Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-16
THE STATE PRISON
Will No Longer be a Burden on
Tax Payers.
The Legislature of 1901 win Havo no poni-
tentinry Problem to Deal With a State
mont by Niessrs. Travis and Ncwland.

Raleigh, N. c., Sept. 15.-Yesterday
Messrs. Il. l.. Travis and w. c. New
land drew warrant on the State
Treasurer under Chapter 67s of the
Laws of 1899, for $4,000 the remainder
of the appropriation made by the last
Legislature for the support of the
States Prison for the year 1900 They
had previously drawn $4,000, the ap-
preparation being $4,000.
The State Treasurer declined to pay
the warrant on the ground that there
was no money in the treasury. Refer
ring to this matter. the Press Visitor
yesterday afternoon said:
State Treasurer Worth, in reply to
a reporters question, stated this morn
ing that few months since the pen
itentiary drew $4,000 from the treas
ury on the appropriation of $50 900 pro-
vided by the institution for this year,
in case it should be needed. To-day
the authorities asked for the remain
ing $4,000. and warrant was given
them. but the money will not be paid
until 1t is in the treasury. The State
has not the funds on hand now to pay
the $4,000.
Treasurer Worth says that the pen
itentiary drew 500, 400 from the State
ture provided for as n loan. but that
none of it has ever been paid back, but
instead demand has been made for the
full $4,000 appropriated for this year"
Last night reporter of the News
and Observer asked Messrs. Travis and
Newland whether it was true that un
der their administration the peniten-
tiary had borrowed any money from
the State treasury. They said:
THE States prison has not, since we
were connected with 1t, borrowed mo-
ney from any one. The appropriation
for each of the years 1899 and 1900 was
not loan, but Il direct and absolute
appropriation. as will be seen by refer
ence to chapter GO of the laws of 1899.
The purpose of the Legislature in
making those appropriations was to
put the prison in position TO run on
cash basis as near as is practica BILE
in an institution of that character. At
the end of the year 1899. after paying
all expenses. we had enough money
left to have more than repaid the $780,
600 appropriation which we had used
If the Legislature had directed us to
do so. But If that had been ordered.
we would have had to run this year on
credit. BY the use of that money,
however, we were enabled to run the
institution until now without drawing
upon the appropriation for this year.
except for $4,000 during August which
was used in the erection OF an electric
plant. With the $4,000 for which we
made application to-day we would be
enabled to run to the close OF this year
without spending any money derived
from this years crops, so that at the
end of the year we would have no debts
and have produce on hand worth at
least 100000. This produce consists
mainly of about 1.400 bales of cotton
and cotton seed therefrom. about 5000
bushels of peanuts. $4,000 worth of
henf cattle In addition 10
what will be needed for the institution
and also a large quantity of brick.
This showing will put the States
prison a year ahead instead of year
behind, as 1t has heretofore been, and
enable it to run in the future without
any other appropriations. and with
proper management it should never
cost the taxpayers another cent.
"a great deal of the money expended
has been for permanent improvements.
When we took charge the,convicts were
without clothes, they were sleeping on
beds that We're worn out, dirty and full
of vermln--not fit for hogs. The sani-
tary condition and the plumbing of the
Central Prison was so bad that 1t re-
CURED an expenditure Of $4,000 to put 1t
in clean and healthy shape. there We're
no provisions on hand, the stock on the
farms was Old worn-out, rundown and
almost worthless, the buildings on the
farms We're in IL dilapidated condition,
farming implements were worn out and
broken and the whole institution in a
state of wreck and decentralization. We
have spent 100000 in re-cQuipping the
institution in every branch. We found
them paY1nG- OFT nnafl5-- 500 -me4atii-
for lights, and we have installed an
electric plant, one of the finest any
where. that will furnish far better
lights and sufficient power to run all
the machinery of the institution at
much less than the lights alone cost
when supplied by an outside company.
This plant cost about $4,000. The sani-
tary condition has been so improved
that it is now all that could be desired.
Convicts have been given abundant
good clothing and every one has been
furnished with new iron cot and new
beds: we have re-stocked the farms
with new teams at a cost of about S12.-
600: we have purchased the shirt plant
for $4,000. which is turning out an aver
age of over 100 dozen shirts day, for
which we get so cents dozen. against
20 cents paid the old management, and
have put everything in flrst-class con-
dition.
I'm view of the improvements made
and the successful conduct of the oper-
atoms of the penitentiary, we are sur
prised that any one should say that
the pententiary is not self-supporting.
The Legislature for the first time will
have no penitentiary problem
ATcO MUCH LOVED MAN.