The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05


the penitentiaries and jails. while In VIZ
cinia there were only about eight In
every five thousand. This proves either
that there is more crime among the bet
tcr-educated colorcd citizens OF the horth-
ern and western States than among the
colored citizens Of Virginia, or that our
people are more lenient 10 this race IMAM
are the people o. those States ii the
former. II would appear fhat euuCdlioii
has not been beneficial to these Ieopie'
If the latter II is a fun answer TO the
charge Of injustice and wrong so per-
sistently made against us-that We are
severe and cruel in our treatment OF
them But. be this as IL may, we are
confronted with the fact that the num-
Der of colored convlcts is increasing 80
rapidly as to lead us to realize that our
criminal expenses are advancing out Oh
all proportion to the growth Of our pop
uIatlon. and that we must extend the
walls Of our prison, now OVERCOMING
1t is gratifying 10 me TO be able TO &c
port that the management OF our penn
Tertiary. during the last two years, mas
been most satisfactory. For the nscal
year ending on the Goth day Of September
1894 the net revenue was about $54.vVo'
for the last fiscal year. about $ol'oV'
The health of the prison has been socd'
The discipline has been rigid, but mercl-
full There have been no escapes.
BY an act Of the General Assembly, APP
proved January o. 1894. the superinten-
dent was authorized with the approval
Of the board Of directors and the Govern
or TO purchase or lease laiIn' an"
erect thereon suitable buildings for the
care and employment OF convicts In
pursuance of the authority conferred
farm. living on the James river on the
line of the James River division OF the
| chesapcake and Ohio railroad. twenty
six miles from the city OF Richmond,
containing 952 acres, was bought Tor 80
000 cash. | think II was a most Judlclous
| purchase. 49,
The superintendent. under the direction
| Of the board Of directors. has erected
| buildings and stockacs. purchased s'och
and implements. and had, on me Isl uay
! Of October last, nearly two hundred COLI
victs at work. He commenced opci@-
/ mons about the beginning Of the hscA
ar of lSq4-'5. and has had IN cultivation
ABOUT four hundred acres, and has raisea
,arre quantities Of corn, potatoes, ana
.,fner products and been very successful
considering the unfayorable season IN
| addition. a large amount OF cleaning up'
| ditching. &c. has been done. IL IS my
opinion thet the enterprise VIII be
success. and Justify the action OF the Cen
eraI Assembly in authorizing the pui-
| chase. for. Notwithstanding the severe
On ought. the farm was almost sel-sus-
! tanning. the deficiency amounting only 10
| 81. i426.
In connection with what ! have SAID
! as 10 the necessity of enlargement OF the
| penftentiary. / call your careful atten-
! ton TO the recommendation Of the board
| of directors as 10 better prison arrange
ments. Their recommendation IS wise
and / hope YOU will find 1t possible under
the plan suggested by the superintendent
/ to carry il out. Ia can well be imagined
what the condition must be when the
buildings were erected for not more than
! one-third of the number now confined
| I'm them. There are constantly. on an
average fifty colored boys. sixteen years
| Of age and under, serving sentences.
| The crimes Of which they are generally
guilty are grand larceny and house-break-
| ing Associated as they are, on account
/ of the limited space with confirmed
! criminals. there Is no hope that coniine-
| ment will reform them, but absolute
! certainty that when their terms expire
| they will 90 ont into the world only TO
| enter upon caiocrs of crime. humanity
| and public policy demand that an effort
| be made. as far as may be. TO reform
them while their minds are still suscepti-
| BILE of good impressions. II II were pos
sible. / would he glad TO see q colored re-
| formatory school established. but. as this
! may not be practicable at present some
provision should be made for separate
| apartments Tor them
There is nothing i'm which the people
| feel a deeper interest than in our state
/ hospitals. and nothing FOR which they
are more willing to be taxed than for
/ their support. Every natural heart goes
| out i'm sympathy TO the unfortunate IN
| mates. and every humane man IS ready TO
/ contribute for their maintenance treat
ment. and comfort. These institutions
! should have The most tender considera-
| tom their management should keep pace
! with improved methods and advanced
ideas: they should be i'm charge OF those
most skilled I'm the treatment OF dis
eases OF the mind. and directed by boards
of wide-awake business men. who viii
carefully observe everything connected
with them. and bend every energy TO
| improve them year by year
! ] think ! can report that all OF our
hospitals are being well conducted. The
superintendents and their assistants are
| faithful in their attentions. earnest IN
their efforts, and kind and gentle IN Their
| treatment. while the boards Of directors
are constant in their watchfulness ana
assiduous in the discharge Of their duties
|
! ing 10 chance.
PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.
1t will be 10 less pleasing to you than
| il is TO myself TO know That our free
schools are doing well ana the interest
in them steadily increasing.
! The school statistics for the year clos
! ing July 81, 1898. Will show that there
were GOS3 white and 2213 colored schools
opened. with 2S5.533 white and 1865 coli
ored pupils enrolled. and G.2ll white and
20I 'colored teachers The revenues for
the year We're as follows: Local funds,
including county. district. and city levies.
! $50 935. 81: State funds including proceeds
OF State school tax. appropriation by
| General Assembly. interest on investments
of the Literary Fund. S94.3als3-fnak-ng
a total OF $l.S24.2S1.11 The expenses were
as follows: Teachers salaries, Sl,os5.soo.- o.
IS: real estate. buildings &c. Sl.9.ey6.3S;
| school apparatus. &c, S25.34S.l3; all other
expenses. SOS. sSGc6-making a total or
! n S07. sq2 40 In this statement no ac-
/ count is taken of balances carried from
| ;he preceding year. Every year shows
a slight advance in the revenues applied
| 20 the support of the syst I'M, but there
| is urgent need OF more money. The term
/ is toe short in country schools, teachers
| salaries are insufficient. and there are
| other demands which must be met TO
bring our system abreast with the schools
of other states. where the revenues are
much larger feel that IL is unnecessary
for me 10 urge you to give our system
| all the support in your power.
About a year ago the charge was made
that patrons of the Virginia schools We're
paying more for their school-books than
| Tho natrons of The schools OF other States