The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-12
ANNUAL REPORT
OF PEN|TEHT|ARY
Document Now In the Hands Of
the Publ C.
MAKES UFRV CnOD SHnWIMc
MAKES VERY GOOD SHOWING
fer Better Things, However
Are Seen Under New Constitutional
Condltions-Numbe Of Pris-
oners In and Out-Gossp.

| The annual report of the Board of
Directors Of the penitentiary. including
| that of the superintendent of that in
stitution, has been made to the Cover
| nor. and shows some very interesting
! facts and figures.
Below vii! be found some extracts that
Will interest the public on this lire.
Our net gain at the penitentiary was
/ S2S.5 03.S5, against which there is an APP
! parent loss OF 81. Si0.S3 at the farm We
| say apparent because the unavoidable
| lack of exactness and uniformity in TAX
| ing inventories no doubt accounts FOR no
| little of the difference comparing the
| operation of 1901 and 1902, besides III 1902
| the Farm suffered loss Of about 5000
! by reason OF freshets and q memorable
storm of wind and hail damaging crops
and buildings. III actual cash there re-
| mains to our credit in the State Treasury
I for the fiscal year ending September 30,
| 1902, Su,3!!7.S3.
| For a more detailed explanation OF the
| financial operations at the penitentlary
and farm we refer you to the annexed re-
port OF the superintendent.
The increase made by the General As
sembly in the pay of the officers and
/ guards. though well deserved, cuts q con-
| siderable figure in the finances Of the
| penitentiary and farm, footing UP $3.50
annually.
+ 4 FAILING OFF.
The increased cost Of provisions ana
clothing has taxed US to the extent Of
$23387.37. al the same time our earnings
/ have been s.. 043.92 less than in 1901
The decrease in earnings was due 10
! two causes, to-wit: In the early spfInS,
! the shoe trade being dull, the shoe con-
/ tractors put off a number of hands Walch
/ the superintendent transferred to county
roads etc. and later on, when Nal&led
by the contractors. they could not p2 re-
/ called Secondly we had siNty-seVen less
| men on the prison rolls than in 1901
| Plans have been adopted and the con-
| tract for the work let by the LeSlS.iLtNe
| committee for the construction OF i new
| cell building here. which. we doubt not
will prove of great advantage III relieving
the congested condition of the cettS-
| The new building entails upon this IN
| stit,,tio1 the necessity of extending It's
walls. and. as the legislative appropri3-
tinn did not cover this contingency ana IS
the work admitted OF TO delay the Beard
/ has been compelled to have 1t done a { the
charge Of the penttentiarI.
CONDITIONAL FARDONS.
The conditional pardon system con-
tinues TO work well. One of its excel
ian- effects is seen in the reduced mum
Der OF punshments necessary Inc act
went into effect on the third day OF
March. 1895. and Of the to convIcts thus
r,are,oned only seven have been returned
to this prison-a wonderfully good show
ing all agree. considering the class OF
criminals which comprises most OF cur
prison population
At tho eud Of 1872 We Stl2ti r@f'sl'21'-3
Tho lease Of the Tucker farm. owing to the
river from the State farm. owing 20 the
danger and trouble Of taking prisoners
hacl. and forth on fiatpoat and be-
cause we believe more profitable Work
for those hands can be found on TIE
new cell building here.
Recommendations
We recommend that upon the reerS5erl-
cation contemplated by the new Consti-
tuition the. present estim7ted va ne, @.
the penitertiary and Improvements. $3S1,-
7o1.G.. and the farm ana impIovemc1sS.
So. 933 Is be revised; also. that an en-
tirelv new inventory OF the personal
Dropert,- at the farm and at the peniteu-
| liar be made by skilled appraisers
| This will allow the new organization u
| start an entirely fresh set of books with
| values properly fixed.
| We also recommend that the law be
changed so that the farm snail be cAarS-
| ed only with the prisoners furnished 1t
| vho are useful laborerS. ant! that the
| farm be credited with tile maintenance
|
other infirm prisoners 1t IS heEonG
reason to expect the farm to bear that
| burden and pay expenses year III and
| wear out It is safe to say that % the
! couvicts now at the farm 700 out of thn
oo3 have no earning capacity Most VI
these indeed. must have the daily at
tention of the doctor and must be f"d
| on hospital det-facts which should be
weighed when the loss at the farm is
taken into confederation.
| If it be practicable TO do 50. We
| should like to see the fiscal year Of flis
| institution changed to conform = the
calendar year. Such a change would
] be beneficial in many respects: especial
! ly would it enable the officers to give
! actual results OF farm operations instead
of estimates. some OF which are nee
essarily given upon crops standing IN
the field
| MAJOR HELMS VIEWS.
The following interesting statement is
made by Superintendent Helms:
The past year has not proven so profit
able to the institution and tarm as we
haC, reason to expect. On account OF I
dull season the Shoe Co laid OFF one hum
Crec men, which reduced their Force %
the minimum number allowed under their
| contract. These men were removed TO the
farm. and later on, 70 the county roads
| It is true. the business OF the contractors
revived soon after. and they We're anxious
| to take on more men, WElca we "E'u
| unable to furnish.
net profits at the institution Of Slss49'''
| = -.,J for. Nv