The record-union., 1896-10-25
PRISON DIRECTORS REPORT.
Il Shows the Present Condition and
Needs Of Our Prisons.
a Low Per Capita of Maintenance of
the Prisoners ers-Necessary APP
preparations Asked.

The biennial report of the State
Board Of Prison Directors, recently
submitted to the Governor, is OF the
most interesting nature, and deals with
the subject in terse and business-llke
manner. No one who peruses 1t can
Iali to catch the points aimed at. The
following Is brief synopsis:
Two important subjects have claimed
much of the time and attention OF the
pCard, the first, to keep the running
expenses of the institutions under its
control as low as possible in order
that the per capita for maintenance
should always be at the minimum, the
second, to discover and formulate some
plan whereby the prisoners might be sc
employed that they would earn enough
to support themselves, and thus not
be tax upon the people of the State.
The Wardens' reports showed that the
cost per capita has been kept below
what it has been in previous years,
but just how to employ the large num-
Der Of prisoners at both prisons at
some profitable employment has been
a problem full of difficulties and has
not yet been solved.
THE JUTE MILL.
1t is apparent to the Board Of Di-
rectorS that so far as making money
for the State is concerned, the jute mill
is not and never will be a success un-
der the present condition of affairs
1t has been run at loss, although at
the present time a small profit is being
made in the manufacture of sugar bags
Still, the report contends, the mill has
been of untold benefit to the farmers
of the State in keeping the price OF
grain bags at the very lowest figure
preventing combinations among deal
crs and saving to the farmer in general
what il does not save to the prison
fund.
Taking this view of the case, the re-
port relates that the mill has bene-
flied a class of people who require all
the assistance they can get, but it
would be just as beneficial to them
and more of a success financially, if the
board was not hampered by the un-
necessary provisions of the Ostron
law, and it is urged that some modifi-
cations of its provisions be made sc
that the Board Of Directors would be
enabled to offer the output of the mill
for sale, without compelling the farmer
to go before a Notary to make affidavit
that he requires the goods for his own
use. 1t suggests that the board should
he given the privilege of disposing OF
the output even outside of the State
which cannot be done under the opin-
ion given by the Attorney General
With such a provision, the 3,0O0,O0
grain bags now on hand would have
been disposed of, at least at cost, and
in some instances at a profit.
KEMUNERATIVE EMPLOYMENT
To find remunerative employment fol
the prisoners has been a serious ques-
tion to the board. There are industries
which might be profitable to the State
but the question raised by free laborers
as 10 prisoners interfering with their
right of gaining a livelihood is one
which the board could not set aside.
Still it is related that articles manu-
factured in many of the Eastern pris-
ons find good market in this State
and while the people complain about
prison labor in the State Prison. they
from day to day purchase articles
which help TO sustain the prisons in
other States To make prison labor
remunerative and at the same time not
bring it in conflict with free labor
something should be engaged in which
is not carried on in the State, and yet
is profitable, and the board found il
difficult to suggest a remedy.
BUILDING GRANITE.
The board believes, however, that one
source of profit would be to make use
of the building granite now owned by
the State, and that this could be dis
posed of at such a figure as would
prove beneficial both to builder and la
borer, as the free power at Folsom re-
duces the price of handling and taking
out granite and as a building material
it is first-class.
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
The Board of Directors think tina,
some Of the prisoners might be profita-
bly, employed in making willowware
hut does not at the present time rec
omrnend in engaging in many indus
tries, even TO supply the State institu-
tiors. A few industries could be profit
ably carried on at Folsom, even though
the articles We're not offered for sale
but merely used by the State.
CONSOLIDATION AT FOLSOM.
After a very careful consideration
and investigation, the report contin-
ues I'VE are strongly of the opinion
that much benefit would result were
the prisons consolidated at Folsom. The
free power there means the saving OF
a great deal of money each year. and
besides. the per capita for mainten-
ance would be much lower, where the
number of prisoners is much greater
A MODEL PRISON.
The report relates that the board be-
Iseves it would be of untold benefit tc
have an additional prison room con-
structed at Folsom on the most ap-
proved modern plan, and that the next
Legislature be requested to make ar
appropriation for commencing the
work. and that the following Legisla-
ture furnish funds for it's completion
With the prison labor, free power and
the granite on the grounds, a mode
rr;son could be constructed there at q
nominal cost. AS it now is, there are
but few cells where quarrelsome OF
dangerous prisoners may be confined
and there are many such to deal with
and a place where insane patients car
be cared for is badly needed. Such
prisoners are now sent 10 one Oh iiis
asylums, and in many Instances they
escape. and for this reason there shoulo
be a ward for the insane within tht
prison walls
RETRENCHMENT.
While the appropriation for the sup
port Of prisoners is $4,000 less thar
heretofore, the board. by the exercise
of the strictest economy, hope to keel
within the appropriation, although
there have been additional expenses t
bear, which were not contemplated
when 1t was made.