The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-08

| wholesome water 1t has gradually gone
down during these three years, until to-
| day, the surface of the water is Is feet
below the outlet for the former overflow,
and it is every day growing lower. In
| view of the fact that this lake has furn-
ished heretofore such en- abundance OF
pure and wholesome water, it is matter
/ of universal regret, that from some cause,
natural or otherwise, that it seems inn
possible to correct, that this great con-
venience should be passing from under
our control OF course, If this dlfhcuity
continues much longer, the management
of the institution must begin to look else
where for water supply
THE CRIMINAL INSANE.
The Legislature some years ago, by
| special enactment, created what IS known
] as the Criminal or Dangerous Insane
! DEPARTMENT" and erected it in the west
end of the penitentiary building. This,
the management Of this institution thinks
! with all good citizens who have given
| serious thought to the matter was a
grievous mistake. There can be no such
| thing as an insane criminal for an in
| sane person cannot commit crime, and
| the few unfortunates that are slowed
| away in one corner of the States Prison
| are perhaps no more dangerous, than a
| large majority of those confined in the
| Hospital at Raleigh, Morganton and
Goldsboro. 1t is discrimination that
should not be made. The department
is a menace to this institution, its es-
Enlistment an injustice to these poor
unfortunate people, that the incoming
Legislature should correct.
Under the act establishing this depart
ment, the States Prison was called upon
to furnish heat, light and water. which
it has done to the best of its ability at
considerable cost and expense and in
convenience, hut it is not for this reason
that we complain, it is for humanty's
sake, and for the sake of that class Of
the poor, uGfortunates of humanity who
cannot make their own appeals, and this
management respectfully asks the Legis-
lature to take out Of the penitentiary,
these poor mind beclouded creatures,
whom God, in his wisdom, has so sorely
afflicted
The plumbing in the Central Prison is
old and worn: that water and steam pipes
and fittings are getting particularly trou
Elesome, and it is going to take a right
considerable expenditure to replenish the
buildings, but l think with the resources
in hand the work can be done without
asking for appropriations.
The old stockade around the premises
is i'll an advanced state of decay We have
during the past year put up new stock
ade on the north and east Sides the re-
mainder of the old part will have to come
down, and be replaced with new and
safe enclosure but this, | think can be
done without resort TO appropriations.
The management I do not hesitate to say,
has been generous to its neighboring
State Institutions; it largely fed and 9TH
erwise maintained the Dangerous In
sane Department for a good portion of
the first half of 1899. It furnished cooks
and other servants for the greater part
of that year, for all CT which it has re-
ceived nothing.
1t did for the "a and NJ. College" some
fifteen hundred dollars worth of grading
on its athletic grounds, for which ii made
no charge. 1t graded a new driveway
around the east end of the Fair grounds
for The North Carolina Agricultural So
ciety, for which it made no charge. 1t
furnished to the Soldiers Homo sufficient
brick to build its new and commodious
hosrital nearly 10000 in number, and
while they stand charged to the Home
on our books, l know this entire man
agement would recommend that the brick
be donated to the Home, and the debt be
cancelled. We have not included this debt
in our estimate of bills receivable.
AS the business manager Of the insti-
tuition. l think l am perfectly safe in
stating, that it is today possessed of suf-
ficient resources, including cash, saleable
assets, bills receivable, together with
farm, garden and other supplies to run
the institution during the year 1901 on
practically cash basis.
We have in available cash assets, as
is shown in the superintendent report
in round figures, 800, 100000 over and
above our liabilities, to turn over to our
successors. We have contracts for labor
on railroads. in shirt factory and on other
works, that bring into our treasury 81,
000 to $4,000 of earnings per month. We
certainly will have an income from the
brick yard of $25, COO; these items to-
gether with other available moneys for
labor, etc, the supplies on hand, as shown
by the inventories should be amply sufi-
cieDt to run the institution during this
year without any embarrassment to the
management.
l thank you gentlemen. for the conf
dence you have rcposed in me, and l
thank you and through you each and
every member of the executive board and
the board of directors, for uniform kind
ness and courtesy at all times.
Yours with great respect.
F. B. ARENDELL.
Manager and Purchasing Agent