The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-15
THE YEAR AT THE
PENITENTIARY
Statistics and Recommendations OF
Superintendent Report
APPARENT PROFIT OF $4,000.
Aside From tho Statistical Tables the
Report H. Barren OF Interesting
Features or Recommendations.
Need for More Cell Room.


The document is interesting to those who
relish penal statistics. Of which the re-
port principally consists. The remarks
OF The Superintendent form comparatively
a small portion OF the report, and contain
nothing that Is particularly striking or
impofa ont. The apparent profits Of the
institution for the year are $4,000. The
report follows:
TO the Honorable Board Of Directors,
Virginia Penitenuary;
Gcuuemou-It Is my pleasure to present
this my report for the fiscal year just
ended
The tables give such a clear insight in
e the management OF he institution that
deem 10 unnecessary To- add but little in
further explanation. We practically have
no idle men i'm the prison. The Davis Shoe
Company readily employs all the able
bodied men with satisfactory terms-L G.,
those having over one year sentence,
while the shOrt-term men and those disa-
blcd are retained In the prison but a short
While before being sent to the farm.
To furnish the Shoe Company with the
requisite number not less than 1850 must
with this company from a health
and financial standpoint-has proven so
satisfactory that through the sanction Of
the Governor and your honorable Board
have deemed It expedIent to extend the
lease unu the year 1913.
Never before has the institution shown
such a cash balance TO its credit. nor have
the conditions Of the prison been better.
NEED FOR MORE CELLS.
The lack Of cell room and the faulty
system of sewerage is a constant menace
TO the heath Of the inmates. and We're
II not tina. the prisoners were kept 50
much OF their time out Of their cells. this
lack Of cell room and bad sewerage would
doubtless largely increase the death rate.
Should we at any time be so unfortunate
as 90 be visited by an epidemic OF small
pox whic'i has been constantly threaten
ing all this past year. our work would
be Immediately stopped for months or lon
ger. In this event the prisoners would be
forced o. confinement both day and night
I'm the cells. and dire consequences might
result.
I would sircnuously urge the importance
Of the Legislature making such appro-
pri3tions as will enable the improvements
20 De made according to the plans TO be
presented.
The cost OF the maintenance, number Of
escapes. cost of transportation and health
OF inmates are clearly shown in the ac-
Companying tables.
This has not been such a successful year
with the farm from a financial standpoint.
the heavy freshets. followed by drought.
so retarded the working Of the land that
the crops We're much shortened II stu
serves. however. an excellent purpose i'm
its support of the superfiuous men from
the prison.
I advocate the purchase OF the land adj
i0inirF owned by Mr. Tucker. believing
80 90 Doe for the advantage Of the state.
CONDITIONAL PARDON ACT.
For the first time in some years our re-
port shows much decrease IN our number
from The year before. This Is accounted
for largely by the Conditional Pardon
Law. This law has worked we'll but /
renew the recommendations made in my
last report as 10 amending the law I'm two
particulars. First. that the law should
not apply % those with sentences Of less
than two years. and second. that those
who have kept the prison rules five years
continuously just prior to their time of
application, should be allowed the priv
uege of the law.
i would also suggest this change I'm the
general law, that when a prisoners time
expires on Sunday, he may be released on
Saturday. ii so often happens that pris-
oners when released on Sunday. are de-
tanned In the city the whole day by rea-
son OF the trains. which they must take.
not running on Sundays. They are left
here frequently without a cent I'm their
pockets; or. II they have It when released
from the prison, are robbed Of Il by the
sharks before Monday morning
The discipline has been wei maintained
through the efficient services of my corps
of officers and guards. TO whom / extend
my sincere thanks.
My thanks are also extended to those
who have so diligently labored for the
moral welfare OF the unfortunates, and in
this connection 1 would recommend legis-
lation requiring the appointment Of a
chaplain at fixed salary.
Thanking you. gentlemen of the Board.
for the kindness which you have inva-
riably shown me. ! am
Yours respectfully.
G.. VI. HELMS. Supt.
SOME STATISTICS.
The statistics of the operations Of the
prison and farm contain the Following:
Statement No. /. showing profit and loss
account az Virginia penitentiary:
Labor permanent Improvement. 66l 10
Garden........ ............ ........ S1ig ~
Men al CAPITOL Square Grciuding
pay OF guards .......... .......... 1881 %
Criminal expenses earnings OF
guards and yan).......... ......... Az %
Gate fees Qrom yisitors)............ $50
Stanie...'.... .................. ...... 1851 -
Hres.......... ............ .......... ~ 81 10
Total....... ....... ......~.....sl27. ssi OF
DEBTS.