The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-09
TO ElNL .AlR / i: THE | II
PElylTE:llII,AlR|Y'.
Board Of Visitors Outline a Scheme,
10 That End.
HEARING BEFORE COMMITTEE.
Tho Prison is Too Crowded. and it j
Proposed TO Enlarge on a PiarPsc
For,s, by the ofRcials-To Visit
the Penitcntiary To-day.

The first step looking TO an approprla-
4ion 10 provide increased cell room at the
pen:tentiary was taken yesterday, Wheh
Joint meeting of the Senate Sommlt1ee
on Public Institutions and the House
Committee on Asvlums and Prisons heard
members of the Board of Visitors OF the
psniten;iary outline a scheme LOT me az
d.tional buildings The plan outlined con-
templates additions 10 cost $4,000. but 1T
is believed by having the brick made at
;he State farm this amount could be con-
t,idcrably decreased. The Committees VIII
this afternoon visit the penitent!ary
The meeting yesterday was held In the
Senate Chamber at ) o'clock. Those pres
ent were Senator Morris Cchairman), Sen
ators lie Cato. keezell, EsSleston. Slakey
and Op;e, and Delegates 1arvei, Wat
iiDs, Tyler and EIuce-
Mr.. iIarman. i member OF the perlten-
tiary Board, was the first gentleman 10
la. BEARD. He sid there are 1,1S5 male
convic,s confined in 1871 cells. and 50 W.
men in a separate building. The cells
arc Very much ovcrcrowdcd, even the
small ones. From four TO thrty-sevcn
men arc confined in u cell. In the large
rooms the men sleep i'll tiers. reaching
their places by use Of ladders.
He explained that the contract with the
Davis Boot and Shoe Company REQUIRED
nearly loo convicts TO be kept at the
penlteniiary. AS far as possible, the sick
and weak among the conyictS are Kept
at the farm.
THE BOARDS plan.
Mr. Herman outlined the plan 10 Sc
cure additional room. The scheme pro-
viii f,r ,n5a n s01 cODNictS
four TO a cell. The addition is to be
made of brick. Baths laundry, kitchen,
ETC.. would be placed in the basement or
the building. The detailed cost o. the ad-
dition was outlined. The total cost of the
new building was estimated at $4,000.
The estimate was on the basis Of en-
ployulent OF outside labor for nearly all
the work. 1t was brougt out in respons e
10 a question as TO whether convict LABOR
would be employed.
The net earnings-money paid ln,o me
State treasury-during the past three
Years would about equal the amount
which the addition was projected TO cost.
Mr.. Chesterman, another member OF
the Board. was deeply impressed with the
necessity of enlarged cell room. At pres
cnt the conditions due 10 want Of room
initiated very greatly against reforms
tion or Improvement of the morals O.
co-victs. lie was sure the plan outlined
by Mr.. Hartman was the most feasible
and practical. Continuing, he asserted
that the modern penitcntiarS consisted
Of steel single cells. The very hig!,
cl,ided the building of such an addition
now.
Mr. Chesterman suggested that the COM
1nittee would best go to inc institution.
investigate and see whether the Board S
plans could be improved upon.
Questions developed The estimate of s1e,-
900 for providing closet for each cell
with suitable and necessary pipes 10 carry
off the sewerage. This is hot provided
for in the estimate outlined by Mr.. l1ar-
man.
DR., Benjamin Harrison. surgeon to the
penitentiary. who followed Mr. Chester
man. was very earnest and decided il
the belief that the sewerage of the peni-
Tertiary should be improved. The present
bucket system was very inadequate and
prejudicial 10 the health of the men
In some ofSthe large cells there were
as many as twenty or twenty-five buck
cts.
ABNORMAL CRIMES.
In reply to the question whether ab
normal crime did not prevail to great
extent in the pcnitentiary, Dr. Harri
son stated that such was true. The
budding together of the men was largel,
responsible for that deplorable condition
of affairs.
Mr.. Chesterman. recalled again, sale
that he thought the brick reeded for the
addition could be secured from the Stat.
farm. thus saving a large item Of The
estimated expense. About 2,3Go,eJo bricl
would be required.
Major Helms. superintendent OF tht
penitentiary, was called. he added
nothing. however. to the information thar
had been elected.
The committee adjourned to meet a
tho penitcntiary at o'clock this after
noon.