The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-02-11
THE WORKHOUSF.
A REPORT OF THE CONDITION
OF THE INSTITUTION.
what Has Been Accomplished Thus
Far and what Mey BE Accomplish
ed in the Future-The Self Sus
tanning Period is Near.


ed In the Future-The Self Sus
tanning Period Is Near.
The directors Of the workhouse have
compl, ted their report for the year ending
Decem ber 81, 1896. The cash expendi.
lures amounted TO Sl6, 1880 The
receipts amounted to se,Os.9s, including
s9se. co. "due for boarding prisoners and
sale OF stone" Ttis brings the cash
balarce down to $40, s9O.9 92. Against
this sum the value Of stone donated to
Pltin township, of labor on Canal
Fulton and Loui willie roads, and Of In
proving workbouse grounds, amounted
20 $500, and should stand as a set-off
against the cash deficit, thus bringing
the net actual cost OF maintaining the
institution down TO s5,790.3s. This of
course, does not t,ke into consideration
the interest on the bonds, and las to do
with operating expenses only. The
directors continue:
"we would II your attention to the
fact when you appointed this board of
directors in December, 1898, and turned
the workhouse over to said board, there
was practically nothing to turn over but
an Unfinished building without even any
furniture or fixtures. And the grounds
about the building being low and
swampy, we were first compelled to con-
struct walk from the street t) the build
ing by filing in with dirt, flanally step
after step was taken towards the compile
tion and equipment Of the Institution and
the Improvement of the grounds.
Further the institution was turned
over to us, without fund to equip or
maintain IL, and the first K levy for It's
support was made In April 1894
$50, practically, the institution was
carried along for one year without fund
for its support, and the imprel sion went
out that the workhouse was an extrava-
CANT affair because its fund was continu-
ally short We ask you to treat us only
fairly, and make your comments about
our institution honestly and impartially.
"Our aim is to conduct the work
house In the best manner possible,
and to obtain results for which the in
stltution is intended.
Number of prisoners received during
gear Ct 1896 was 705; number received
during 1895, 800; mum ber received since
orga iznticn, !, 1,449; received from ether
during '96, 1856.
"Other counties are paying us for short
term prisoners 40 cent per day per peIs n
1--WE would again suggest and recon-
mend that an electric light plant be
erected on the workbouse grounds for
The purpose Of lighting the workhouse
and fur nishing the light and power for
he courthouse, the county Jail and the
county inflrmary, where individual oil
amps are now used.
We ask that If it is possible, you ar
ange with the county treasurer to cash
he vouchers in payment for salaries Of
'ur guards and help. Some of our mer |
ire now paying a discount Of SO In $50
or the each for their monthly pay.
"Our institution is likely the first penal
Institution in the state to employ its
abor on the public highways"
The statistics show that of 705 persons
eceiVed, 642 were men and SO women.
FOR climbing on railroad cars 900 persons
we're received. Drunkenness brought 121 |
eTsons, vsgrancy 7s, petit larceny, so,
ssault and battery "a. Ohio was the
lace of nativity of 229 prisoners, Penn
ylvania 1874, Germany 4s, New York As,
reland Ss, and Engl md 27.
The trades which the prisoners assumed
o follow are classified, the list including
81 laborers, 25 miners, 81 farmers, 90
'ainters, 16 cooks, four photographers,
ne pia nist, one stenographer, one swim
ling instructor, one teacher and one
oliticisn.