Evening journal., 1918-01-08
WOREHOUSE REPORT
Goes TO LEVY Court
lContInusd From LIS 20

paid labor and less expensive 90 The
County. to larger extent this year with
labor. So great were the demands for
labor Of farmers and other employers
OF unskilled labor for prisoners labor
that the workhouse trustees were un-
able TO meet them all These demands
were caused by the scarcity Of labor.
The extreme necessity of an addition
10 the workhouse is again emphasized
by Mr.. Hillcs, the bill providing for
such an addition having failed 10 pass
at The last Legislature. Tho institution
Is overcrowded his report says, and
some provision must be made If The in
mates are 20 be cared for in a sanitary
and efficient manner a separate
vomen's prison is advocated.
Interest on the bonded indebtedness
OF the workhouse was paid of during
the past year and 5000 Of the princi-
pal was paid of, leaving $4,000 still
due on the original bond issues Of
s2l5000. Because Of the high cost Of
supplies and necessary salary advan-
ces. the cost Of operating the institu-
tiOn has greatly increased, and this
problem is being attempted TO be met
by producing everything possible on
the farms.
Mr.. Hilles' report, in full. follows:
The Trustees Of the New Castle
County Workhouse herewith present
their annual report for the year end
ms November 80. 1917.
Details Of The operations viii be
found in the annual reports of the
Treasurer, Warden, Physician, Farm
Superintendents School Teachers and
Chaplain.
Summarizing the treasurer's report.
you viii potice that the allowance paid
under the law by the Levy Court Of
New Castle County at forty cents per
day per capita amounted TO 66926 so 7;
paid by Kent County, S3,i6i 90; paid
by Sussex County S32Ssl0; total cost
for the three counties, S73, $50 10.
The actual cost OF running the In
stitution, exclusive OF depreciation, but
including all ordinary repairs and re-
placements and interest on outstand-
ing bonds. was SiiiO02 80. This was
equal to. per capita cost OF flfty-ninc
and $40 CENTS per day
THE difference between the amount
received for maintenance from the three
counties and actual cost Of operation,
was made up by receipts from the la
hor Of the inmates. Owing TO the great
scarcity Of labor, the demands upon
us from farmers and other employers
Of unskilled labor were much more than
we could supply. IN addition TO this,
The farm development and building the
road from Mecannon's Church toward
Milltown, have occupied many Of the
short-time men. This road Will be I'm
ished, except for the top dressing, In
4 short time II tho weather Is at all
favorable. The stone comes mostly from
HE fields on the farms and makes the
new barn and other buildings readily
accessible. We are building this without
cost 10 the County. except for the
rolling and watering for doing which
work we have no equipment. outside OF
this one-haf mile stretch Of new road,
one gang'of men was employed by the
County Engineer most Of the season
on repairs TO County macadam roads
We hope during the next year to ac-
commndste you to q considerable extent
IN making these necessary repairs. The
County Engineer Is strongly In favor OF
our men doing this work and says they
are fully as efllclent as free paid labor
"ln the new farm development we
have invested shout s65Oo0 This repre-
sents initial cost Of the 326 acres, To-
gether with large new barn, bunk-house
for thirty men. dairy building, farm ma
chinry, horses, mules, pigs and a flne
herd OF dairy cattle.
Now that the farm Is well equipped,
we hope to realize an annual improve
In ffa aF -
which can be used for support Of the
Institution. The extremely hieh cost Of
supplies. especially coal and flour, and
necessary salary advances. have materi-
ally increased the per capita expense,
and the only way in which this can
be overcome Is by producing everything !
possible on the farms. In addition to
the financial benefits. the main object
Of employing short-term men in health /
ful outdoor work IS being realized
Under the law, bonuses are paid for
eflcient work, and the amount thus
paid 20 prisoners for the year was
eiif321l This goes TO the families of /
the inmates or is disposed Of as the I
prisoners desire, and the balance IS
handed TO them on their discharge. IN |
many cases giving them O new start I
in life for the future.
Under The non-support law So /
e23 Is was Paid to Mr. Frank Stout and /
other trustees FOR the families Of those /
committed under this charge.
IN our last annual report the ex- |
tremely crowded condition OF The In /
Etitution was emphasized and the build .
ing Of a separate women's prison ad- /
yocated. The bin 70 provide this ncces-
ssry addition was presented TO the last .
Legislature but was not passed The
overcrowding IS stIll great and some
provision must be made II the inmates .
are 20 be cared for in a sanitary and .
efficient manner.
During the year all interest on the
bonded Indebtedness was paid and $1,000 .
of the principal was paid of and can
celled. This leaves 5i32. 900 still due on
the original bond issues Of S275OO0 We
hope this debt can be further mater-
ally reduced before the maturity Of the
bonds.
THE general condition of the Insti-
tuition IS excellent and our appreciation
for efficient MANAGEMENT is due the
Warden Matrol. Farm Superiniendents
and other employees.
Respectfully submitted.
1T ALLEN HILLES
Attest.
- Frank Bail. Secretary.
Warlfn Cross. In his report. recon-
mended that the amount which is re-
ceiVed for the upkeep Of prisoners from