220 solitary cells, and the outer wall; and a covering of the cells below the roof, of stone, lime, sand and loam, which is to be fire proof; and also a new roof. The cells are built with posts of cut grey limestone; and iron doors, wholly grated. There is no wood used in or about the cells, except the floor of the galleries, which are two feet nine inches in width, in front of the cells. These floors are supported by cast iron anchors, worked into the piers of the cells, and have iron hand railings. The stairs are supported upon wrought iron risers, which rest upon wrought iron anchors, worked into the wall like those which support the galleries. The locks of the cells, (which were manufactured in the prison,) are let into the stone fronts, and made secure there with bolts. There are twenty-two cells in length on each side, and they rise five stories in height. The cells in the inside are seven feet in length, by three feet six inches in width, and seven feet in height, and are well ventilated. The area, or distance between the cells and outer wall is thirteen feet; and over this area are constructed ample ventilators through the covering leading through the roof. The area is wholly flagged with cut stone. The labor of removing the materials of the old cells, and north wall, was very great; and employed at least forty convicts for two months. expense The cells and building are all completed, and were occupied by the convicts on the first instant. A detailed statement of the money expended under the said act is herewith communicated, and is contained in statement marked number 20. There are probably some small bills belonging to this head, not yet presented and paid, but which will not exceed one hundred dollars. The whole of building the 220 cells, under said act, and of completing that part of the south wing, as will be seen by reference to statement number 20, is $12,376.36. It will be observed that the expense is within the estimate presented to the last Legislature; and when it is considered that no labor or expense has been spared to make the cells secure and permanent, and when the great amount of labor, necessary to prepare the stone and other materials used in the building; and the extent of the erection, are also taken into the account, we feel constrained to say, that no erection of the kind, and of such an extent, has ever been built in this country, at so small an expense. This result is in a great measure to be attributed to the uncommon, and unremitted exertions, perseverance, and good management, of the agent and other officers of the prison, who have had the immediate superintendance of the building ope rations. We are gratified to have it in our power to state, that the whole expense has been met by the funds which had accumulated in the hands of the Agent, and that the appropriation of $6,000, made by the said act, for the purpose of this erection, remains untouched in the treasury of the state. That part of the south wing of the prison, containing the new cells, is now connected with the remaining part in a temporary manner; and in order to secure the same properly, it will be necessary to continue the north wall of this wing on the same line, to the front building; and also to continue the roof over the remaining part of the wing. The present roof is poor and leaky, and if the building is permitted to remain as it now is, will require extensive repairs. In making the present alterations, it became necessary to destroy the former chapel; and a temporary chapel was prepared in the south front of the prison. The mess room, which occupies the basement of the remaining part of the south wing, is already too small for present accommodation. By widening this part of the wing, this room will be much enlarged, and will, it is believed, be sufficient to accommodate all the convicts that can be lodged in the cells of the prison. It is necessary to make some arrangement for a permanent and suitable chapel, and such an one may be built over the mess room, when enlarged, We would therefore recommend that a law be passed, authorizing the Agent, under the direction of the Inspectors, to make the proposed alteration, From rough estimates furnished us, we are in, duced to believe, that the expense will not exceed six thousand dol lars: to meet this expense we ask for no appropriation from the State. The money now in the hands of the Agent, and that which may be calculated upon from the sources of the prison, and that which will probably be realised in the course of the current year, we are satisfied will defray this expense. 