Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-02
iplins Of the institution was never bet

'sThe question Of better PUBIC roens
throughout the State Il now being agi-
tated." he continues. 'The popular ioea
Is that they should be built by convicts
to be furnished from the penitentiary,
rs now provided by law. without Cost
TO the counties, except for feeding, guard
ing. and medical expenses. and the w
penalty for each escape. As only the
ble-bodied, short-term men can be USED
for that purpose. leaving the deadheads'
crIpples. sick, old, and very young In
side the walls, many OF them with little
or no earning capacity, the penitehtihry
would very soon become n charge upon
the public treasury again. Several OF
the counties have been furnished convicts
within the last two years. which nave
cost the Commonwealth already total
OF s2,fJ0.26. A better plan In my opinion
az prisoners are to be utilized In that
way would be to work the jail men who
are lodged there at an expense or twenty
five cents per day for board, and add to
that gang such persons as are now sent
TO the penitentia-y for short terms, and
thus save the enormous expense to the
State of transportation to the penitentiary
and returning them (Which has happened)
TO the same county to be put In a road
gang"
NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Lynn calls attention to the need OF
a new kitchen, laundry, and storeroom,
as the cellars are wholly inadequate
and unsuited. and says: II am con-
WINGED that the proper plan would be to
take down the old administration build
ing, extend the walls upon the south
side to give sufficient room (this being
a weak point, as there Is no outer wall
on the south side). and erect a building
T. -. a xl..l- -.
ing to accommodate the kitchen. laundry,
and storerooms. The upper floors would
furnish hospital accommodation, and the
unsightly buildings now used for that
purpose could come down, thus clearing
the view of the front OF the semi-circular
cell-buildlng. A neat building suitable
for Office purposes could be erected south
OF this at the entrance" The Superin-
teDdent suggests some other improve
ments, including the coping of the outer
walls with brick, the erection OF new
watch-houses, and the Introduction of
several arc lights.
Prison reform Is briefly touched upon,
and Mr., Lynn asserts that all prisons
should be reformatory in their character;
repeats his commentator of the ticket
of-leave system, and asserts that every
germ of reformation lies in productive
labor by the prisoner. lie acknowledges
his Indebtedness to the officers and
guards for their fidelity and interest in
the institution. pays a tribute to the late
G. II. Cross, speaks encouragingly OF
the future, returns his hearty thanks 10
the members Of the board for their CO.
operation and valuable assistance. and
says kind word for both the late Colo
mel Colston. long superintendent of the
Sunday school, and for his successor
Mr.. J. w. Cringan.
FACTS AND FIGURES.
From the tables appended to the SUPER
intendentS report IL can be seen that
the total amount received for the main
tenance of the institution during the year.
including stock of s3O0l5.sl, and the
amount Of sl6,lli76 paid for the State
farm, was 1855. 1895. The daily average
of prisoners was 1,36S, and the expense of
keeping them was $7s5li. or per capita
per year of sj7.39, and per day Of l5.72
cents.
Below are given some interesting figures
concerning the number of convicts in the
institution: Whole number October l. 1898,
1881, including y on public works re-
ceiyed during the year, 100 white men,
1926 colored men, 3 white women. and %
colored women. Total ISL. Escapes, 3;
discharged. 3i6; committed and discharged,
Court of Appeals. /; pardoned, g.; died.
q; escapes outside penitentiary, 10; re-
captured, 2.
Richmond sent the largest number of
convicts during the year from any of the
cities in the Commonwealth, while Pitt
sylvania was the banner county.
OF the total number received during the
fiscal year III were married and 40 SIN
gle, making n total OF ISL. 2j6 OF whom
can read and write The life prisoners
are John Orrell. Joseph Robinson alias
Stanley. Wayman Sutton. William Wash
ington. Nelson Mitchell, William Robin
son, Richard Brown. Judy Flood. and
Mamie Woods.
The ages OF those In the penitentiary
range from II to II years, and of the
number received during the year 2Si were
moderate drinkers. - incorporate, and
2GS total abstainers.
DIR. HARRISONS REPORT.
The report of DR.. benjamin Harrison
sets forth in detail the diseases. birth.
occupation, &c. of each prisoner coming
uEder his care. In his paper TO the
board Or. Harrison says:
THE mortality OF the institution has
been very low surprisingly so considering
the crowded condition OF the building.
No epidemic disease other than humps
in a mild form have visited the prison.
In this connection | deem II my duty to
call your attention to the helpless state
OF things that would exist We're an cpl
demic Of diseases such as smallpox. dph-
iberia, or such like to get n foothold
among the inmates The hospital build
ing Is too small to be considered in such
an emergency. were 1t proper to use 1t
for the harboring Of those inflicted with
such contagious troubles"