buildings are of little
value. yet il Is conceded 10 be one of
the best farms on the James river and Is
susceptible of valuable improvement.
COST OF fABM. ETC.
TIE amount paid for the. entire tract
vas $1,000, which was paid IN cash out
az th- net earnings this year. and which
Is regarded as very low, and it was only
obtaiuable because General Anderson q
heirs were anxious u close Up the affairs
OF the estate and make a final distribu-
~ save 2 large part of the $1,000 appro-
priated by the l. slslatGTc for that par
pCse The locality is a healthy one; for
the past two years a gang OF oar con-
yicts has been working on an adjoining
farm, none having suffered from Ill
health.
Lab no h4f "a u
be needed for the care OF the conVicts
that are TO be taken 10 the farm which
VIII be Inexpensive, yet ample TO house
90 or more and the necessary Stockade
will be put up at once.
FARM As A SOURCE OF RIv1NU7.
As a source Jf revenue convict farm
does not promise much. as the number of
guards necessary 10 working prisoners IN
the open fields w.ll eat up the greater
part of the proiits. The scheme was not
Urged a. a money making enterprise. but
n is expected 10 furnish the Institution
with much OF the provisions which We are
now forced 10 buy In open market, and
10 provide quarters more cheaply for the
short-teTm men and boys than could pos
sihly be done here. besides furnishing them
with employment, thus carrying out the
intent Of the law as TO hard labor and
at the same time relieving the present
congestion OF the prison.
In the Improvement Of the farm We
ought 10 enhance its value very greatly.
state.
DISCIPLINE.
At no time in the history Of this insti-
tuition has the discipline been better.
With comparatively few exceptions the
rules OF the prison have been complied
with and punishment has been resorted
10 only after "a fair trial, and then IN
such a manner as 10 impress the male
factor that II was for his good, ana ne,
cessary consequence OF wronsdolls,
ind that punishment need not necessarily
be severe, but stern and certain Tor GER
tainty, more than severity, carries WIN
II dread OF punishment.
PUBLIC ROAD.
The question OF better public roads
throughout the State Is now being agi-
tated. The popular idea is that they
should be built by conviCts 10 be FURNISH
ed from the penitentiary. as now provided
by law, without cost TO the counties, eN-
cept for feeding, guarding and medical
expenses, and the so penalty for each es-
care AS only the able-bodied, short
Term men can be used for that purpose,
leaving the deadheads. cripples sick old
and very young inside the walls, many OF
them with little or no earning capacity,
The penltentiary would very soon become
a charge upon the public treasury again.
Several OF the counties have been FUR
nisheG counties within the last two years
which have cost the commonwealth al
ready total OF SlO.2o
.AatA n