REPORT.

To the Governor and Executive Council

of the State of Maine:

THE Inspectors of the State Prison, having completed their annual examination of its affairs, present the following

REPORT.

They find the accounts of the Warden with the State, to stand thus:

He is credited for disbursements for the same time, 5,471 66

Leaving a balance in his favor of

121 17

The account between the Prison and the State, is thus shown:

For the amount of all disbursements for purchases for the several departments, officers' salaries included, except the Warden's, and for stock on hand April 26, 1839,

20,901 55

He is credited for amount of sales, stock and tools on hand, Dec. 31, 1839,

20,340 71

Leaving a balance against the Prison of

560 84

In this account, the amount of tools is

$1,658 49

Which deducted from the gross amount of stock and tools, leaves the sum of $7,895 79 as available funds for the Prison.

The Inspectors, after a careful and critical examination of the concerns of the Prison, believe its present condition to be more prosperous than at any former period; this will be shown by the account between the Prison and State.

Since April 26th, 1839, when the present Warden took charge of the institution, it has come within $560 84 of paying all its expenses, officers' salaries included, except the Wardens'; and the Inspectors 'confidently believe for the present year, it will fully meet its expenses.

The Warden expresses the opinion that the deficit of last year of $560 84, will be met without calling on the State, should the debts now due the Prison, be promptly paid.

The amount expended for building and repairs during the past year has not been large. It was found necessary to build a small house for the only female convict in the Prison, there not being a suitable room in the Prison buildings for her. The fence enclosing the Prison yard has required and received some attention, by being propped and braced to sustain it for the present time.

The Inspectors believe it would be good economy for the State, to commence a more permanent wall of stone around the yard (a part of which might be built yearly,) of refuse rock now on hand. A great part of the work might be done by the convicts and team.

To answer the question so often asked-"why does not our Prison pay its expenses ?"-we say, a great number of convicts are sent here for short terms-the expenses for transportation, and for their fitting out on the expiration of sentence, generally is much more than their earnings while in the Prison. It will also be borne in mind the general average of the terms of sentence in our Prison, is for a much shorter period than in most other Prisons.

A large proportion of convicts sent here cannot be profitably employed till they are instructed in some branch of business carried on in the Prison. The time taken up in this instruction is almost a dead loss to the State.

The health of the convicts, during the past year, has been generally good. This we should hardly expect, when we take into consideration the construction of the cells.

The Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Washburn, attends to religious services in the Prison on the sabbath. The convicts have also the benefit of a school on that day.

We find by examination of the several departments, their net income to be as follows: officers' salaries not included. SHOE DEPARTMENT.-Net income since April 26,

1839,

Each convict earns per day, 52 cts. 5 + mills. WHEELWRIGHT DEPARTMENT.-Net income,

Each convict earns per day, 49 cts. 3+ mills. QUARRY.-Net income,

Each convict earns per day, 33 cts. 1 mill. SMITH'S DEPARTMENT.-Net income,

Each convict earns per day, 44 cts. 3 mills. COOPER'S SHOP.-Net income,

$1,511 24

870 64

1093 74

375 33

430 46

Each convict earns per day, 41 cents.

We find also that it costs for subsistence for each convict per day, nine cents; and one and a quarter cents per day for each convict for clothing.

By the above estimates, it will be seen that it costs for clothing per year, for each convict, $4 56-and for subsistence, $32 85.

In closing this Report, the Inspectors will only add, that the books of the Prison appear to be well kept, and that the general management of its affairs appear to be well conducted.

Respectfully submitted by

JOSHUA PATTERSON,
GEO. A. STARR,

JOHN MERRILL,

Inspectors of the State Prison.

A.

109 Died,