Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-09

Hardship, But Blessing, and Work Is
Beneficiai-R Report of Warden Meserve
and Financial Statement for the Year.
The annual report of the Trustees of
he New Castle County Workhouse was |
submitted to the Levy Court at Tues
days meeting. 1t is as follows:
To the Memiiets Of tho levy Court OF
New Castle county, Delaware Gentle
men: Pursuant to the act entitled IAN
Act to Establish thu New Castle County
Workhnuse,a we herewith submit the
following report:
As int mated by our last report to
your honorable body, it became necessary
to have more money for thetcolnpleti on
and furnishing of the buildings and ap-
purtt nances to make them ready for the
uses intended.
The Leg ature PASSED, and the gov
ernor approved on March I'd, 1901, an
act authorizing the borrowing CT S75,-
900 for the oompletion Of the work, and
this additional amount came Iuto The
possession Of this board July 9th, 1901.
On March lst, 1901, a contract was
entered into with the pauly Jail Build
ing and Manufacturing Co. for the
erection of 160 steel cells in the west
wing of the workhouse for S34, GIL, and
20 steel cells 10 the east wing for
"a, 49,. 93. This work was commenced
July Ist, 1901, and finished the latter
part Of October last
Mr.. A. 5. Messrve was appointed
warden March 10Th, 1901, and came on
duty june 1st, 1901, and his family
moved into warden's g apartments at
workhouse on June 18th. 1901.
| To facilitate the erection of the
steel work it was thought best to hoard
some of the workmen at the workhouse,
and by an expenditure Of S2I526 for
| food and necessary family supplies from
June 18th, 1901, to November 1st, 1901.
| there was received In cash for board of
men 1895. 95; profit Of 800. 90; and the
| maintenance of warden and family cost
| ing nothing
A contract has been entered into with
Opperheim n 90. of New York to
utilize the labor of 100 convicts, more
or less, in the manufacture Of mems
and boys pants on ''the piece price
plan y BY this plan the said firm
furnishes the machinery and material,
and the trustees furnish aud supervise
the men and secure pay by the Eiece
for the product. The second story of
the east wing has been fitted up for the
workshop. and as it ~ welsllighted and
,entileted it is we'll suited fnr the
business The contract began on De-
cslnher 1st, 1901, and it viii require
about 30 days OF prRot ee before there
will be any cons derab!e profit on pro-
duct.
The quarry site near outer end OF
tunnel has been enclosed with barbed
wire fence, which will minimize the
labor of the guards To the quarrying
of stone and making of macadam will
be assigned the short term prisoners
and others especially qualified for the
work. The women prisoners (whoat
} quarters are in the south wing, entirely
distinct and remote from the Other
quarters will be employed &C keeping
the clothing aud bedd ne Of the prisoners
in order, and helping with the laundr,
work.
! A tiiningroom has been fitted ur OF
the main floor of the east wing witt
seating capacity of 200, excusivel,
for males. This puts into practice TIN
congregate system in feeding and work
; ing the oonvlots and the cellular system
for their confinement at other mes
I whore each has separate cell.
> During the year the appliances a
: powerhouse hare been installed unde
J the immediate supervision OF Prof. N
II. Brown of Delaware College. Spsci
3 fications were drawn, proposals received
! aud contracts given to the lowest aut
t best bidders. The boilers and, wher
possible, the machinery have bee
placed in duplicate, SO as to guar
against arrangement or failure in tn
heating, lighting or furnishing of powe
for the Institution.
{ Attached hereto you will find de
Q tailed statement OF all receipts and ex
pendltures for the year ending Derem
8 ber 10th, 1901; alsn a trial bhlano
: taken from the treasurer q hooks, maxim
: a statement showing the liabilities an
assets of the Institution up to the sam
i time, with balance on hand Of S14,
y 693 81. This will be required to pa
!. balance ON contracts when guarants
!. time has expired, and the approach n
! interest on bonds.
l. There is also attached hereto tn
g report of warden, giving populatio
s and cost of maintenance Of prisoner
IS for the month of November.
/. The radical changes that have 6
/. lately taken place 10 the care {
" prisoners in this county is not full
]. understood by the public, and may
10 open to criticism
g The washing and cleaning up of ever
d prisoner when he or ehe first comes il
h and the providing of clean clothing. an
t. the enforcement OF oleauly habits at a
times, no doubt, is approved by ever!
one that knows anything about sar iti
ton or considers the comfort of ii
officers and attendants ON duty, ard
~ the prisoners themselves.
as The confinement OF prisoners one
I'd a cell when net at work, or at meal
" and without intercourse with eac
D. other, is great change, but not mo
J. so than the foroidding of indiscrimina
al visiting from frisnds, formtr con
se panons and others who would oonv,
,g all sorts of Questionable things TO al
81 fro; yet this rule is absolutely nece
K ssry for discipline and order, and ma,
so by the act establishing the wor
house.
The enforcement OF labor is not
hardship, but blessing to the convic
Work is beneficial. 1t has a III
cipiinary effect. 1t makes prisone
feel that they are doing somethil
useful. By giving occupation to the
ve hands and minds it kesps them.
g least, measursbly, free from .,
or thoughts and practices,
". Two wants have manifested thel
IT. selves in which the interested publ
on can help. One is the supplying OF
| l.luzx,, - v,nl,na s,astar for 4