The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-07

and during the past two fiscal years has
contributed 20 the public treasury the net
sum of S16.l05@. t0-wit: S3o0s56 for me
year lso7-as. and A610S.56 for lS9S-M. The
expense of Transporting prisoners io ana
from the penitentiary. amounting uH"e'
Oh. new and economical SYSTEM % Dee
tween 5000 and 5000 per annum. is nor
included bon these figures. larger snow
m- would have been made for the hfst-
named wear. but for the imp .radye ne
cessity OF adding % the hospital Dullliliss
M tine prison and al the farm, and EN-
larging the pen.tentary Work SHOPS. bUI-
inc both wears "a large amount of perma-
n.nt Improvements have been made an
line state farm. The net cash revenue re-
manning I'm the treasury 20 the credit col
the penitantiary for the year just passed
IS The largest ON record While these fig
,res are gratifying from financial
standpoint. 1 am glad % be able 10 say
that I'm my judgment the prisoners are
emploved under system which is the
lest that could Doe hoped for so TAR as
their well-beug is concerned. Practically
speakine. all the cOuvcts are worked un-
der IN. eve of state officers. Exp .r.ence
has shown that the health of conv.cts is
better when they are employ d than "nen
tb.v are IDLE. and better under the exist
inc system than it was when prisoners
were hired out upon public works.
The chief revenues of the institution
comes from the hires received from the
Jos. Davis Boot and Shoe company.
puf the state farm has fulfilled the eS-
pectations INDUCED in when % was es-
.ablishcd The crops there were snort
the past year on account or great irtsh-
cts I'M the river which Hooded our Nalua-
bla low grounds 200 a. critical period, and
hv reason of dr0ughts later ON. But
ms "a usual thing the farm may he ZEE
lied upon to suprort the PRISONERS sent
there. "A large portion OF whom are more
ar loss unfit for work The farm is in a
high state of cultivation ana is very
rsr-ile The state owns 9i3 acres Of
land ON the north side of the James river.
and for several years past also has been
cultivatiug ON shares. The BEST part oI
Air. fuckers farm 0u the opposite side
~ the river An opportunity now pre-
cents itself for fhc state tO buy the
Tucker farm. AND. if bon your Judgment
-t, ,,ico .sked IS reasonable. and the
condition OF the States finances Will per-
mil would recommend that the pur-
..bsso no made We should not then be
having any greater rental than We are
now paying and would he Justihed IN
making improvements ih'I" Mih'h We
could not think of making "hlle We are
tenants.
tbc Stste sbould own more land do not
beiiove thai the number of prisoners at
the state farm can be increased material
Ia. in the near future. The contract with
Inc shoe Company. which recently has
been extended 10 the year 1913, viii re-
nuire the pcnitenfiary authorities 10 keep
hero I'm Richmond tWhere most OF the pro-
fits OF the institution are earned about
1.250 men and women. II follows there
fore that with an the relief the farm can
arord the ,eus in the mems department
al the penitent!ary must be deporabiy
crowded. There is ample room IN the
women's ward, but the men are packed
beyond the bounds Of decency. Not only
are these cells two few IN number. but
they are without sewer connections.
What is more, the necessity OF discipline
requires that when cell door Is closed
at night. it is not usually opened again
dll morning
The crowded condition Of the peniten
tiary has been the subject OF numerous
reports ana inquiries ana there never
has been any question at all as 10 the
reasonableness of the demand for more
cell-room. The moral and physical health
Of the priscl,ers-our duty to these
yretehed men and our duty 10 ourselves
alike urge that early steps be taken
looking 10 the enlargement OF the cell
house. The appeal IN this behalf is made
BY the officers OF the penitenuary 70 you
aud me with an the more commence DC
rause the Institution for many years paHi
has seen having = large net cash PROFIT
into the public treasury
CONDITIONAL PARDoNs.
Tha conditional pardon act passed at
the last session OF the legislature, has
been hailed as a blessing by the prisoners