Volume 142, Page 1917 View pdf image (33K) |
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506 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 17, a condition of affairs, if an infections or contagious disease should make an incursion within the walls of the prison, the- mortality therefrom would be startling. In the judgment of the Committee, the General Assembly should not longer delay the investing the Directors of the institution with the full authority for constructing proper dormitory departments, and the placing at their disposal the amplest means to that end. Considerations of humanity suggest that the work should be promptly accomplished. The financial condition of the State, and the great weight of taxation that is pressing down the energies of its citizens, render it, in the judgment of the Committee, inexpedient either to purchase a site elsewhere and construct thereon suitable buildings, or to purchase additional grounds on the northern or eastern limits of the prison walls, with a view of erecting buildings on the new space acquired. The first measure would, it is believed, involve an outlay of a million dollars, and the one last named would, perhaps, cost three hundred thousand dollars. It would, to be sure, be most desirable to extend the boundaries of the prison ; but it is the opinion of the Direc- tors that both of the measures of improvement referred to,. are dispensible under the existing condition of things viewed. in connection with a depleted State Treasury and a tax burthened people. They think that two buildings for dor- mitory departments of the capacity of 80 by 40 feet, of five stories, might lie erected, one on the right, and the other on the left of the inner gate of the prison, capable of accommo- dating at least 250 prisoners ; and if further additional de- partments should in the future be rendered necessary, addi- tions could be made to the wash house building for the accommodation of the female convicts, and the room which. the last named now occupy, could be used for the accommo- dation of the males. The whole cost of these improvements will require an appropriation of sixty or seventy thousand dollars. There is in your Committee no division of sentiment upon the theory that the State should do one of three things, and that is to purchase a new site on the margin of the city boundary, and erect buildings thereon for all the purposes of the institution, or extend the boundaries of the present site, and erect buildings thereon, or make the improvements last named in the preceding paragraph. To the General Assembly the arbitrament of the question. is submitted, as one invoked by considerations of humanity. THE HOUSE OF REFUGE. Upon their visit to this institution, the Committee were cordially received by Dr. J. J. Graves, in behalf of the Board of Managers, and were courteously shown throughout the |
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Volume 142, Page 1917 View pdf image (33K) |
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