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IN SENATE,

March 23, 1833.

REPORT

Of the committee on state prisons.

The committee on state prisons,

REPORT:

That it appears, from the annual reports of the Auburn and Mount-Pleasant state prisons, that those institutions have been faithfully conducted during the past year, and with increased utility and success. At no time have their financial operations exhibited a more promising appearance.

At the Auburn state prison, two hundred and twenty additional cells have been erected, which cost, besides the labor of the convicts, the sum of $12,376.36. This expense has been defrayed out of the funds of the prison, and without any call upon the treasury. The sum of six thousand dollars, appropriated at the last session of the Legislature for that object, remains, therefore, untouched. The profits of this prison, during the past year, after deducting its expenses, amount to $3,588.16; and the cash on hand at the close of the fiscal year, was $2,899.07, over all its expenditures and erections to that period.

In the construction of the above named additional cells, it became necessary to enlarge that part of the south wing of the prison, in which they are erected, by widening it twelve feet. The inspectors now request permission to increase the residue of this wing to the same width, for the purpose of enlarging their messroom, and to enable them to construct over it a chapel of sufficient dimensions. The roof and floors of this part of the building are represented to be so much decayed, as to require immediate re[Senate, No. 85.]

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pair. The whole expense of this improvement is roughly, perhaps rather largely, estimated at $6,000; but as the prison will possess from its own resources the means of making it, no appropriation is asked from the treasury. The inspectors say, we consider this further alteration and improvement indispensable to the security of the building; and for the accommodation of the convicts in respect to the mess-room, chapel, &c: and as the expense may now be met by the avails of the prison, we can perceive no object in its delay."

The affairs of the state prison at Mount-Pleasant, as compared with former years, seem also to be not less prosperous. Instead of an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars, which has heretofore been annually required for the support of that prison, for the present year the inspectors only ask the sum of $11,482.78. And the objects of this amount are especially stated to be, for money now due to the corporation of the city of New-York, for keeping the female convicts, $4,595.39; for the probable expense of the same during the passing year, $4,200; for a sum due for the transportation of convicts to the Auburn prison, $900; and for amount required to pay for necessary building materials, for certain improvements to be made during the current year, $1,787.39.

The prevalence of Asiatic cholera at this prison, during about two months of the most useful season of the past year, suspended its operations and entirely interrupted its productiveness for that period. The loss thus sustained to the prison is estimated by the inspectors at not less than one-sixth of the whole earnings of the convicts for the year.

It is also stated that a great portion of the season has been taken up in finishing the old and unfavorable contracts, so often heretofore alluded to, by reason of which a very inadequate compensation has been received for the labor of the convicts. These old and ruinous contracts are represented to be now nearly completed, and contracts at a fair price to have been made, which will occupy the convicts during the current year. Under these circumstances, it may be reasonably expected that this prison will hereafter support itself. This committee cannot doubt but that if the female convicts are provided for, no further appropriation will be required for it. On the contrary, unless some calamity shall befal it, they are of the opinion that it will soon produce a yearly

income, over and above supporting itself, and will thus commend itself equally with the Auburn state prison, to the confidence of the community.

The chaplain of this prison receives for his services now, only four hundred and fifty dollars a year. As he devotes the whole of his time and attention to the discharge of his duties at the pri son, the inspectors express their opinion of the inadequacy of the compensation, and suggest the propriety of increasing it to six hundred dollars. This committee agree entirely in the above opinion, and concur in the recommendation.

The farm connected with this prison cannot now by law be let for a longer period than three years. But we are informed, by letters from the agent and inspectors of the prison, that it would be beneficial to the farm, and advantageous to the State, if the same could be leased for a longer term. The committee therefore recommend that the law be so modified that the farm may be let for a time not exceeding ten years.

There is a piece of land adjoining the State farm, and lying be tween a part of the same and the Hudson river, which the inspectors and agent of the prison recommend the State to purchase. It contains some good marble, is so situated that they are now obliged to cross it from one of their best quarries, and in many respects its possession would be convenient for their operations, and always valuable to the establishment. This land, it is believed, may be purchased at a fair price, or had in exchange for other land belonging to the State, which is of no particular value to the prison. This committee advise, therefore, that the agent and inspectors be authorised to contract for the same, subject to the final decision of the Attorney-General and Comptroller of the State.

It appears by the last annual report of the Comptroller, [(Assembly Documents of 1833, No. 5, page 32,) that the accounts of the late agent of the Mount-Pleasant prison, have remained in an unsettled state, in consequence of a discrepancy between the accounts of the commissioners for building that prison, and those kept at the office of the Comptroller. During the past year, an entire examination and careful comparison of these accounts, as kept at the prison and at the office of the Comptroller, have been made, and the causes of the difference of the two accounts have

been discovered, as well as the origin of the balance against the agent. He was charged, it seems, by the commissioners, with the proceeds of some provisions belonging to the prison, which had been sold to the ration contractor, Mr. E. Wilson, amounting to $743,94. If this sum was received by the agent, he will owe to the State a balance of $455.45. But if, on the contrary, as he alleges, and as appears to be confirmed by the statement of Mr. Wilson, the above sum of money did not come to his hands, then there will be due from the State to the late agent, the sum of $288.49, being an over-payment made by him. Mr. Wilson repeats to this committee, that he is confident he never paid to Mr. Lynds any money for the provisions referred to; but that the same were paid for by him in other rations furnished to the prison. Beyond these averments of the agent and of Mr. Wilson, there is no evidence further to explain the subject. The committee are inclined to believe that the above named provisions were never paid for to Mr. Lynds, and that the State is indebted to him in the sum of $288.49. They therefore recommend that the same be allowed to him out of the treasury.

As some doubt has heretofore been expressed, as to the profitableness of working the marble at the Mount-Pleasant state prison, the following satisfactory remarks are copied from the last annual report of the able and faithful inspectors of the same.

"The great inducement," say they, "for locating the prison at this place, was the immense quantity of marble which is found on the State farm, connected with the belief that the convicts might be more advantageously employed in preparing this article for market, than at any other kind of business. The quarries have at different times presented discouraging indications; sometimes the quality of the marble has been indifferent, at other times the great difficulty in removing the immense quantities of earth under which the marble was buried, seemed to destroy the prospect of a profitable employment at the stone business.

"Within the last year a decided improvement has appeared in the quarries, and they now bid fair to satisfy the expectations which induced a selection of this place for the prison. The quality of the marble is good; its value is now appreciated in the market, and contracts at a fair price are now offered, sufficient to em-、 ploy the great mass of the convicts, and we have no doubt but the

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