WARDEN'S REPORT.

To His Excellency Wm. R. Marshall, Governor of Minne

sota:

The Board of Inspectors of the State Prison, of the State of Minnesota, respectfully submit the following report of the affairs of that institution for the current year:

In accordance with the provisions of chap. 10, of the laws of 1866, a contract approved by the Governor and Auditor, was entered into with Messrs. Seymour & Webster, for the rent of the prison shops and yard, and the labor of all able bodied convicts who may be confined in the prison, for the term of nine years from the first day of March last, at an annual rent for shops and yard of $100 and 38 cents per day for the labor of such able bodied convicts during the first three years; 40 cents per day for the next three years, and 45 cents per day for the last three years of the term. Satisfactory bonds were given for the faithful performance on their part, of the terms of the contract, and under this contract all the convicts turned over to the contractors have been furnished with constant employment.

By the provisions of chapter 12, of the laws of 1866, the Warden, with the concurrence of the Board of Inspectors, was authorized to procure the erection of forty-two cells in the new cell building, in accordance with the plans previously adopted for that purpose. Proposals for this work and the materials therefor were advertised for as required by the act, and the contract was awarded to William Willim, Esq., he being the lowest bidder, at $9,895,00. By the terms of this contract the whole number of cells were to be finished by the 1st day of October. The plan of the cell building contemplates the erection of three tiers of cells,

twenty-six in each tier. By leaving a portion of the first tier unfinished it would not only present an unsightly appearance, but it was thought by the officers of the prison that the finished cells on the second tier would not be safe -they being divided by a brick wall only-without the erection of a substantial stone wall at the end of the broken tier which would have to be removed when the remaining cells were built. The contract was, therefore, with the approval of your Excellency, varied so as to require the erection during the present season of only the first tier, twenty-six cells. These are now finished and the work has been done in a neat and substantial manner and they are now ready for use as soon as the necessary furniture can be provided to fit them up.

A substantial floor of cement has been laid throughout the building, and on account of the springy nature of the ground it was found necessary to construct a stone sewer reaching down to the foundation of the building around the north and west sides to carry off the water and render the cells dry and habitable.

The statute provides that the "Deputy Warden shall reside at the prison." There being no rooms in the prison building which could be used as a residence by that officer, the Board deemed it necessary to provide a building for that purpose, together with a suitable store room for the prison stores which had become an actual necessity. This matter was laid before the prison committee appointed by the last legislature and received their approval and a promise that a sufficient appropriation should be recommended. We therefore authorized the warden to contract with Messrs. Seymour & Webster, the prison contractors, for the erection of these structures at a cost for labor and materials: Stone store room

Rooms for Deputy Warden over same

Total expense,

$763,00

600,00

$1,363,00

As by the oversight or otherwise of the prison committee no appropriation was made to meet this expense, it was settled by placing the amount to the credit of Messrs. Seymour & Webster, in their account for current labor, etc.

The old wooden building at the west of the principal workshop being very much out of repair, and sills and roof too rotten to be economically repaired, we authorized the con-..

tractors to erect a new building in its place, using all the material of the old that could be worked in-the work was mostly done by the convicts, and the building cost the State only the cost of the new material used and for the convict labor, the price paid by the contractors for the same. The whole expense is $431,14, which has been credited to the contractors in their account.

By the terms of the contract with Messrs. Seymour & Webster, the State is bound to furnish to the contractors shop room sufficient for the profitable employment of all the convicts turned over to them. The number now confined is thirty-five, and we estimated that during the next summer it will not be less than forty-five; with the present force it has been found necessary to divide and place a portion in the carpenter shop which is illy suited and small, and any addition will necessitate a still further division, taking some into the new building; each of these divisions necessitates the employment of an extra guard when the number of prisoners does not require it if more commodious shop room was furnished. We therefore recommend the erection of an additional building for this purpose.

We would also earnestly recommend the entire completion of the cells during the next season; first for economy sake, for we think the work can be done cheaper and better in one job than if done in driblets; second, for convenience and safety; and third, because we would like to have this one department of the prison finished, and be saved the necessity of year after year importuning the legislature for additional appropriations for the same thing. At all events we hope that the completion of the second tier of cells may be provided for. We have already shown the inconvenience of having the work stop where it is left by the pres ent contract, and we present estimates of the cost of completing this tier.

The title to a portion of the land provided for at the last session of the legislature has been secured, and it is expected that the remaining tracts can be obtained during the next season.

The report of the Warden, which is herewith presented, contains a detailed statement of the financial operations of the prison during the year, from which it appears that the current expenditures have been $12,085,01.