The expenditures of cash during the same period, for the ordinary ex penses of the prison, under the head of General Support and Re pairs, have been as follows : Officers and keepers, $11,091 00 Guard, .. 5,444 62 Matron, 212 00 Chaplains, 452 65 Hospital and surgeon, 855 27 Provisions, 12,627 63 Repairs of shops, 270 75 Clothing, 3,431 77 Oil and candles, 953 59 Fire wood, 1,670 23 Charcoal, 233 03 Stationary, 162 69 Horse, &c., 134 95 Soap, .. 456 45 Brooms, 100 19 Postage, 49 28 Discharged convicts, .. 496 00 Prison. Miscellaneous items, 2,398 35 $41,040 45 This amount taken from the earnings and profits as above stated, leaves a balance of profits in favor of the prison, of .... 88,625 05 Besides this balance of profits in favor of the prison, the prison should be credited with the labor and maintenance of from 35 to 45 convicts, employed in enlarging and altering the south wing, the past season. The receipts of cash on account of the prison during the same period, have been as follows, and from the following sources : Bedtick weavers, . 85,972 77 Shoe makers, 5,207 50 Coopers, 4,199 19 Hame makers, &c., 4,059 11 Satinett weavers, 3,889 51 Tailors, 3,313 09 Cabinet and chair makers,.. 3,286 16 Tool makers,..... 3,347 53 Machinists and smiths, 2,734 65 Comb makers, 2,385 79 . Carried forward, ... Amount brought forward, .... $ 718 25 $40,570 88 The above paid in by contractors. , $1,407 23 640 47 2,923 32 Prison, or miscellaneous. Articles sold, &c. 1,016 49 Visiters, ....... 1,743 00 2,759 49 $46,253 69 To this amount must be added balance of cash in Agent's hands, 30th September, 1832, 2,899 07 $49,152 76 Making, ...... the same period, have been: 46,037 89 Leaving a balance in the Agent's hands, 30th Sep tember, 1833, of ... Less this sum suspended between Comptroller and late Agent for final settlement, $3,114 87 85 51 Actual balance in Agent's hands, ...... $3,029 38 I feel quite confident that the carnings of the convicts for the cur. rent year will exceed that of the past, from the fact that since I have been agent of the prison, I have made alterations in some old contracts, and entered into some new ones, by which a considera. ble advance is secured to the State for the labor of convicts. The following statement will show the particular sources to be relied upon for the support of the prison: 7 { : . . . 44 363 32 456 04 397 05 Bedtick weavers, per diem,.... 25 at 25 c. 64 at 25 c. 39 at 15 c. 21 at 15 c. Carpenter, 1 at 50 c. 1 at 50 c. Shoemakers, by the piece, 50 Coopers, per diem, 50 at 28 c. 50 at 28 c. 9 at 30 c.) 2 at 50 c. Hame makers,..... at 50 c. 6 at 50 c. at 30 c. 43 at 30 c. 1 at 25 c. 1 at 25 c. Tailors, by the piece, . 35 38 Cabinet makers, per diem,... 50 at 35 c. 42 at 35 c. 10 at 25 c. 7 at 25 c. Tool makers, do 1 at 25 c. Machinists, do ..... 25 at 40 c. 25 at 40 c. 25 at 30 c. 20 at 30 c. Comb makers, do 40 at 32 c. 38 at 32 c. Clock makers, do 15 at 30 c. 22 at 30 c. Coverlet weavers, do 110.at 30 c. 14 at 30 c. Spoolers, 5 at 15 c. 9 at 15 c. 3 at 25 c. 383 18 407 48 277 32 387 95 308 50 151 30 $3,771 29 Number of convicts employed, .. 499 6 Blacksmiths, do 6 Carpenters, do 7 Tailors and barbers, do 10 Shoe makers, do 5 Wood sawyers and laborers, do 18 Soap boilers and hostler, do 3 Attendants in the wings, do 10 Cooks, washers and waiters, do Coopers, do 2 Hospital nurses, do 2 Sick, do 6 Invalids not employed, 4 Masons, do 8 Laborers and tenders, do 20 Stocking weavers, do 3 Females, do 24 180 28 Making........... 679 convicts in prison on the 31st Dec. 1833. the year. The number of convicts employed upon contracts necessarily varies from the greater or less number confined in prion, and from the wants of the prison for their labor. About the same number now employed upon contract will probably be continued through The number of stone cutters will be increased as the spring opens, from the number now employed as wood sawyers and laborers. The other sources of profit to the prison, such as visiters, &c. will not be materially different from the past year. During the past season, the contract for satinett and carpet weaving was abandoned. The contractors for this branch of business had the first privilege of the water power of the prison, much to the prejudice of the interests of other contractors, and the prison. They also possessed a valuable building, connected with the water power, with water wheels, shafts and gearing. These had been erected at an expense of about four thousand dollars to the contractors. Upon the abandonment of the contract, I deemed it a matter of the first importance to the prison to secure the rights of the contractors to this property. And I accordingly purchased for the State their whole improvements and privileges for the sum of two thousand dollars. This has enabled me to renew some contracts, upon terms very advantageous to the State, in consequence of the means it afforded of distributing the privileges