Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-05

tentiary has been increasing monthly
ever since my administration began. On
me lst day OF October, 1884, there were
were l,6l6. While / am an earnest advO-
cate OF the public free-schOOl system. |
am constrained to say that its advan-
tages do not seem TO improve the morals
OF our COlOred people. or restrain crime
among them, for the number of colored
criminals is constantly growing larger,
and OF the 1916 in the penitentiary on the
lst day Of October 1895. 1,2l9 were colOred,
Whlch Is smaller percentage OF our
colored population than the average crim-
nal percentage Of the colOred population
OF the Northern and Western States.
According 10 the census of 1890 there
were nearly - in every 5000 Of the col
ored population Of the Northern and
Western States in the penitentiaries and
Jails, while I'm Virginia there were Only
about in every 5,cCO. This proves either
that there IS more crime among the bet
ter-educated cOlored citizens of the North
ern and Western States than among the
c1lored citizens Of Virginia, or that our
people are more lenient TO this race than
are the people of those States If the
former. IL would appear that education
mas not been beneficial to these people,
IT the latter, IL is a full answer 10 the
charge Of injustice and wrong so per
sistently made against us-that we are
severe and cruel I'm our treatment Of
them. But be this as it may. we are
confronted with the fact that the num-
ber of coiOred cOnvicts is increasing so
rapidly as 10 lead us TO realize that our
criminal expenses are advancing Ou. Of
all proportion to the growth of our popu-
lation. and that we must extend the walls
of our prison, now overlooking.
II Is gratifying 10 me 10 be able to re-
port that the management Of our peni-
tentiary during the last two years has
been most satisfactory For the fiscal
year ending on the 30th day Of Septem-
Der, 1884 the net revenue was about
VT.r loo
.5l 900.
The health of the prison has been good.
The discipline has been rigid. but merci-
ful. There have been no escapes.
THE STATE FARM.
BY an act Of the General Assembly. ap-
proved January p. 1894, the Superintend-
ent was authorized, with the approval of
the Board Of Directors and the Governor
TO purchase or lease a farm. and erect
thereon suitable buildings for the care
and employment OF cOnvicts. In pursu-
ance of the authority conferred a farm
lying on the James river on the line Of
the James-River Division of the Chesa-
peaAe and Ohio railroad, twenty-six miles
from the city or Richmond, containing
952 acres, was bought for $4,000 cash /
think II was a most judicious purchase
The Superintendent, under the direction
of The Board Of Directors. has erected
buildings and stockades, purchased stock
and implements, and had, on the 1st day
of October last, nearly two hundred con-
yicts at work He commenced operations
about the beginning OF the fiscal year OF
1898. and has had i'm cultivation about
four hundred acres. and has raised large
quantities of corn, potatoes ana other
products. and been very successful con-
sidering the unfaYorable season. In ad-
dtion, a large amount OF cleaning up
dtching. &C. has been done. II is my
opinion that the enterprise will be a sue
cess, and justify the action OF the General
Assembly in authorizing the purchase, for,
Notwithstanding the severe drought the
farm was almost self-sustaining the de-
ficiency amounting only TO 81 l,4i26i
In connection with what / have said as
TO the necessity of enlargement of the
penitentiary, / call your careful attention
10 the Recommendation of the BOARD of
Directors as to better prison arrange
ments. Their recommendation is wise.
and | hope you will fnd IL possible, under
the plan suggested by the SUPERINTENDENT
what the condition must be when the
buildings were erected for not more than
one third of the number now confined in
them. There are constantly. on an ave-
rage, fifty colored boys, 16 years of age
and under serving sentences The crimes
of which they are generally guilty are
grand larceny and house-breaking Asso-
ciated as they are, on account of limited
space. with confirmed criminals, there is
no hope that confinement will reform
them, but absolute certainty that when
.ner terms expire they will 20 out into
the world only 10 enter upon careers OF
crime. Humanity and public policy de-
mand that an effort be made as far as
may be. to reform them while their minds
are still susceptible of good Impressions
If ID were possible, / would be glad To see
colored refOrmatory school established
but as this may not be practicable at
present. some provision should be made
for separate apartments for them.
STATE HOSPITALS.
There is nothing in which the people
feel 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
Inmates and every humane man is ready
10 contribute for their maint nance
treatment and comfort These institu-
tions should have the most tender con-
their management should keep
mace with improved methods and advanc-
ed IDEAS: they should be in charge of
those most skilled in The treatment of
diseases OF the mind, and directed by
boards OF wide-awaks businessmen, who
will carefully observe everything connect
ed with them. and bend every energy to
;rrroye them year by year
4 think / can report THAI all of our hos
n,tais are being well conducted The su-
and their assistants are
faitbf,,I in their attentions. earnest i'm
their efforts and KIND ana gentle i'm
,nrs are constant in their wafchfulness
and assiduous in the discharge Of their
duties. taking nothing for granted, leav-
ing nothing to chanee.
PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.
I. win be no less pleasing to you than
Il il TO myself to know that our public