The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 50) November 1911Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 50) November 1911
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
The profit in the shoe department was $1,665.00.
The earnings by labor, piece price, in the broom department, $4,069.00.
It appears that the officials make effort to find work for the large
majority of the convicts.
The number of days of labor reported by those in fair health is 275,051.
The number of days of idleness seems large, 85,074, but indicates that
the convicts are at work a little over three fourths of the time.
They now have a regular optical department equipped with modern
appliances, and in 1910 386 prisoners were fitted with glasses. The
physician reports that in many instances those who were thus supplied
showed both physical and mental improvement, to say nothing of the
satisfaction of having deficiencies of eyesight remedied.
The chaplain reports that the number of bound volumes in the library is
11,882. During the year the number of books issued to the prisoners was
73,070.
The report contains resolutions of the Board of Inspectors _in
memoriam_ of John Linn Milligan, whose mission since 1863 had been in
looking after the spiritual interests of the inmates of the Western
Penitentiary. The following paragraph from one of his recent reports
illustrates the spirit of the man and of his work: “Since my official
relation with this prison began, 11,624 convicted men have passed
within these gates. Many of these have gone out to struggle into the
cold and suspicious world, friendless and alone, to struggle against
the handicap that conviction and punishment of crime bring. Doubtless
many have died, bruised under the burdens they have had to bear.
Doubtless many more than the public believes have been absorbed into
the ranks of industrial honesty of life and purpose. A small per cent.
were instinctive and professional criminals, and nothing but the
sovereign grace and mercy of the good Lord, who said to the poor sinner
in the face of the murderous crowd, ‘Neither do I condemn thee; go, sin
no more,’ could cure the crime habit for them.
“When I look back along the line of the regiment of convicted
criminals, whom I have tried to strengthen with a new and manly
purpose, the busy efforts do not seem long, nor has my knowledge and
familiarity with their character hardened my heart nor diminished my
desire to uplift them. Nor has the backward glance lessened my hope in
true reformative efforts, patient, firm and kind, and I believe more
sincerely in the deep necessity of Divine love and power for their
spiritual reclamation.”
Warden Francies earnestly recommends that immediate steps be taken to
remove the prison to a more healthful location on some large tract of
land on which buildings may be erected largely by convict labor, and
where the inmates may in the future be employed in producing their own
sustenance thus saving a large part of the expense of the maintenance
of the prison.
FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY
WORKHOUSE, 1910.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account