The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-28

~ was iounu necessary to put ain extra
man IN the service in order that prsoners
MI. sn = De promptly moved after conviction
hibit L. '"n ~ "a
VALUATION OF PROPERTY.
Exhibit NJ is a table showing the valua-
oion of lands, buildings, permanent I'M
urovements and an other property belong.
Ing to the State penitentiar,es, as follows.
Total value Of penitentiary
properly October sl,1sss. ;. so, 665, las A. !
Total value of penitentiary
property November l. 1885,. 2,a40,0S 90
Increase in value Of pen;ten-
taary property since Novem-
& peu \. 1873 .......-..........S 225,059 81
4 HUNTSVILLE PENrrENTlARY.
The prison. Wynne farm and Wood ca,nn
comprise department under the sursr-
vision of Captain j. G. smither, whc.is
ability, long experience and uniting en-
ergy place him among the foremost prison
men of the country. AS discipiuarian
and manager he has been most yal,lable
aid to the business department. and his
carefully prepared report is considered a
complete and satisfactory showing of each
branch Of the service under his manage
ment.
RUSk PEN1TENT1ARY.
This prison. with adjacent camps, is
managed by Judge j. p. Gibson, assistant
superintendent, whose splendid character
as a msn and whose faithful discharge OF
duty have done much TO improve in every
way the condition Of the department under
hls charge. Mr.. N. NJ. Harrison, assistant
financial agent, has given the business
m orc fl1p nd oap nt,,a
ment, practicing the greatest economy, and
deserves full share OF credit for the bet
ter outcome at this prison. We can not
indulge the hope that the Rusk industries
will ever prove to be q source of profit TO
the system, unless some method should be
found by which ore can be mined and fuel
obtained at less cost than now.
GENERAL REMARKS AND RECON-
AdENDATIONS.
In remarking upon the general outcome
Of the business Of the penitentiaries for the
past two years 1t mlst be said that re-
suits have not been altogether satisfactory
TO the management Of this department,
even If it should be the pleasure Of the
honorable psnltentiary commissioners to
state THAT the service meets their approval.
The business affairs OF the penal institu-
tions of Texas require more business talent
than lis generally believed to be necessary
to properly and safely conduct them, aud
whitn 1t is remembered THAT the industries
are lafgs and varied, the farming industries
immense, and an army of 4576 men must
be clothed, fdi and otherwise provided for.
there rs nouhing remarkable in the state
ment. or admission. THAT the, results are
ncit entirely as hoped FOR. end dlhdt the best
~, bias ,rst at oil ijyt1s
cised 1t is however, gratifying to be able
to clearly show that the system has stead
by improved in every branch.
In netting THE fact that the industries
have not been profitable, you are reminded
that all convict made goods are put on The
market ait ~ decided advantage. the pre-
judice against them forcing reduction OF
price, and notwithstanding it Is true that
the penitentlaries are today Offering as
good, If not the best waiter Pipe made IN
this country, the management has Deen
forced to hose business, even when BIDS
have been made at lower figures than Of
feYwd by fOundries outside OF the state.
The very best material ubtalnable. ana
equal to that Used in other manufactures,
hiss been purchased. for the construction cf
first GLASS wagons and boilers. and yet Tue
nrSes must be lowered to Offset the pre)u-,
dice menttcned. hence it wIl appear piatii
TO YOU why during tunes OF closest conpe-
tit9pn and marrow margins az protit, the
snltentlary Industries have failed TO earn
what vie w.Mld term reiisonapie proii.s'
and In some departments show loss.
Reforms have been undertaken ana &C
chief among which has peen
the change In contracts by which the ieea-
ing of all outside forces Is TO be dole "
ilhe state. With view to unlizlng ramos
owned by the State ard labor heretofore
a successful experiment, Uotn
cnt Huntsville and Rusk, has been al ,as
nv which IL has been demonstrated tnal !
high grade of cigar and B(iy tooacco ean
he produced on lands near poun piHSs
and sold at profitable prices. Espse. ~
teptiun has been given to gardening 4liu
truck growing at the prisons, and at an
caa,ups for the double purpose OF furn'sn,
inc vegetable food to the prisoners sI.'
teuchiug. as far as possible, the VsluSu.e
lesson Of diversifying crops by ac'ua.
ns,rience in planting, cultav'ating ana -,
gathering ths products. since ios4, an
,yn.il this year. the State farm a, haf. &C.,
has made "a light cane crop, caused py vi
favorable seasons in that partlous, -
cality since that time, but even unIel phe,e
t,.vi,,g circumstances the revenues NAYS
haen sufficient to show consluefapie
urosit. / rei;erate, as stated IN my t'e
vio,,s report. that the policy snou.a se Y"
ia I'M ON State account. "atner p'an ~
Nnue the Objectionable plan Of leas,ns
,h, sorces In support Of this recommends
tsnn vou are respectfully referred 10 ex,
MIMI " wherein 1t Is shown that the aaho
o,It,ivaHes, mn Harlem farm has gwen re-
,,.a.,,s In the way Of net profits anountlng
w nver s25 per acre per annum the p,sl
T,hene Is no reason to beil,'e that we
,,.nitanttsrles will Iced appropriations
,,,,5e for their support the next Two years,
MT as a matter OF providing nfsansl iosots
NV fire failure IN crops. or misioftuhe "
~ o',y lind II IL recommended tlat the lsual
.,r,,,,sorr "a lions be made, with the prov.to
~ ~ mo arc rot To be used unless apso-
,.,.ss,v 'needed The present approximation
for conveying prisoners from ,a'is 70 va "a
prisons and refcrmatory, ana s1a s,r
from this office. should ne ses =,
maj rirrose, and 1t 10 hoped = nleis'
an,o,pnt will be appropriated for ene ~ ns-
m a. the library and for htesaluIe ~
,,rsnneqs. This is Of great i'nr ortance UNA
sho,ad be urgently requested
neeply appreciating the considera' on
IA Uniform courtSEy bestowed urpn ns
10 INA governor OF the ~tase and vnrr .r q, :
crshIe board at all times. ami Erlte.uhy
yer,embsrane the valuable advice aeI -
IL Vance rendered this israrfinent by coi2.
nsJ y, NJ. Opeuheimer while r1elnpfT O.
nc ~nsrd md earnestly Acknowledge
.%s oh,,gatio,s due 20 every Of icial an
s,n,,love on the system, without exception.
~. vsiuahle cc-ope-,ti,n an 81 lance
III, ri renort Is respectfully submitted. Your
our>l'SAs Financial Agent