The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-10

ton OF what 10 90 WIN Sei. ain ciaSS
OF prisoners. The State needs In my
opinion, more land.
SUGAR BETS.
We have planted this season. for expert
mental purposes, two az acres in sugar
beets. one o. acre on the low lands
ana Oh acre on the up,ands, and notwith-
INK ms dry season the acre on the low
land yielding a growth OK II Il tons and
the nigh land about 10 tons 10 the acre,
which has shown by the analysis made
by Dr. Froehling to contain IL per cent.
OF saccharine matter, Of 50 per cent purity
which will compare very favoraoiy with
the productions in countries where the
cultivation is made a specially. III saus-
factory arrangements could De maze ihhd
/ have reason 20 believe they couial mat
Ii plant could be established for their man.
ufactory into sugar. 1 would recommend
that authority be asked 10 purchase 4,vov
or $3.50 acres OF suitable land, and that
the convicts be used In planting ana cuiu
waiting not less than / 0o0 or 1908 acres an
nuaiiy In sugar beets. The crop would be
one suitable. In many respects requiring
as they DO a great deal OF hand labor,
and their growth Of such character that
prisoners could be easily guarded lt
would seem 10 me that the State could
| very properly enter into an enterprise
which seems 10 promise not only such
| favorable returns, but the establishment
| OF an Industry that would add largely TO
| the income OF our people ana increase me
source Of revenue 10 the state.
BMPlO1MhNT OF PRISONERS.
rbe experience Of all institutions Of this
| KIND has shown that 1t becomes a neces-
slty to the convict to give him employ
ment. Work is the relief Of the mind and
! BODY.
Upon This point the New York State
SUPERINTENDENT Of Prisons. has truly said:
No prison manager anywhere has had
| the fertility OF resource which enabled
him to maintain a body Of prisoners in
| idIeness and al the same time keep them
from deterioration which eliminates two
| OFTEN in insanity or death. whoever as
| serts that idleness rs possible IN prison
| without all this train or inevitable evils.
| contradicts the plain and uniform teaching
| OF experience. The men in prison must
| navo work. Since the convict must be
worked for his own good, his labor should
| be- productive and In the interest Of the
| state. that he may be rs far as possible
/ help to pay the expense OF his trial and
| conviction
| This should be done strictly upon busl-
ness lines. keeping always In sight. how
| ever. the improvements OF the convicts
| condition 1 have therefore endeavOred
10 keep all able-bOdieo persons employed
| under careful and humane regulations,
as will appear from the fact that during
| the fiscal year, the convicts have made for
| themselves after performing the task fixed
by the superintendent. over work, when IL
| was needed by the company. in one month
q 10. and in the twelve months Of the
hscal year li.2s205 as shown I'm statement
| NO. 3.
| The work at the farm Is necessarily light
| on account OF the large number employed
there.
DISCIPLINE.
II must be borne I'm mind that an in
stitution Of this kind where there are
nearly LOO persons confined, nearly all
| OF whom are men. and many Of them
| desperate and vicious. strict discipline
must be enforced. II has been my en-
deavor to do this in firm but kind
manner.
The laws OF the State very properly al
low large discretion to the Supeuntend-
emit l have used this authority with the
greatest care possible each case is
tried and settled upon its own merits.
The punishment is certain though not
necessarily severe for Wilful violation or
the rules. For IL is the certainty rath-
or than the severity that carries with
il the fear of punishment. As an evil
dence OF the fine discipline in tho pris-
on and shops the inspector Of the insur-
ance company. after q careful survey
was able 10 take the risk OF the Shoe
Company here for less than one-fOurth
the same company charged in Sing Sing.
We owe II 30 the fact that our discipline
Is so well preserved that we are able TO
retain the business and valuable contract
of the Shoe Company.
Notwithstanding the crowded condition
Of our cells no serious trouble has oc-
CURED during the year
The discipline at the farm has been
well maintained. A small mutiny occur
red in the early spring with squad OF
prisoners at the tobacco plant beds,
across the river. Some twenty-five per-
sons were engaged i'm wedding tho plants
in charge Of three guards il being i'm the
woods one Of the prisoners. Riddick
Christmas. approached q guard 10 make
a request when near enough squirted
tobacco juice in the guards eyes and
seized his gun. In the struggle Of the
guard TO retain his gun he was thrown
20 the ground, the prisoner with several
others started TO run, was fred upon by
the guards, two loads took effect on
Christmas. bringing him down and
wounding him Blood poison set in and
he died a month later. one prisoner
only. James Mallory escaped.
The prompt action Of the guards firing
upon the escaping convicts (Which / COM
mended them for) had wholesome ef-
feet and there has been no further in
subOrdnation.
our experience very clearly demon
strates that it is practical TO work pris-
oners or the farm.
REFORM.
The chief object In view should be the
refoi nation Of the prisoner, SO that al
the conclusion Of his term Of sentence
he may go back TO the community
wiser and a better man. If that can be
effected. but al any rate warned that he
cannot indulge IN crime without mourning
punishment The good there IS in q per-
son ought 10 bc developed and cncour-
aged. but there are men and women who
are deaf to reason and have TO be taught
fear OF the law il they will not respect H..
II Is generally conceded that the moral
reformation of the unfortunate viOlatOr
Of the law should be the first object 10
be considered. and no punishment should
ever he inflicted without bearing this in
mind. The question IS a broad one and
omen 10 a wide field OF discussion. IL
bears not only upon the correction Of the
lawless but embraces the wide field Of
prevention OF crime. The convict goes
out a better or worse man. as the case
may be; his example and influence are
beneficial or pernicious 20 society. and
he becomes q good citizen or renewed
vlolator Of the law. This question Of re-