of water power, to those contractors who were but partially supplied before. Material alterations and repairs are becoming necessary in the north wing of the prison. The ceiling and floors of the cells are plank, which are becoming much decayed, and the receptacles of vermin and dirt; and it is quite impossible to keep this part of the prison in as clean and healthy condition as the south wing. In order to remedy this evil, and make this wing compare with the south, it will be necessary to take out all the wood work, lay brick floors, and insert cast iron anchors in the walls to support the galleries. Many of the shops require new floors and roofs. The roof of the yard walls also wants replacing with new ones. The object of most importance to the prison at present, is the the enlargement of its yard. For the attainment of this object, a contract has been made by me with the owner for the purchase of about 12 acres of land immediately west of the present prison yard, at about $200 per acre, provided the Legislature shall authorise the purchase. This addition I consider indispensible even to accommodate properly the present number of convicts; and much more so, if the number should materially increase. The additional room is required for shops, for the storing of lumber and materials, firewood, and to receive the supplies of provisions furnished by the contractor for rations. The present yard is in some parts entirely too much crowded with shops, particularly the north and south yards. The location of the shops there, as well as those beside the cross-walks, endangers the prison building in case of fire, and obstructs the free circulation of air through the wings. At present the lumber and materials, and the firewood, have to be stored without the yard, and are subject to depredations and other losses; and are removed into the yards with much inconvenience and loss of time. The contractor for furnishing rations requires considerable room for the reception of his provisions. And as they are bulky, and perishable, if not well secured in store rooms, and as they are principally laid in during the fall of the year, much more room is required than we are now able to furnish. The supplies of potatoes in particular, are injured, and at times are doubtless in some degree unwholesome, and have to be dispensed with wholly, for the want of proper store rooms to preserve them. It is believed that the rations generally would be better preserved, and would probably come at a cheaper rate, if the necessary accommodations could be afforded. It is supposed, that on the lot proposed to be purchased, sufficient stone may be quarried to wall in so much of the lot as may be necessary; and that with the means of the prison, and the labor of convicts, the wall may be built in a reasonable time, and still leave the prison able to support itself. If the land is not now secured, it is to be feared that the opportunity may be forever lost, at a time when the wants of the prison will imperiously require it. It is not to be doubted but that there will be an increase of convicts to be confined here eventually, which will as certainly require more shop room. This cannot be supplied to any extent in the present yard. A prudent forecast would therefore seem to require that the land be secured, to meet the future wants of the prison, if not its more immediate necessities. I cannot close without directing the attention of the Board, to the two year sentences of convicts. The terms of the convictions for the last two or three years, have been, a large portion of them, for two years. Experience here has shown that this length of confinement is hardly sufficient to effect all the objects contemplated in our system. It does not afford the convict sufficient time to become master of a trade; to confirm industrious and orderly habits; to wean him from vicious propensities, and to subdue his will and temper. It is believed that the reformatory objects of our prison system are of but little avail to him, as their application is too transient to have a permanent and salutary effect. A confinement in the prison for two years, is often looked upon by the inconsiderate, as quite indurable; and the prospect of a two year's sentence has comparatively but a trifling dread, as the time is soon past, and an opportunity again afforded for renewing his depredations on society; perfecting himself in crime and the arts of avoiding detection. I am fully impressed with the belief that the law ought to confine the two year sentences, if any are allowed, to petit larceny, 2d offence. And that for all other offences, where the term is now authorised to be as low as two years, be limited to three. And also, that upon a second conviction, the sentence should not be less than from 7 to 10 years; and for a conviction after pardon, should receive a sentence not short of 10 years. |
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