THE PRISON SOUTH
had 626 convicts, received, 261; discharged and lost, 294, leaving 593 at the close of the year a daily average of 624. Of these 495 were on contract, being the full 80 per cent. estimated avail- able for labor-the prce, except for fifty, being forty-five cents per day. The earnings for the page: 18[View Page 18]year were $48,706.98 and were paid into the State Treasury with other receipts. The expenses were $70,760.83, leaving an unexpended balance of the appropriation of $1,650.60. There were but six deaths during the year.
The Board of Directors, elected by your predecessors, and commissioned for a term beginning March 11, 1879, secured possession of the Prison North, October 1, 1879, after litigation involving an appeal to the Supreme Court. There were 542 convicts in the prison, a decrease of sixty-three of whom 470 were on contracts at prices from 30 to 55 cents per day. There were nine death during the year. The Directors urge that the prison, having accommodations for 800 convicts, should have an enlarged contributing district; that in- sane convicts be specially provided for; that facilities for bathing be afforded, and that a laundry and a new residence for the Warden be erected at once. The earnings were $69,259.49; the expenditures $68,779.57, an excess of $479.92, showing that the prison was self-sustaining.
The House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders had 383 inmates at the beginning of the year- received 107 and recalled 21, in all, 128; discharged, dropped and lost by death, 183; leaving 330 at the close. Earnings and receipts from sales amounting to $5,249.71 were paid into the State Treasury. Of the annual appropriation of $53,000, $42,500 only was used, the unexpended balance of $10,500 remaining in the Treasury. The amount charged to Counties was $20,989.47. The actual outlay~of the State was $16,261.82. Of this, $4,84.74 paid for buildings and improvements. The gen- general health of the boys was good, three only having died during the year, one of whom was accidentally drowned.
