Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1881 — Northern Prison. [ARTICLE]

Northern Prison.

The directors of the Indiana State prison north, have submitted to the governor the first annual report of the . condition and management of the prison from November 1, 1880, to October 31, 1881. The present board met for the first time March 11. 1881, and ben> their report covers a period o' four months whicba bjlong« to the lorme'r management. Tne receipts and earnings of the prison for the fiscal year were $77,429 40, of which amount," $71,104.14 was on account of labor perfonued; the expenditures were SBO,020 87, leaving a deficit of $2 591’.47.' There is due from the United States for keeping United States prisoners $732,'a150 a note from Walker & Case, SSOO, which reduces the deficit to sl,- ' 359.47. Of the above receipts and exexpenditures the previous board rec Jived $24,504.25 and expended $30,786.49, being an excess of expenditures over receipts up to March 1, 1881, of $6,383.44. Since that time the excess of receipts over expenditures was $3.791.77. The report shows that advantageous contracts for letting prison labor have been made, and calls the attention of the governor to the fact that a bath and wash house, and a building for insane and refractory prisoners are much needed.. The board compliment Warden Murdock and other employes for efficiency. ■ * ‘ ’ The Warden’s report tojthe directors also accompanies the directors’ >-tatement. It shows that the average monthly number ot prisoners was 572. At the date of last report 577 prisoners; received since that 277, total 835. The number of discharges was 282, leaving 572 men in prison October 31. The average cost ot luel and light for each convict per day, including officers, guards, repairs of prison, clothing, food, medicine, etc., was 38 03. The physician’s report show but five deaths in the year, and the general health exceedingly good, due in a great measure to the healthful location and wholesome diet. The clerk’s report shows the largest number of convicts to be from Marion county, 138, and that more prisoners are in for grand larceny than for any other cause, the number being 206. There are fortythree life convicts out of 572 prisoners; 103 were farmers and 189 laborers; 10(i can neither read nor write; 386 are ot intemperate habits, and 422 are.unmarried men. The prison- 1 moral instructor reports that good books have been supplied and every moral inducement offered the prisoners.