Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-01-05

into the daily and yearly life of these institu-
tions, the greater Will be the benefit accruing |
TO the people and to those who are the objects |
of the states benevoience- condition up, |
pronching the desired status hos now obtained
for several years. 1t should be amplihed ana |
extended |
THE PENAL INSTITUTION.
Two years ago we were approaching period
when thore was warrant for saying that the |
penitentinry was about to become selt-sus- |
tanning. This desirable condition was actually |
realized for five months and IL would have
been maintained but for the advanced prices In
most food products. material for clothing and
other articles consumed In the institution The
losses of the penitentinry, based on compar-
ison OF the annual earnings with the yearly
current expenses, including the per diem OF
managers, and the salaries OF the officers and
guards, have decreased. Such losses in 1896,
were s57 800 50; in 1897 S34 75 SO; in 1893. s2s-
s709s; while the loss for 1899 is only $40, ,3i3ea
This shows most clearly that we are slowly
coming to that period when the taxpayers OF
Ohio will not be called upon to contribute any
thing toward meeting the expenditures neces-
sary in the management of their penal insti-
tuition, unless there be changes authorized In
the industrial employment OF the present
population, involving expensive experiments
that may be wanting in practical results and
bring no benefits either to the public or the
prisoner.
G financial way for the benefit of the taxpaying
public. have all been obtained without dimin-
ishing the supply Of wholesome food or SUM-
| cient clothing The watchful care over the
| general health Of the prisoner has not been
ana NO IS sr 70 m
mates are receiving due and just consideration,
and the efforts heretofore made toward better
| ing their conditions, are appreciated and ap-
proved by public sentiment and sympathy.
All the buildings within the prison enclosure
are In good condition, excepting the insane
| of the inmates. The old cells in the blocks
| erected when the prison was built do not per-
init such accommodation as the best sanitary
demands seem to require but whether 1t would
be prudent or economical to change these,
when conditions may require the location and
building of new penal institution within the
next decade, is to be determined 1t is GER
| tain, however, that the penitentiary. as ut
present constituted. cannot accommodate com
fortably more than 1000 prisoners. The space
at command will not permit OF large increase
OF prison population over that number and
sanitary precautions would seem to dictate
200 prisoners as the maximum. The state
| should, ut some time in the near future, pro-
vide modern, adequate and proper prison for
| such females rs are now sentenced to the peni-
tentiary The present buildings for that de-
partment are virtually disgrace to the state.
great change for the better in the physical
condition Of ali the penitentiary buildings and
enclosures has come during the administra-
tion of its present managers and warden. In
| 1895 serious deterioration OF the state property
at the penitentiary was evident; the grounds
presented an unkempt appearance and the
streets and walks were IN miserable repair; pair
doubtful whether there is cleaner prison in
the country.
sources for 1898 were 1913 072.s3; for 1882 1904.
09299 q total for the two years of 1923 16S. 81.
This shows an increase in the earning capacity
of the penitentiary OF s12J.l5U45. when COM
pared with the earnings OF s5O3,0l5.F during
the two preceding years The gross expenses
aTr @ M csrs sne per gneTds 1e Of en M
443el. and the like expenditures for 1853 were
1873 436ts. total for the two years OF s6.0,
SO. The total expenses during 1896 and 1891
for similar purposes we're 1895, 9.32. This in
crease in these expenditures Is accounted for
by the growth in the prison population The
/ datl afra N yynS In
1897 1t was 2,2ii; in 1898. 2,4.4, and in 1893
222L In other words there has been an aver
age of 100 more prisoners to feed. clothe and
guard each day during the last two years. The
daily per capita cost for maintenance for the
prison population has increased from 1854 cents
In 1896 to 1895 in 1897 to 1913 In 1895 and to 39
cents in 1899.
THE OHIO STATE BEFoRMAToRy.
The work OF construction at the state re-
formatory ut Mansfield has proceeded under
various difficulties, but q satisfactory out
come is to be expected in the near future. The
close Of the fiscal year was 81 osS g. leaving
q balance in the treasury 10 the credit Of the
construction account OF S14,sD. Work is now
proceeding upon the prison yard wall and east
cell and lateral wing The architects report
that the wall construction Is progressing salts
factor!ly. but that about 5000 will be required
, 10 complete it The stone and brick work o.
, the east cell and laleral wing hns been com
pleted ready Tor the roof but IL is probable tha
! the roof cannot be erected before the ensuln.
! spring 1t Is proposed chat there shall be som,
changes in the heating and ventilaaing ap
; paratus and in the cell block, and 1t is thought
! that such contracts will nearly exceed th1
balance OF the construction fund The archi
. tect's estimate OF the cost of ell the work /,
be done on the institution indicates that tn,
: total expenditure for the reformatory com
pleted Will be near 81 ,5O0,0o0. At the presen
: prices of material however, 1t is proba
BILE that this estimate would be exceeded
: The design OF the institution-that being
!. place for the reformation Of first oiense pris
oners between the ages of 10 and 3J-is appar
entity succeeding; at oil events, the officers o
: the Institution are extremely hopeful In thi
/ work. The average reformatory population
X for the year was 3i5, and of that numoe III
percentage OF obedience and good conduct un
: der the merit system was large. The parol
. system has been literally used, l73 parole
!, having been granted during 1922. The record
y show that only II per cent OF the paroled me
u have violated the rules under which they wer
e DISCHARGED Up TO this time. owing TO III
y be regarded in the light of an experiment; bu
). the results attained during the last year seer
y TO Indicate its ultimate success
. INSTITUTION STATISTICS.
q The whole number of inmates maintained
"a our IL state institutions for the year 1859 wa
u 20 35s. decrease from the preceding year OF q
The aggregate daily average mum ber of inmate
h In 1893 was 1850 increase over 1898 OF ia
+ In ls9S the amount expended for current e1
"a penses salaries of officers and expenses {
I, trustees, for the repairs and improvement
lr and gross expenditures, was S2,sis lOl.o9 1
n 1859 there was expended FOR the same purpose
the sum of -. 500. usl.ss, a decrease from 1898
NJ S25 Ol9. 20. The total net current expenses II
l. Guiding salaries and expenses of trustees. an
4 | crediting each Institution with the amount
ls its earnings money received from the cour
" tles,for clothing furnished inmates, from III
Y sale OF products. and other earnings) were
J. 1883 al $50 97dsl: in 1899. tsOoi .lg s6. an II
h crease OF Gi0i2i375. In 1898 the average pt
Is capita cost. based on the net current expense
e was slaL5a; in 1899 the average was slad.7 IS. q
,e increase OF s52d
,r AT the close OF the year 1898 there were 1873
l. inmates remaining in these institutions: Q
: the close OF the year 1899. there were Is ,77O,
r. decrease OF 7a The whole number of person
q employed including officers and teachers, G
" November 10, 1897, was ,9s9; on the same da
d in ls9s. the number had increased to . l2i:
IS 1892 II 2.l63 an increase OF lS2 in 1898 an
n over 1897, and an increase OF A. in 1879 ov,
1898
ie OHIO TN THE WAR WITH SPAIN
s. THE VOLUNTEERS. - The most importaI
e. duty devo.ving upon the executive branch
Is the state government during the period CO,
of cred by this message arose through the war
: the United States with Spain. Before pre-
= ceeding to give in somewhat particular deta
l. the services of the national guard and otht
is volunteers in that war, 1t may be we'll 10 meI
n tion the character OF the organization of th
8 national guard OF the state which obtained in
& medately prior 10 the declaration OF war. Th
le consolidated report OF the strength of th
20 | guard for the quarter ending March 81 lSQ