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. By reference to statement marked number 21, herewith sent, the various branches of business in which the convicts are employed, the number engaged in each branch, and the amount earned in each branch of business, will be found exhibited. The alteration made in the south wing of the prison destroyed the room in which the female convicts had, before that time, been confined. Their situation in that room, the only place in the prison where they could at that time well be kept, was deplorable enough; and was a standing call on the humanity and wisdom of the Legislature for relief. The preparation made for a temporary chapel, by taking away some partition walls in the south front of the prison, gave us an opportunity of providing the females with a more airy and convenient place for working during the day; and at night they were confined in four large cells in the south wing, over the mess room. But this arrangement, indispensable and ab solutely demanded as it was, by every feeling of regard to their health and comfort, could not be effected, without engaging the services of a matron to superintend them in their employment during the day. Under these circumstances we determined, although the law had made no provisions for paying a female keeper, that it was expedient to engage one. We accordingly directed the Agent to hire a matron to take the charge of the female convicts; which he did, from the 26th of June last, for the compensation of $16 per month. The success of this new arrangement has been gratifying. The appearance, manners, industry and health of the females has evidently improved. But we must be permitted to renew the request that has been so often made, by the Inspectors of this prison, that the Legislature would make provision for the confinement of female convicts at some other place than within the walls of this prison. The present arrangement for their confinement and working, is but temporary; and even this could not be continued, if the proposed improvement should be authorised. The particular reasons which render it inexpedient, and in our view improper, to confine females in this prison, have been so fully expressed in the last report, from the Inspectors to the Legislature; and are so forcibly stated in the report of the chaplain to us of this year, and which is herewith sent, that we deem it unnecessary to dwell longer upon the subject. By the tenth section of the aforesaid act, it is made the duty of the Inspectors of this prison to furnish to the Legislature, with our annual report, copies of the monthly returns, made to us on oath, by the Agent. They are herewith sent, marked numbers 7 to 18 inclusive. And by the terms of the same section we are required to furnish a list of all contracts entered into, by which the convicts are employed, setting forth the portion of the same that may have been finished during the year, &c. It would appear by the phraseology of this part of that section, that its application was not meant for this prison; for, to require us to state what portion of the contracts have been finished during the year, is not requiring a statement of any thing that takes place in this prison. The contracts made for the labor of convicts at this prison are for a daily compensation, for a specified period of time; or for payment of a stipu lated sum for the manufacture of each article made, and for a specified period of time. As it respects the sums of money received upon the contracts for labor, they are contained in the monthly returns herewith sent, numbers marked 7 to 18 inclusive. All which is respectfully submitted. HORACE HILLS, JOHN PORTER, HERVEY HINMAN, BRADLEY TUTTLE, Inspectors. DOCUMENTS. REPORT Of the Physician of the State Prison, for the year 1832. To the Inspectors of the State Prison, Auburn. GENTLEMEN, In presenting to the Board the health of the convicts for the year ending December 31st, 1832, it is worthy of observation, that, (notwithstanding the threatening aspect during the summer,) the average of sick confined to the hospital during the year does not vary materially from former seasons: The character of the disease was, however, essentially changed during the summer months. Early in the month of July, there was an uncommon tendency to the derangement of the stomach and bowels. In some there was obstinate constipation of the bowels; in others too great looseness, and several cases of cholera morbus occurred; but without any thing stirikingly peculiar in the attack, progress or termination. This condition of the system did not exist long, before there seemed an universal predisposition to watery diarrhoea with whiteness of the tongue, but very little disturbance in the circulation. About the 10th of August, disease assumed a distinctiveness of character, differing essentially from any thing in the form of disease that had at any time come under my observation. The pale face and shrunken features, cool and clammy skin, a peculiar whiteness of the tongue, the shrivelled skin over the ends of the fingers and toes, tenderness over the abdominal region, and at the pit of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, &c. too plainly indicated the character of the disease with which we had to contend. Its identity with the fatal epidemic which has spread consternation and desolation over the fairest portions of the civilized world, could not be mistaken even by the common observer who had read the characteristic symptoms of that disease. In escaping the fatality which has marked this pestilence in its progress in nearly every place where it has appeared, I consider we owe much to the vigilance of the prison officers; the increased attention to cleanliness and ventilation; the uniform, regular and accustomed diet; the immediate report to the hospital of such as were even slightly indisposed, afforded advantages in contracting the disease, which could scarcely have been enjoyed in private [Assem. No. 20.] 2 |