Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-11-01
PENITENTIARY SFLF.sUSTAIAisG
MEETING or raE BoAap Or MANA
GERsAN REPosr or TRE YKAa
Many improvements Made During the
Year OF a Permanent Character.

directors Of the West Virginia peniten-
tisry has just adjourned at the institu-
tion in Monndsville The report for
the past two years. which win go 20
the next legislature. together NTH the
recommendations Of the board made
mp the major portion OF the business
under consideration. Some very inter-
esting prison statistics are contained
in the report
The earnings Of the institution for
the biennial year are sls1, 747 from the
workshops Sos, 4ss. from the United
States board. $40, 500 from other sour
ces.
The current expenses for the bien-
nial wear were $50, SIS; expended for
permanent improvements, $40. o59, not
including work done by the officers
aud conyicts.
The population at the close of he
last two-year period was 7e6. highest
number, 965. the increase coming
equally from state and federal govern
meut
The period has been remarkable for
the number Of improvements made
from the earnings, no money having
been appropriated by the Legislature
at its last session The permanent
improvements consist of new build
ing 70 be used as chanel and dining
hall, the dimensions OF which are 1873
x7s feet, two stories high An eight
foot basement uuderlies the entire
building. The cost. not including the
work of the officers and prisoners. is
S26, 600 The basement will be used
for bath room for prisoners, contain.
ing about fifty shower baths 1t will
also contain laundry and general
cold storage room.
The second floor wiz be used as a
kitchen and dining room. The din
ing room is large enough to seat the
entire convict population. The next
floor contains a library and chapel.
containing a gallery that can seat 800
visitors. The main part of the chap
ell contains handsome onera chairs. 80
in number The new building was
erected because the old one was made
quate and could be turned into fac
tory, gneeded for the employment of
about 800 idle prisoners.
Another important Improvement was
the installation of steam heating
plant at the cost OF So. 900. 1t was ah-
solutely necessary. The farm and 9TH
er improvements cos 50, 600. The farm
has demonstrated its value by the inn
mense quantity OF vegetables, eggs,
pork and butter prodnced on it.
When purchased it was in bad con-
dition. On its Improvement 1000 feet
of drain tile was used. the dwelling
house was rebuilt, as a poultry house
and barn constructed One Of the
new features of the institution was
the canning of 1900 gallons of toma-
toes this summer for the consumption
of the prisoners. The sum of $40, 600
in cash was paid into the TREASURY of
the state during the biennial period
Other improvements are additional
rooms to tile female quarters; tun-
mel though the ground from the engine
room to the administration building
in which are placed the steam pipes
stable moved from the inside 20 the
outside of the walls; small printing
plant; telephone system with a switch
board and twenty teleDhones
The board recommends that the leg
islature make appropriations for the
following Improvements TO extend
north hall building TO the northern
limit of the property; construction
OF 1870 additional cells in the new ex-
tension. cells 20 be larger and modern
entire extension complete 70 cost prob
ably $50, 900
The institution now contains 5Sj
cells to accommodate 965 people THEW
are AZ and feet wide, feet long
anu Attt ii1Eis AliND APhtf%Ah ~
closets. wash bowls and are not DO
perly ventilated Two prisoners oc-
COPY each cell The board also asks
for additional appropriations for is
olated quarters for the female conyicts.
The present quarters in the adminis-
tration building are entirely-inade-
quate An appropriation is also asked
for cold storage appliances.
The board calls attention to the in
secure condition of the Institution.
All the bars in the windows and doors
are of sof5 iron. any Ordinary impro.
vised hack saw being an excellent tool
90 cut them with. Last winter three
men sawed out of their cells with saws
made from corset steels. The report
shows the building unsafe aud an ap-
preparation is asked fer needed chan
ges. An increase Of ten guards is ash
ed there being 80 for 965 PRISONERS