Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-01
THE PRISON. REPORT.
.NNlber OF Conyicts In Institution. Admitted
This Year, and Pardoned.


The report of the prison Inspectors; was
presented 10 the Governor and Council,
Tuesday The report states in part as
:, stars prison As, there is to be no
session, he Lsgiaa1qtss,atis winter it
is not y.lsd nsl y by The committee
to maksans ext 'repors or submit
any recolhn:etseeia1si to be laid before the
Legislafsrs . far kense. There have been
no specafV faDgcs or improvements ex-
cep5 those hered and provided for Mt last
winters Legislature
The Committee states that never before
during its official connection with the
prison. have the convicts been better
clothedshau at the present time:
The Humber of eonvicts in the prison IS
comparati lively small, but one Other state
having a smaller percentage of its popula-
ton in rs prissn, than the State of Maine.
The fikanoia4 ifairs of the prison are in
exceptiopaily gHd condition. At the close
of busin So 80, the total liabilities
amounted the sumsof s5.Os, and the
large and Of manufactured stock NOW
on hand " 0 provide ample funds for the
ensuing year.
A large number of well selected books
have been added to the library under the
supervision of the chaplain Rev CA.
Plummer. Some arrangements shouiQ II
made to provide a suitable school room.'s
The chaplain labors under very unfavor-
able circumstances in being compelled to
instruct his pupils individually, and if
suitable school room could be provided,
many more convicts would avail them
selves of its advantages
On nearly all the visits to the prison
during the year the committee has been
accompanied by Hon. Q. b. Clason, the
visiting member of the Executive Council,
to whom the cmmittee expresses its thanks
for valued suggestions.
The report of the chaplain states: The
intellectual and moral status of the in
.matespf TIE prison has been but slightly
chan ged by the commitments or the year,
as will be seen By the following: Ten
per cent. of the men committed during the
year could neither read nor write when
they came to the prison, 4 per cent could
read but could not writ $50 cent had
enjoyed and improved toa greater or less
degree the advantages afforded q the
public schools Of our own ldnd ofttheir
native countries; 16 per cent. had com
pletcd the grammar school course; 10 Der
cent. vera graduates Fl high schools, and
the remaining 6 per eeat. were educated
by private schools. and one.sbf thkm WA
college graduate. Eighty ok per cent a
these men were .habitual dsrrs 81 abaeeo
By their own cepsessish, poSSrssa ind
been accustomed 70 irtozaeara Drinks
The othsrs were teetotalers,
The statements by the; ,S show
that in the equipment, clothf Bnt11at
cree, fuel and lights, expense 6thd i
salaries, transportation of consiqtk diss
charged conyicts, and in the bYq BART
ments there has been "a loss, ~ Seatlpg
$685. Sc; in the carriage, harness, 4
tire, buildings and repairs, and prison
library, there has been gain of 1860 66.
The amounts recejyed from the State
are as follows: e.
For pay Of subordinate Officers. SO, q;
For medicines, xi50d9
Maintenance SGAool As5U0
Books for convicts, 49, p.uh
Special appropriations H "a 1F&HX
k soa si and Care ss' insane pafsys,
Total, s ssl,' y
There have been Two prisoners pardoheal
during the year ending. Nov. 30, 1885,
Charles Howard from Aroostook county
and Sidney Riley of York county. Five
convicts have died;,three admitted to the
insane department and two in this de-
partment died during theUear. The term
of one convict has expired during the year
Fifty convicts have been committed
during the year. of whom 80 were single,
Is married, and 5 widowers.
One hundred and twenty nine volumes
have been added to the library within the
year, by purchase and gift. The usual