The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-14

nary hospital for the insane, and especially
is this tyuc Of our overcrowded state hos
pitfalls. This peculiar mnlady requires they
should have almost constant Supervisors
by day and night. Thc effect OF m cpilep-
tic seizure on the other insane. especially
On uunyalesccat cases, Is often painful and
depressing. The isolation Of the epi]eDtie
class by colonization ! = = is wise, Just and
humane
Penal Institutions,
The State Prisuns.-1he cell capacity OF
the present prison is 200. The number of
oonvicts at the date of the keepers report
(Oct. 81, 1885 was 977, a decrease Of 43
since the report of 1894. In my former
messages I directed attention TO the over
crowded condition of the prison and the
pern:cious results thereof. The law re-
quires that each prisoner ssshall be con-
fined IN one of the cells Of the prison, sop.
aratc aud alone" Manifestly, with a con
yiot population of 800 in excess of the cell
capacity, tho law cannot be complied with.
This evil, so long complained of, is about
to be reinedied. TIL legislature of 1895
appropriated S150,000 and appointed a
commission sfor the purpose of making
necessary enlargement and improvements
in tho state prison. The commission is
performing its work in a practical and in
telligent manner and it will not be long
before the prison accommodations of tile
state, including the ~reformatory, will be
ample for many years to come. A new
wing is being added to the prison and is
nearing completion, containing 200 steel
cells. These are constructed in the most
approved manne Of modern prison archi-
lecture. A new prison hospital, long need
ed, is also under construction. A chapel
for religious exercises and storage room for
supplies and provisions are to be provided.
The inspectors, III their report, recommend
an electric light plant be provided to light
the prison buildings and grounds. They
estimate the cost Of such a plant at s15, 600,
to be operated mainly by convict labor. 1t
now costs about IS, 500 per num to light
the buildings alone with gas. The inspect
ors further recommend that provision be
made for an independent water supply by
means of artesian wells, the cost of which
they estimate would not exceed $40, 900.
1t now costs the state over So, 600 each
year for the water supplied. It would seem
that the recommendations of the inspect
ors are wise and prudent from every stand
point. The improvements suggested would
be economical investments and contribute
largely to the welfare and efficient govern
ment of the institution and the comfort of
it's inmates.
The State Reformation The legisla-
ture Of 1895 authorized the erection at or
near Railway, in the county of Union, of a
state reformatory for finale criminals be-
tween the ages of 10 and 30 years, and not
known to have been previously sentenced
to a state prison or penitentiary on convic-
ton for a felony in this or any other state
or country, who shall be legally sentenced
to said reformatory, etc. A commission
was duly appointed under the law (chap-
ter 357, laws of 1880, who have proceeded
with the duties imposed upon them by the
act referred to. They have adopted a plan
for the structure, which ~contemplates a
central building with four radiating wings,
constructed of brick and stone, with a ca
pacity, when entirely completed, of 1000
prisoners. They have now under way one
wing of the proposed structure, which will
accommodate 255 prisoners. This wing
can be utilized as soon as completed, and
the remaining wings constructed at once
Or as exigency may require. The commits
sion estimate the cost Of the completed
structure at $3.50, 600, and they ask an APP
preparation of that amount, as it will then
"be possible to contract for the whole at a
less cost to the state than If Obliged to
build it by sections The last legislature,
under the act authorizing the reformatory
(chapter 357, laws 1895, approved March
80, 1880, appropriating the sum of $500,
600 sto purchase the land necessary, erect
main buildingAwaiIs, a hospital and &c
furnish complete two wings under the plan
as adopted by the commissioners" Of the
500, 600 so appropriated, but $50, 600 is
now available. The appropriation law OF
1895 (chapter 434, before mentioruss) was
approved June rs, 1895, but did not be-
come operative until Nov. j, 1896. BY that
act and chapter 401, laws of 1895, the re-
formatory commission was limited in the
expenditure of the 500, 900, Heretofore
appropriated TO the sum of $50, 900 prior tc
Nov. /, 1895, and $50, 900 during the eur.
rent fiscal year. On Nov. /, 1895, the ap.
preparation for the time anterior thereto
was intact, and, under the laws mention
ed, lapsed and became part of the general
state fund. The commission has, there.
fore, at its disposal but $50, 900 of the
500, 900 originally appropriated. 1t was
not, / apprehend, the legislative intent te
deprive the commission of any part of The
800, 600 appropriated by the reformatory
act. The appropriation was divided upor
the idea that the half thereof would be
needed before Nov. 1, 1895, and the re
mainder not until after that date. 1t IL
evident that the commission cannot sue
cessfully prosecute it's work with the $50,
600 now available. 1t therefore become.
necessary for your honorable bodies to de
termine how largely that sum shall b.
increased.
State Reform School For Boys.-Th,
number of inmates of this institution a
the date of the suporintendent's repor
iOct. 81, 1880 was 376. The admissabl,
age is between 8 years and 16 years, blu
the trustees may bind out the inmates a
apprentices or servants until they becom,
81 years of age, or for any less time. TIN
declared object of the school is to cause tn
boys ito be instructed in piety and moral
ity, and in such branches of useful knowi
edge as are adapted to their age and ca
pacity, and in soine regular course of labo
either mechanical, manufacturing. agri
cultural, or q combination of these, as il
best suited TO their age, strength, DISPOSE
ton and capacity, and in such other art
Or trades as may seem best adapted to SO
cure the reformation, amendment and fu
ture benefit of the boys Any boy be
| tween che ages stated. arrnsted ar convict