Commonwealth of Massachusetts. INSPECTORS' REPORT. To His Excellency WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Governor, and the Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The undersigned, Inspectors of the State Prison, herewith present their Annual Report for the year ending September 30th inst., accompanied by those of the Warden, Physician and Chaplain. In the report of the Warden, Hon. Gideon Haynes, you will find all the statistical details of the working and condition of the prison for the year. The Inspectors, in addition to their regular monthly meetings, have, through some of their number, visited the prison, on an average, three times a week. These visits have been made at all hours of the day and evening, without the previous knowledge of any of the officers. During these visits the prisoners have had the privilege of speaking to the Inspectors alone, making known their complaints and wants. We are pleased to state that very few complaints have been made by the prisoners, and those only of a trivial character. The prisoners speak well of their food and the treatment of their officers, are well behaved, and obedient to the discipline of the prison. We bear cordial testimony to the faithfulness and kindness with which the Warden, and all the officers under him, have discharged their various duties. FINANCES. The financial year just closed has been one of success, and, through its business management, has proved to be self-sustaining. The receipts in cash for the financial year ending this date are $134,660.27 (paid to the State treasurer), which, with stock on hand, $9,984.27, makes a total of $144,644.54. The expenditures in cash have been $113,054.90, which, with stock on hand October 1st, 1870, of $10,147.45, makes a total of $123,202.35, and a balance in favor of the prison of $21,442.19. The profits of the prison for five years have reached the sum of $126,772.58. CONTRACTS FOR LABOR. During the past year a contract with the Tucker Manufacturing Company for two hundred men expired. Proposals were advertised for, through the newspapers and by circular, for the employment of those men. Acceptable bids were received from Messrs. Morgan & Dore, of Lynn, for seventyfive men, to make ladies' shoes, at one dollar per day, and from Messrs. Fearing, Rodman and Swift, for twenty-five men, to make chains, at one dollar and eight cents per day. The balance of the men were taken by the Tucker Manufacturing Company, at eighty-five cents per day. The contracts for labor now stand as follows: Tucker Manufacturing Co., : We have felt for some time the want of more shop room to accommodate the various departments of labor, and the increasing number of convicts. This has been remedied the past year by raising the roof of the shop at the lower or west end of the yard, giving us a new workshop, 200 feet long and 36 feet wide. This room is light, airy and cheerful, affording work room for 75 men. During the year we have painted the outside of all the workshops, giving them a uniform and neat appearance. Our shops are now in excellent order and the contractors well accommodated. SANITARY. We have paid especial attention during the year to the sanitary condition of the prison; everything has been done to keep the prison neat and clean, that we have had the power to do. During the year we have had new drains laid from the workshops to tide-water, into which the water-closets and all refuse water empty. HOSPITAL. We are pleased to speak of the excellent condition of this department of the prison. No epidemic has visited our men during the year; and when we consider the large number of men who are sent to this institution in a diseased, and some in a dying condition, and observe the general good health of all the others while in the prison, we are convinced that our physician, Dr. J. G. Dearborn, is equal to the duties of his situation. We would make especial mention of Mr. George A. Lounsberry, who has for many years had charge of the hospital. His patience to the sick and dying has done much to alleviate their sufferings. THE SCHOOL. Your Excellency was early led to believe, in your official visits to the prison, that a school in which the common English branches should be taught would be a great blessing to the convicts, and a help in the discipline of the prison, as education is a preventive of crime, and often opens up a road that leads to the heart and to reformation. Consequently a school was organized in the fall of 1869, and held its sessions in the chapel of the prison. This year, during the summer vacation, a school-room capable of seating at desks one hundred and fifty men was finished off and furnished, over the chapel. The school is now reorganized in the new school-room, and in successful operation. On our visits to the school, the earnestness manifested by the men to attend, and the interest in the lessons while there, the rapid improvement made by many in their studies (a large number learning to read and write who could not read or write upon entering the prison), have led us to believe in its utility and that it may be of the best possible advantage in the reformation of the convicts. We earnestly recommend that an additional appropriation be made for educational purposes, that a teacher may be employed by those having charge of the school, whose duty it shall be to give his undivided attention to instruction in the school, and at proper times, under suitable regulations, to the men in their cells. SUNDAY SCHOOL. Our Sunday school, under the direction of the Chaplain and Warden, is large and very interesting; the teachers are furnished from the various churches of Charlestown and Boston. They are devoted men, and have the assurance that their labors are not in vain in the Lord. LIBRARY. We We have a library of 2,000 volumes of good books, and have bought during the year, to take the place of old, worn-out books, 177 volumes. New works bought, 40 volumes. have had presented to us during the year, 34 volumes, to the donors of which we present our thanks. These books are much sought for, and are a source of profit and pleasure to the men. CHAPLAIN. The Rev. M. M. Parkhurst closed his labors after a brief service of six months, he being called to labor with a large and prosperous church in Chicago. Rev. W. W. Colburn, the present Chaplain, commenced his labors the last spring. During the short time he has been in the prison he has endeared himself to officers and prisoners by his eloquent, earnest and faithful preaching, and by his personal attention to the wants of the men. A faithful chaplain can do much to aid in the reformation of the men. believe we have such a man in our present Chaplain. ESTIMATES. We Our estimates for the support of the prison for the year 1872 are as follows: |