[A.]

GENERAL AGENT'S ANNUAL STATEMENT.

THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,

In Account Current with JAMES C. SPOTTS, General Agent Penitentiary.

1846-Sept. 30, By balance per last annual report,

40,899 39

By amount manufactures received from the penitentiary, for the year ending 30th
September 1846,

45,343 661

In laying before you the annual statement of the commercial and financial operations of the institution under your charge, for the year ending 30th September last, it is a source of congratulation that the sales are $7790 02 greater than they were the preceding year, and that the stock which has been constantly accumulating for years past, has been reduced by the agent's ordinary sales $3427 81, with a fair prospect under the present regulations of the board, of a more rapid reduction during the present year.

Although the aggregate of sales is greater, yet owing to the failure of the wheat crop, and to the great decline on low priced woollen goods, there has been a considerable falling off in the sale of wheatfans and bags,

flour barrels, and heavy kerseys, making the sales of the last quarter less than usual. The largest increase in the sales was on wagons and axes, both of which have a high character, and are in great demand. There were manufactured and sold during the year eight thousand one hundred and sixty axes, which for their durability, handsome finish and admired pattern, will compare favourably with any brand brought to this market. Their superiority, and the increasing demand for them, would probably justify a considerable increase in the manufacture of this article.

Although the manufactures of the year exceed those of the preceding, the payments for raw materials and other expenses, charged on the agent, do not amount to so much by $871 30.

The whole amount paid out by the agent during the year, including his commissions and the payment into the treasury, is $41,406 75.

There was paid into the treasury by authority of the board $3000, which added to the sum paid on account of permanent improvements at the penitentiary, makes the sum of $5765 28 paid the state during the year; a larger sum than has been paid by the agent for some years past-and had it not been for some heavy losses recently sustained by the agent, his protracted sickness, which prevented his usual collections, and the necessity of retaining funds to meet outstanding claims for materials and labour expended on the new shops, a still larger sum would have been paid into the treasury.

From the present prosperous condition of the finances of the institution, it may reasonably be expected that the agent will be able after purchasing for cash, or on short time, all the raw materials, &c., needed for manufacturing, to pay into the treasury in future, from five to eight thousand dollars annually.

With much respect, I am, gentlemen,

Very truly, your friend and obedient serv't,

JAMES C. SPOTTS, G. A. P.

To the Board of Directors.

GENTLEMEN,

[B.]

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

PENITENTIARY OF VIRGINIA,
NOVEMBER 27, 1846.

It is to be regretted that there was a greater amount of disease among the prisoners within the last fiscal year than usual; but happily it was of so mild a character generally, as to have very little effect on the institution, other than a slight embarrassment in the manufacturing operations. It appears to have been an affliction common to the whole of the lower country. The aggregate of the earnings of the prison, has, notwithstanding, continued to increase, and was greater than in any former year. The following statement will exhibit the results in the several wards, as well as the aggregate amount earned in each of the last four years, to wit:

Although considerable efforts have been made for several years to divert the labour from shoemaking and turn it to a more profitable account, the want of shop room has still rendered it impracticable, and it will be seen that the earnings in this ward (No. 1,) continues to be the largest of the four. The introduction of the edge-tool business three years ago into ward No. 2, has had the best effect on the operations of that ward. The results of No. 3 have improved, but considerable reductions have been made on the goods of that ward, and not charged back upon it. So likewise with No. 1. Ward No. 4 has fallen a little under the results of year before last, which is attributable to the diminished demand for flour barrels. The coopers were necessarily engaged in dressing timbers for another year. The balance in favour of manufacturing operations, as will be seen by reference to the general statement, marked I, was $7028 36 cents; and after deducting therefrom the commissions of the agent and contingent expenses of the store, the final balance was $3089 33 cents.

