Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-23

victs as common sense and humanity
would dictate, had no falling off in our
net earnings. and ] am again able TO
report. as Statement No. / will show, a
net gain of S5l,9Sl75 at this institution.
| also. under authority Of section 4lSO.
Code Of Virginia, as amended and re-
enacted, and with the advice of the Gov
ernor. furnished idle prisoners to the
Ladies' Confederate Memorial Society for
the Improvement Of the grounds of the
Davis Mansion 10 the amount of $7i7.2j.
for which no charge was made.
OPERATIONS OF THE FARM,
The farm account would indicate a loss
Of S2.9s763 for the current years opera
tions. but it must be remembered that
the farm has supported an average Of 24i
convicts for the entire year. Every ex-
pense for guarding. feeding. clothing. and
attention to the sick has been met at a
nominal loss Of $l2l9 per capita, whereas
II they had been kept at the penitentiary
where We had neither room nor employ.
ment for them they would have cost us
S5L54 per capita, which shows a differ
ence in favor of the farm of 81 100
In Statement No. I give you the as
sets and liabilities Of the institution
Statement No. 3 shows the condition OF
gives you the cost of feeding clothing
and guarding the convicts for one year
Statement No 5. an account with tn,
farm; Statement No. g. an account will
the Auditor Of Public Accounts. an(
Statement No 7 shows expenses Of con
veying prisoners TO the pententiary. un
| der act of assembly approved January
| 60 1896.
Tables \ TO O, inclusive. give you gene
raj information in regard 10 the prison
and prisoners, the number received. the
number whose terms have expired ant
were discharged, those whose sentences
have been committed those who have
died. escaped, &c. those who. at this
date, are still at large, and the number
now held upon second and third conyc-
tions.
COST OF MAINTENANCE.
As is shown I'm the financial statement
the cost of maintenance for the fisca
year has been s75,S36.3i. This includes
food. fuel. clothing. medicines. guarding
management. &c. The cost per capita has
been S57.5i at this institution.
This financial showing has not beer
made at the expense Of our prisoners, as
they have at all times received an
abundance of plain. but wholesome and
nutritious. food, and have been clothed as
required by the laws Of the State and
humane consideration.
The bulk of our supplies are bought
from competitive bidders (our best whole
sale merchants), at stated meetings OF
your honorable board. and the low prices
obtained because of the extreme dulness
of the times, anu in view of the fact that
we pay cash for every article we buy.
THE FARM.
The operations for the year have been
satisfactory. We are beginning to realize
all that / hoped for in the establishment
OF this enterprise. The great relief that
has been afforded this institution and al
such small cost has been very gratifying
An average of 2i5 convicts have been
kept there during the fiscal year Many
Of them are sick or disabled; some old
and iniirm, and quite number Of small
boys.
Employment has been found for al
such as have been able to work i'm tho
cultivation Of the farm and in the various
improvements in progress. About 81
acres were planted I'm corn, yielding not
less than fifty bushels 10 the acre, which
will be sufficient for all of our purposes
at the farm as well as at this institu.
ton.
we have built and equipped a steam
grlst-mill. which makes all of our meal
both for ne prisoners and stock. a con
siderable acreage was planted in oats
beans. peas sweet and Irish potatoes
cabbage, tomatoes, snaps, kale, etc.
which yielded wen. and in their turn en-
abled me to furnish a great variety
Of food for the convlcts. In addition &c
cultivating almost the entire farm owned
by the State l have had in cultivation
some sixty acres in tobacco on the ad'
Joining farm OF ID. w. Tucker ~ co.
Tor which / pay a share rent. The States
share of this years crop Will IL Is esti
mated. Weld US a return of about 81 600
In addition to the cultivation Of crops
we have continued TO improve the LAND
by cleaning up and ditching, sowing anc
ploughing-under peas. rye, etc. The up
lands have been largely seeded in winter
oats wheat and rye. with red clover
timothy. and German clover this fall.
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT.
In permanent Improvement we have
built the mill. added new cell 3Ox6Jxl'
feet. which gives US ample room Tor inc
prisoners, built a most excellent double
corn-housc and WagOn-house lW feet Ions
bv 2ixio feet 10 the square, which con.
tains about 800 barrels Of corn. ant
also gives us granary over the wagon
hoi;se 100 feet by 1913. The barn, a
switzer or bank barn. i0OxG0 feet. frame
structure q icet 10 the Sluaief "u'tt uP"A
n basement of solid masonry, 10 FEE
I'm the clear, making "a feet 10 th'
square. Is now nearing completion
ana Viii be most substantial and con
vonient
A six-room cottage, with basement OF
two rooms. is well under way, which IS
intended for the steward. A tile plant
has been erected and improved ma
chinery for making tiles. including a
ve-hoise-power engine and boiler,
has been put in operation, with which we
have turned out 1900 of 3. 4, and 5-inch
tile OF very superior quality. Mr. Duey,
who has had charge Of this tile work
with many years experienced. pro-
nounces our clay the most satisfactory HI
has ever worked.
expect 10 be able to turn out next
season not only enough to tlle-drain the