VII. THE WISCONSIN STATE PRISON. [Located at Waupun.] The board of directors of the State Prison is as follows: Joel Rich, Juneau, term expires January, 1876; Wm. E. Smith, Milwaukee, term expires January, 1878; Nelson Dewey, Cassville, term expires January, 1880. RESIDENT OFFICERS. Warden-Horatio N. Smith. Physician-H. L. Butterfield. TABLE Showing appropriations, current expenses, officers' services, subsistence, etc., of the Prison for the last twenty-four years. 1 These figures are for the nine months from January to October, 1870, but the per capitais figured for the entire year. For six months ending Oct. 1, 1874, but per capita for a year. STATISTICS OF POPULATION. There were confined in the State Prison, April 1, 1874: The average number of prisoners for the six months ending September 30, 1874..... Average number for the year ending September 30, 1873.. 214 180 THE CASH RECEIPTS Of the Prison for the six months ending September 30, 1874, are exhibited below: Less amount paid on old indebtedness due from prison prior to April 1, 1874 ....... 5,671 27 Leaving a balance of state appropriation for current expenses, of $22,372 98 Received for boarding U. S. convicts $637 74 463 50 $324 58 424 58 35,093 53 836 91 230 95 274 70 2 37 6 72 barn and yard.. Deduction on bill of Goldsmith & Co 23.10 26,005 96 Total.... $48.378 94 The business operations of the Prison for THE SIX MONTHS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, are set forth briefly in the report of Warden Smith, as follows: DEBIT. To show the actual result of the six months' business ending September 30, 1874, the property on hand April 15, 1874, should be charged to me as valued by the directors... Amount of state appropriations in my hands, less am't paid on old indebtedness.. Amount of liabilities incurred since April 1, 1874, for lumber and other materials delivered and on hand, and not paid for on date of this report...... $64,415 33 22,372 98 6,022 75 Total... CREDIT. I should then be charged with amount of property on hand, as valued by Directors October 1, 1874... Due state on acc't of sales since April 1, 1874. Cash on hand... Less convicts deposits... $92,811 06 $82,573 72 3,370 99 $810 93 424 58 386 35 $86,331 06 $6,480 00 Leaving a balance of....... Which last amount the warden says represents what the Prison has cost the state, over and above earnings for the six months ending September 30, 1874. But the warden adds: "This balance cannot be taken as any basis of financial results for the next six months. It will be seen that a large portion of the amount of appropriation by the legislature for current expenses is invested in the increased stock on hand, eight thousand dollars. of the excess being on the item of lumber alone." "It will be necessary for the success of the labor of this institution to carry a stock of lumber and other materials equal to the amount now on hand." "It should also be remembered that all the largest items of expense come in the six months ending April 1st, next, being the winter months of the year." The Warden, in his report, alludes to a number of causes that will tend to increase the expense of the prison during the present six months over that of the past six months, such as: increased number of convicts; increased expense for clothing, for fuel, for lights, etc.; certain extraordinary expenses; and also a decrease in the daily earnings of the prisoners on account of the winter weather and short days, "much of the time not more than eight hours instead of ten, as in the summer months, can the prisoners be employed." THE RESOURCES OF THE PRISON At date of directors' report, October 1, 1874, are given as follows: Cash on hand..... Finished chairs on hand as per invoice, sold to Abernathy Less liabilities for lumber and other materials delivered and unpaid.............. $810 93 11,071 06 3,370 98 $15,252 98 6,447 22 $8.805 76 Liabilities on old accounts prior to April 1, 1874..... $1,358 73 1,159 97 Total present available resources. APPROPRIATIONS ASKED. The Warden regards the collection of this last amount so doubtful as not to be relied upon to meet the outstanding liabilities, and therefore asks an appropriation of $1,358.73 to pay this indebtedness created prior to April 1, 1874. An appropriation of $2,627.07 is also asked to make good the amount drawn from the current expense fund to pay old indebtedness. Also $10,000 for general purposes, to carry the Prison. through to April 1, 1875. All aggregating the sum of $13,985.80. The warden says: "If the present arrangement for sales should continue, no further appropriation will be required for the support of this institution from April 1, 1874, to April 1, 1875, and at the same time leave a much larger stock of material and goods on hand, April 1, 1875, than on April 1, 1874." However it is thought that the general dullness of business, together with a discontinuance of the present contract with the Abernathy brothers, might render it necessary to obtain "an extra appropriation or temporary loan until sales could be made." |