The enlargement of the shops (spoken of in the last annual report as in contemplation,) has been carried on through the year, in such manner as not to diminish the amount of manufactures delivered to the general agent, and consequently so as not to embarrass the fiscal operations of the institution. The walls of the shops are up, consisting of an addition of 32 feet wide and 244 feet long, attached to the north side of the old shops; and the whole is covered in, with a new roof of slate laid in hydraulic cement. Most of the flooring has been laid, but the interior arrangement is not yet completed. The whole will be done in time, it is hoped, to enable the operatives still further to increase the amount of earnings. Some additional machinery (though not expensive) will be required to give greater efficiency to the increased and increasing number of prisoners.

When we are about to enter upon a larger field of operations, and with greater convenience for carrying out the designs of the institution as a manufacturing establishment, it may not be deemed presumptuous in me to express the hope, that renewed exertions will be made in every branch of the concern for the promotion of the best

interests of the commonwealth. Every facility for the purchase of raw materials at the cheapest rate, should be given, to enable the agent and the institution to come advantageously with the manufactures into the market, at such prices as in the terms of the law, will command a preference. No one can appreciate these advantages more highly than the manufacturer himself. The increase of manufactures will render it more than ever necessary to enlarge the field of operations, by some means in the selling department, so that any excess of goods which may be manufactured beyond the demands of this market, may be sent to another. We have had sufficient experience to know, that holding goods until they go out of fashion, or otherwise become deteriorated in value, and then of exposing them to auction, or reducing them until they can be forced off, will not fail to prove injurious to the commonwealth. It has the effect, also, of impairing the character generally of the manufactures, The reductions and discounts within the last two years to effect sales, amounted to no less than $5129 47 cents, and mainly on goods of the character I have just alluded to. Already considerable reductions have been made to operate on the current year, and be reported in the next annual report. The course of trade is such, that the prices as well as fashions, styles and qualities of goods are continually changing, and reductions on old or stale manufactures, become as inevitable as any other circumstance controlled by the laws of commerce. The solicitude I feel in exhibiting the most favourable results of the institution to the commonwealth, I am sure will be duly appreciated by all who will reflect that I have spent the prime of my life in this service. The first great object I had in view, in taking charge of the penitentiary, was to contribute something, in effecting what, from several years examination in another character, I thought practicable, to wit: that of meliorating the condition of the prisoners, so far at least as to secure to them the greatest degree of health and comfort compatible with a condition of imprisonment for felony; and secondly, to secure from their labour a full indemnity to the commonwealth for the aggregate expense of imprisonment. How far the former has been effected, the reports of several years past will satisfactorily attest; and I know of nothing that I can at present recommend for the improvement of health or comfort, except the introduction of iron bedsteads, which would greatly contribute to the cleanliness and preservation of the clothing, and consequently, in many cases might prevent diseases. In regard to the latter proposition for indemnifying the commonwealth, it may not be improper to remark, that the earnings of the prison for the four years which ended six months after I took charge of the institution, amounted to an average of $16,781 13 per annum. They are now raised to the amount of $26,414 26, (an increase of $9633 13,) and will, with proper management, soon go up to $30,000. Now that there is sufficient room for an enlargement of operations, equal to any probable increase of prisoners, I must acknowledge that I feel ambitious to make renewed exertions for the promotion of the best interests of the commonwealth; and trust that every facility may be given. in the revisal of the laws, both to the manufacturing and selling departments. I am sure that every gentleman connected with the institution must feel the high obligations we all owe to the commonwealth, and will duly appreciate the necessity of making the best exertions for the indemnity of the treasury for all expenses incurred on account of the penitentiary.

