The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-13
HORRORS OF THE
STATE PRISON
Terrible Sanitary Condi-
tiOns That Exist.
SCIENCE VS.. FACT.
Fertile Field for Kennan Right Here
in Richmond.
AUTHORITIES VAIN APPEAL.
All the Officials Join In Urging the
Importance of Establishing
Better Facilities for the
Care Of Virginia's
Wards. Though
Criminals.
AUTHORITIES VAIN APPEAL.

TO inform themselves as to the conditions
which obtain at the Virginia peniten-
tiarv. When the public tires Of the atroci-
ties OF the Siberian convict system ana
the distresses and troubles OF Cuoa no
longer interest, we are told the noted rec
turcr would do we'll to book dates for
lvccum tour of lectures on the condition
of the prison here in our own Richmond.
A movement to bring to the attention
of the public the state OF affairs at TINS
institution has been inauSurated. there
will be a meeting tomorrow afternoon TO
draw up Il paper and petition to the Leg
islature on the subject, which VIII be gen
erallv circulated throughout the State.
1t is believed that the public has only TO
be informed of the facts in the case TO De
so aroused on the subject that the Leg
islature will move, and move quickly IN
the matter.
Those interested in this movement state
that the trouble is simply that the cell
room in the prison is entirely ana aito-
cather inadequate for the number OF men
therein confined. Consequently there Is
condition of over-crowdng when results
in Il state of affairs which a Wen known
lawyer of Richmond, who has known the
pententiary we'll and long, When seen yes
terdav stated could match anything the
convict prisons of Siberia have to ollei.
WHAT He GETS.
Scientists tell us that healthy man
requires 1000 cubic feet of space, that is,
. room measuring say, 10 by 10 by TO-
Yesterday there were i14l male prisoners
in the prison There are only l92 cells III
the male prison. The condition OF over
crowding in these cells is necessarily
fearful For instance, to select ieW ceiis
at random: Cell No. $50 measures "A ieet
in length % feet inches in width, ana
10 feet 3 inches in height. 1t therefore
contains 5l0l cubic feet. Last night there
were confined in it % men. RMS allows
an average of l76 cubic feet per man. or
about one-siXth the amount which special-
lists say is absolutely necessary Cel NO
1863 measures II feet 10 inches by 10 Ieet
8 inches by feet in height. It, therefore
contains 1876 cubic feet. In 1t last night
- men were confined which allows an
average space of 153 cubic feet. or ABOUT
one-seventh the amount said to be neces-
sarv TO take one more instance-these
are selected at random and SHOW the
general condition:
AWFUL CONDITIONS.
Cell No 40 measures feet inches by
| & feet ) inches by 8 feet in height 1t
therefore contains 49, cubic feet OF space
about the amount usually allowed ail
oyercoat or two and u palf OF fupiei
shoes less than half necessary Tor one
man Last night it contained four mr;i'
which meant an average allowance per
man of I2D cubic feet OF space, or less
than one-eighth the amount necessary
| In connection with this subject 1t Is To
| be. remembered that there Is no criticism
! or fault found with the officials or Their
| administration of the affairs OF the PRISON
| All agree that they are doing their very
| best in view of the awful conditions which
| surround them. There is also no crlti-
! cism of the female portion OF the prison.
| which is amply adequate for All require
| mentS.
f, The trouble is simply that there is not
| enough room for the melt me estapiisii-
[ ment Of the State farm has helped and the
[ establishment OF the conditional pardon
| system has helped, but the conditions we
| are told are still of a character when
cannot be described in the pubic press
Dr. Charles V Darlington, the surgeon
| OF the penitentiary. states III MS recent
| annual report to the Governor that he
! could write 4 volume upon the horrors
| OF the badly ventilated filthy cells, and
| 1ha inhumanity of croWding men IN
/ them In speaking of the fearful over
| crowding.'' he states that this horrible
| condition of affairs necessarily induces
| crime and disease.
Superintendent Helms, in his report,
| tlwells upon the need of more cell room,
| and states that the conditions are such
| that the only relief must be in the en-
| largement of the buildings
| The report of the Board of Directors is
| equally emphatic on this subject.
AS TO THE COST.
The movers in this matter call attention
| to the fact that the penltentlafy would IN
| four or five years build a building Tor IL
! self.
Some fifteen years ago the penitentiary
| cost the State about $4,000 year 1t now
turns into the treasury of the State about
| $40, 900 net profit every year
There is no system of sewerage at the
pen,tentiary and the unsanltary condi-
| ton resulting from this begsdrs all &C.
scription. Those who are Skepttcal as TO
| whether, at our own doors there IS Such
| a disgrace upon the fair name of Virginia.
| are invited to so ana see. Afterwards the
| sufferings OF the Cuban reconcentradoes
| in the days of the Weyler regime Will be
| tame reading in comparison, we are told.
y leading circuit judge of Virginia than
whom none stands higher in the State
when seen yesterday, stated that should
a private individual or corporation con-
duct an establishment in the style in
which Virginia conducts her peniteatiars'.
The matter would be in the criminal
courts at once.
Is the condition of the penitentiary a
disgrace to our State? 1t is said q visit
to our institution will be helpful in conf
ing to a correct view of the matter.
The organizers OF this movement be-
lieve that inhumanity and suffering here
in Richmond will move Richmond and
Virginia as much as does similar inhu-
manity and suffering when found in the
uttarmost ends of the earth.
Is the time coming when the condition
of the Virginia penitenriary will be the
subject of Indignation meetings In Cuba
Some think the cities of Siberia may