Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-10
PRISON PAYS WELL.
The State Penitentiary Yields a Net
Revenue Of Over $4,000.
MODERy BUILDING NEEDED.
The Present Accommodations In
sufiiclent-Improve Suggest
ed and Other Recommendations
Made by the superintendent.

a
ring the last fiscal year
This gratifying exhibit is made by the
reports Of the Board Of Directors, the
Superintendent, and the surgeon, which
were submitted 70 the Governor yester-
day. These papers. with the accompany
ing tables, give the operations OF the in
stitution in detail for the twelve months
ending September Goth.
The Board OF Directors. comprising
1fessrs. L. T. Glasgow. W. d. Chester
man, and w. 5. Gum, say in their report;
The best testimony 10 the able man
agement Of the institution is the large
net earnings, amounting 10 the sum Of
Sjll296S, the largest years profit ever
realized. The Superintendent covers in his
report the whole ground Of the present
and future wants OF the institution, and
recommends such action as should be
taken TO supply them. and there Is but
little left for the board 90 add. We must
however, call your attention again TO the
imperative need OF better prison and hos
pital accommodations for the convicIs.
Notwithstanding the removal of some
90 70 the farm, there are now over l.20O
male convicts confined in the prison in
less than 30 cells. In the larger cells
IL IS necessary 10 cOnfine rom twenty
20 thirty, and the hospital. being made
quate. il is often necessary 10 keep the
sick in these cells. as Is the case at
.resent.
For want Of other room. the kitchen
and laundry are both underground. and
during the summer season are unfit tor
use.
NEED A NEW PRISON.
Action should be taken By the Gene
raj Assembly 10 remove the evils above
described. the only emectual one Is that
recommended by the Supeuntenden't-to
construct q new prison. with all modern
improvements. Whether the way be- clear
~ DO this az present or not, the number
OF cOnyicls sent TO the penitontiary should
boz restricted IN some Wanner by legisla-
tiOn. The recommendation Of the Superin-
tendent 10 retain shOrt-term prisoners at
the county jaiis Tor work on the county
roads appears wise 10 us. Ii would aid
materially in remedying three very i'm
pOrtant evils from which the state IS
now suffering
- Reduction Of criminal expenses.
- Relieve the crowded condition OF
the prison.
''3. Improvement of the public roads
The parole system referred 10 hy the
Superintendent adopted TO some extent
in thls country has. no doubt, grown
out Of the ticket-of-leave system OF Eng
land. II has met with decided approval
IN this country. and. with proper safe
guards might be adopted with advantage
and Is well worthy OF consideration. The
farm, with good season. would scarcely
have been expected TO show a profit, but
taas inc
ting short an crops. IL has supported from
l00 10 200 oonvicts. and shown deficit OF
only $l.ti26i for the year"
The board cOmmends the Superinlcnd-
ent. surgeon. officers, and guards Tor
faithful discharf Of duty.
Extracts from Major L3nn'S Report.
The report Of Major T.. ". Lynn. the
efficient superintendent. Is an interesting
paper After calling attention 90 the
several tables, which give fun statistical
information, Major Lynn says:
The following accounts. which were
upon our books when / took charge of
the institution. with the exception OF one
due by Colonel ". T. Fortune. which no
one was especially authorized 20 collect
until the law was amended i'm l@3-'9i.
have been placed in the hanCs Of the
ArJ0rney-General for c0llectiou-yiZ.
Roanoke and Southern Railroad Com
pany. S25.9l553: Abingdon Coal and Iron
Railroad Company, Si9. .A2OS. ". u. For
tune. {l6l31 Total, Sfs1S9i.
In charging and extending our cone
tracts. which / did with the hearty ap-
proval of your honorable boarl and bis
EXcellency the Governor. + estimated
that the earnings would b. SO increased
that We would be- able To- pay an eN-
penses Of the prison and make for the
state $1,000 per aunum. our transac-
tiOns for the fiscal year. nOtwithStand-
ing the stagnation OF business, has proved
ms calculation 10 be- conservative. By
reference 10 table 40. you Will find
that w- have actually made a net profit
Of jjl.o1 which. under our present sys-
tenn and management. will be- increased
with the return Of better tines
The cost of maintenance for the year
including food. clothing. guarding. fuel
medicines. management. etc. Was So
i09.57. or &f6l per capl-I. There was eX-
pended through the syperntenienfs Of
fee or prisoners account so Ni22. which
amount was earned by the prisoners for
oyerwork or received from outside sources.
OPERATIONS or THE FARM
Touching the State Farm, Major Lynn
says.
"The wisdom Of the Legislature I'm au-
thoriZlng the purchase Of the convict
farm has been fully demonstrated. The
relief it has afforded the prison In pro-
viling room for such men and boys as
could not be utilized here as well as
some Of the sick and "deadheads." has
been perceptibly felt besides providing a
Inuch-needed place whore, in case OF
serious epidemic we could divide up our
large prison population ana avert any
horror.
II was able 10 get partial posses ion
of The farm about the first Of the fiscal
year and commenced AT once 10 erect
suitable buildings for the prisoners and
guards Qhe plan OF which ! took in a
large part from observations of the North
Carolina state FARM; and, while they
are OF wood. they are cOmmodious and
comfortable. yet inexpensive. They con-
slst Of cell-buiding No. l. l00X30 feet and
Y feet 20 the square. with hospital adj
iolning 40x25 feet. Cell-buildng No. ?.
i0x3O feet and Il feet to the square.
Building No. 3. 7sX3s feet divided into
dning-room. kitchen. and storeroom.
Guard-room. 22Xli feet, one and half
stories. Guard house, 3bNlI feet, two
stories. All enclosed except guard-house
No p, with harbed-wire stockade eight
feet high.
The cell-buildlngs are capable or accom-
modating 100 prisoners"
The buildings were erected by prison.
labor. under the direction OF Mr..
Haney. one OF the guards, and cost
rot more than S2.G037s. \ good barn
IS needed. AMI can be built out Of the
balance remaining Of the $4,000 author
lied TO be spent on the farm. The
health OF the place has been good, and
the only death was that Of an incuraole.
CROPS NOT SATISFACTORY.
Major Lynn tells i'm detail about the
improvements on the farm, and says:
"The operations for the year. am sorry
n say. have not been satisfactory. \
cold, hard winter. a backward spring.