The amount of money drawn from the public treasury, and chargeable by law to the manufacturing operations for the year ending 30th September last, amounted to $11,628 28 cents. In addition to the current repairs and ordinary improvements which have been necessary to the institution, and the payment of money to discharged convicts for their support in returning home, the following sums may be fairly

set off against the said sum of

11,628 28

To wit: Materials furnished, and labour done by the penitentiary in building new shops,

Cash paid by agent for materials for said shops,

1,734 42 2,528 58

4,263 00

Labour and materials furnished for improvements at governor's house, and on capitol square, by the penitentiary,

Cash paid by the agent for materials for same purposes,

910 65
236 70

Leaving in the hands of the agent the ample amount of cash, and stock of goods, of

From this it will be seen that the means of the institution are fully equal to the payment of its expenses. Not more than one-sixth of the prisoners are usually able to labour at any of the trades to advantage when received, while others are entirely unable to earn any thing; consequently, much the larger number require to be instructed some time before they can be useful or profitable to the institution. The recent increase of convicts, (seventeen in the year,) has made it necessary to incur additional expenses in dieting, clothing, &c. without any adequate remuneration as yet from their labour. The character of the convicts in the northern and western penitentiaries is different from ours, in regard to their capacity for profitable labour. The proportion of negroes is smaller, and of mechanics much larger.

It will be seen by tables III and IV, that 43 whites and 10 free coloured persons, making 53 convicts, and 7 slaves for transportation, were received within the year; that of the whites, 8 were pardoned, 12 discharged and 1 died-making 21. Of the free blacks, 2 were pardoned, 11 discharged, 1 died and 1 executed-making 15; and the slaves were all transported but one. Leaving in the prison on the 30th of September last, 140 white males, 3 white females, making 143 whites; also, 78 free men of colour and 4 women, making 82 free negroes and one slave; in all 226 persons. By reference to table VI, the gratifying fact will be seen, that of the 226 persons in prison, 107 only were free white native Virginians.*

It will also be seen from the tables that the free negro population is a most productive source of crime. It is proper here to remark, that the punishments for petit larceny, and many other inferior offences, are entirely inadequate to the ends of justice and public security. The losses and sufferings sustained in the community by these small offences, far exceed in amount those by the higher crimes, so far as the rights of property are concerned; and the public administration of justice towards the delinquents, is little else than a preparatory schooling for the penitentiary.

The average number of persons imprisoned during the year was 220. The whole cost of diet, including hospital stores, was $4246 25, being $19 30 for each person. The whole cost of clothing was $2080 91, or $9 46 each—making for dieting and clothing $28 76. The contingent expenses of the prison for bedding, soap, candles, oil to light the prison, spectacles, razors, trusses, shovels, spades, printing reports, postages, gasket to pack steam engine, &c., fuel to run said engine, for cooking, and all other purposes except blacksmithing, amounted to $2621 14, or $11 91 for each person; so that in fact, the actual cost of dieting, clothing, bedding, fuel, and all contingencies of mere imprisonment, (other than salaries of officers and guards, and repairs to the buildings,) amounted to the sum of $40 67 for each person, or twelve cents per day. The earnings being $26,414 26, amounted to $120 06 for each person. The discipline of the institution during the building of the new shops was necessarily relaxed to some extent, but no inconvenience has resulted from it. By the arrangement of the shops now in progress of completion, a very perfect system of discipline may be introduced.

On the 1st day of June last, John Collom, a convict from Stafford, sentenced for carrying off slaves, who was at work on the public ground at the penitentiary escaped, but was pursued and retaken within a quarter of a mile of the prison. Again, on the 3d of September last, James Phillips, a convict from Bath for horse stealing, who was at work on the public square at the capitol, escaped. He was retaken on the bank of the Potomac river, and returned and imprisoned on the 11th of the same month. Several ministers of the gospel, and pious ladies have continued through the year their praiseworthy efforts in the cause of christianity among the prisoners.

I herewith present the general statement, and other tables usually made up for the information of the board of directors, and the general assembly, marked I to XI inclusive.

Very respectfully,

CHARLES S. MORGAN, Superintendent.

In thirty years from the 1st of October 1816, to the 30th of September 1846, there were received in the penitentiary, to wit:

Free whites imprisoned, only

1378 or one in 541

Free negroes

Do. do. transported, 30