1870.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 187

ments. In the old or west wing of the prison the sleeping
apartments are much larger than those of the east wing, and
might, if space was the only desideratum, accommodate four
persons to each room. These are now occupied by uine to
each apartment, which is much beyond their proper capacity.
This is objectionable, not only on the score of the health of
the occupants, but it is to be regretted, because, in the con-
tact of numbers, it opens the door for plots and contrivances
for prison escapes, and becomes a school in the teaching of
crime, and by familiar recitals of offences, place upon the mind
the horrid image of vice. Notwithstanding this expedient, ne-
cessarily adopted for the want of room, the Warden has been
compelled to sleep in a single room, measuring less than 50
feet each way, 160 colored male prisoners. In such a condi-
tion of affairs, if an infections or contagious disease should
make an incursion within the walls of the prison, the mor-
tality therefrom would be startling.

In the judgment of the Committee, the General Assembly
should not longer delay the vesting of the Directors of the
Institution with the full authority for construe ing proper
dormitory apartments, and the placing at their disposal the
most ample means to that end. Considerations of humanity
suggest that the work should be promptly accomplished.

But to accomplish this object there will be additional
grounds requited, as recommended by the Committee of the
House of Delegates at the last session of the Legislature, to
visit the Institution. As the enclosure of the present prison is
entirely too small for the object contemplated, we would
therefore recommend the purchase of grounds on the northern
or eastern limits of the prison walls, with the view of erect-
ing buildings on the new space acquired; or, if it is thought
that the State is able to bear the expenses at this time, we
believe that it would be better to purchase a new site, and to
erect suitable buildings thereon for the accommodation of the
prisoners, and to convert the present prison into a work-
house fur minor offences, which, in the judgment of the Com-
rnitfee, would prevent many of the young from becoming
hardened and depraved criminals.

There is in your Committee no division of sentiment upon
the theory that the State should do one of two 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 thereon the required improvements; a large portion
of the labor required to erect the same, can be performed by
the inmates of the prison.

The Board of Directors ask for an appropriation of $30,000
per annum; we think the amount asked for by the Board is
moderate, considering the embarrassed condition of the insti-