Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.

~ - L y
Superintendent George NJ. lem, III HlS
report 10 the board, says: ~,
1t Is my pleasure TO report me lii9 tI.-
ton in a healthful condition from every
standpoint. The net pronts mere an l ~ y, Iiis
farm are SjT.l2T.2S, a gain Of $2.S2@ over
last year. Since the contract win tne
Davis Shoe Company was frst made III
1850 inauguratng the system Oh Wothlh6
convicts on a large scale within the prison
walls. the penitentiary has ceased 70 De
a burden upon the treasury OF the stare.
While the original contract called TOT
only 200 men. as the demand FOR the pro
ducts of the company has grown so year
by wear have more men been alded 10
the contract. and relatively the revenues
of the prison have increased.
IL is proper for me TO state mere thaI
nv term of Office commenced three
months after the beginning or the llscdl
wear. Prior TO my induction INTO Once
Iarus Il Brother declined 70 renew thelr
cottract which expired October %, 1897,
and the administration made an addluonal
contract with the Davis Boot ana ShOe
COMPANY for 100 men. The contracts Win
this cOmpany now call Tor 80 men az
minimum. and all the women, WIN ,, tne
continuance OF an elastic cause SallIhs
far more men as they may need them;
For more than six months prior 10 me
time that this last contract was hI9 t.
me company had been from time 10 tlile
working as many as 800 men-Some lihoa
more and sometimes less. BY this last
contract they Were not required 10 ldhe
ON more men than they were then WoIh-
ing so that at the expiration OF me
contract with Larus ~ brother snt ~ o.
80, In their employment were left IDLE
Ca their coils at a loss to the STATE OF
ovar eco per day. The change In the con-
troct necessitated n change in the rae
tories at a cost of over 5000 anu MOI III
three months and more We're the men
fro,o the tobacco contract gotten on the
abatement
made not as a criticism OF the WISDOM
~ the change. but only 10 account LOT
the falling or OF the revenue IoI tIo
1uarter OF the year ending at the com
mencement of my ADMINISTRATIONS "s
shown i'm Statement No D. -.
Tnrther examination of this statement
ebows that OF the sol 1852 drawn from
the treasury, &I.55i.43 was checked out
during this first quarter. Oh TINS 49,
5000 may properly be stylea 49, ,o o. 80 ~,
expended for the change In the toDavCo
huildIng: 81. 500 for a quantity or wooiieh
10th thought at a bargain, over $-'v'o
worth OF which Is still unused.
The last quarter, as shown In TINS siase
,rent presents the largest amount ue-
nnsited I'm any quarter In the history or the
INSTITUTION. The cash balance TO our
cradit this wear Is about Sl2.OO less imam
Iast year. and Is accounted Tor by the
& oO0 extraordinary expense JUST puVtsu ;
about s. 800 for the endorsement OF sno
hpsnital, over $50 for stable. and other
nasb expenditures for improvements, ut
~ form and about the prison, all or
ub,ch are accounted for as assets In
Statement No. 2, and about 500 for an adj
dltional guard, necessitated by the chahse
I'm the contracts ,,,
az ~ IMPROVEMENTS.
In view of the crowded condition OF
,ha cells I regret that the Legislature
cnuld not find IL consistent with us view
os 80 Inc financial condition OF the state
40 aIlow an expenditure for the enlarge
ment OF the building. ,.,,.
The messing Of the prisoners besides
beIng detrimental to the health OF the