STATE PENITENTIARY, FT. MADISON.

At the beginning of the biennial period the average population of this institution was 525, at the close of the period, June 30, 1901, there were 448 persons confined therein, and the average during that month was 448. With this reduction of eighty in the number of convicts in two years time it became impossible to supply prison contractors with the number of men required, and on April 1, 1901, after confering with the contractors and wardens, it was deemed not advisable to transfer convicts from the penitentiary at Anamosa to Ft. Madison. It was finally determined that the following counties should be detached and added to the Ft. Madison district, viz: Cedar, Clinton, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson and Scott, and an order was made accordingly. This action has resulted in improving the situation somewhat, although it is now apparent that we may expect a further decline in the average number of persons confined in this penitentiary. In the chapter

on General Observations we show the average population at each of the penitentiaries in July, 1898, June, 1900, and June, 1901.

The sanitary conditions at this institution have been much improved. The erection and occupancy of the new workshop enabled the warden to materially improve the ventilation in some of the old shop buildings, and forced ventilation by means of fans is provided in the new workshop. An electric fan operated by a motor has been placed in the cell house, whereby the vitiated air is removed from the building. A sewer from the penitentiary grounds to the Mississippi river has been constructed.

Many other improvements have been made during the period covered by this report. The new workshop has been completed and occupied; it is three stories high and forty-five feet wide by one hundred forty-five feet long and forty-five feet in height. It is substantially built of stone and brick and is equipped with an elevator. One large room is used by the state as a storeroom, and the rest of the building is used by the Farming Tool Company and the Button Company. A brick dry room for the use of the Farming Tool Company, and a like building which is used by the Button Company, have been erected. A retaining wall has been built on the west side of the main approach to the prison. The kitchen has been repaired and remodeled and equipped with a new range and other needed appliances. New floors and seats have been placed in the diningroom. Brick sidewalks and road

ways have been constructed.

On September 28, 1899, the warden, with our approval, entered

into a contract for five years from December 1, 1899, with the Iowa Button Company whereby they contracted for the services of fifty-seven men at fifty-five cents per day.

The discipline of the prison has been good.

A new power house, smoke stack, machine shop, blacksmith shop, well, water, storage, boilers and connections are much needed.

A new building for a hospital, library and school room is a necessity. The old hospital is badly located and a poor makeshift for a hospital. The library is housed in poor, dark, ill-ventilated quarters which are insufficient in size and impossible to make inviting.

The old solitary is so constructed that persons therein can hold converse with each other, and it is practically without ventilation. A new one is needed.

The prison wall on the east is in a dangerous condition. It is badly out of perpendicular and is in such condition that the defects cannot be repaired. A new wall must be constructed, which should, if possible, be placed upon the line of the State's land.

The amounts recommended for transportation of convicts, warden's house fund, and for contingent and repair funds are required for the purposes mentioned.

We again recommend the passage of an indeterminate sentence law and a parole law.

It appears from the report of the warden that the earnings of the prison during the period from contract labor was $92,352.76, of which $1,646.85 was for piece work. The earnings exceed those: of the prior biennial period in the sum of $12,628.91, due in a large part to the button contract already mentioned.

STATE PENITENTIARY, ANAMOSA.

At the close of the biennial period ending June 30, 1899, there were 529 persons confined in this penitentiary, and at the close of the last biennial period, June 30, 1901, there were 442 prisoners in this institution. The decrease during the period was eigty-seven,.

The appropriation for shop buildings has not yet been expended. With the reduced number of prisoners it was found impossible to do this work and proceed to complete the administration building and north cell house.

The female department is fully completed and ready for occu

pancy. The hog house, a very complete and substantial structure, has been erected and is now in use.

The money appropriated for the purchase of land has not been expended, as the owner of the land which it was proposed to buy insisted upon the state undertaking and doing certain work in connection therewith which we deemed unreasonable, and which, with the reduced number of prisoners, it was impossible to do and at the same time carry on properly state work. Nor did we have, as we viewed it, authority to do work and labor which would be in excess of the amount appropriated in order to acquire title to this land for the state.

The material for the roof of the north cell house has not been purchased, as the work was not far enough advanced on the walls until recently to justify making the purchase. The advance in prices of materials has been such that a further appropriation will be necessary in order to complete this work. A further appropriation is needed to complete the north cell house. Some laundry equipment is needed.

An appropriation will be required for machinery and repairs to the water system, the specific items of which are set forth in detail in the warden's report. Other needed appropriations are

stated in the chapter on appropriations.

The general health of the prisoners has been good, and there has been a marked improvement in the discipline. The grading system has been in operation during the period and has proven a great aid to discipline.

Work on the cooperage contract has progressed with but little friction and successfully, and several of the prisoners employed there have earned considerable sums of money for overwork.

The detailed account of work accomplished on state account is fully set forth in the warden's report and need not be repeated here.

Much work has been done on the erection of a new pump house, and in improving the heating system.

From time to time transfers of prisoners who have become insane and whose condition was such that they were likely to be benefited by treatment in the state hospitals, have been made as contemplated by law.

On June 1, 1901, the order regarding furnishing tobacco to prisoners was superceded by an order authorizing the wardens to furnish a ration of tobacco of four ounces to men in the first grade each week and two ounces to men in the second grade each week.

This applies only to persons who had formed the habit of using tobacco; all others, including third grade men, are not permitted. to use tobacco. Provision was also made for furnishing prisoners in the first and second grades, who do not use tobacco, with any other articles of equal value which the Board and wardens may deem proper to be permitted to be used in the penitentiaries. This action was taken after consultation with the wardens, and it has so far proven very satisfactory.

CLOSE OF THE INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR THE BLIND.

In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 103, laws of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, the Industrial Home for the Blind, at Knoxville, was closed the last day of April, 1900. Prior to that time the inmates had been notified of the date of closing, that they might be ready for the change, and on April 25th a member of the board visited the institution to arrange for the transportation of the inmates to their respective homes. After due inquiry had been made, it was found necessary to provide each inmate, before leaving, with a complete outfit of new clothing, and both men and women were accordingly provided with full suits, including underwear, hats, shoes and all other necessaries.

In addition to clothing and furnishing transportation, each inmate was given from $12.00 to $15.00 in cash, according to distance to be traveled, in reaching their homes.

The expenditures in closing the home were as follows:

94.89

$ 1,221.05

Cash paid to inmates

Cash paid to Superintendent Culbertson, salary and board, lawn mower, freight, nails, fence wire, etc..

Total expenditures...

The general assembly had appropriated $3,000, to carry out the provisions of the act closing the institution, and there was realized from the sale of personal property to other state institutions, and private persons, a further sum of $2,033.06, making a

total credit of $5,033.06. After deducting the expenditure,. $1,221.05, there is in the state treasury to the credit of the Industrial Home for the Blind $3,812.01.

All groceries and other perishable articles were shipped to the Industrial School at Mitchellville, no charge being made therefor. The broom machinery, tools, broom corn and other articles. used in the manufacture of brooms were shipped to the College for the Blind at Vinton, and paid for by that institution, at a price fixed by the Board of Control.

In this connection we might state that the manufacture of brooms is now one of the leading industries taught at the College for the Blind at Vinton. The making of brooms has proved one of the best trades that can be taught the blind, that article being a staple and always in demand, the machines required being simple and cheap, and although deprived of sight, a remarkable degree of efficiency is often secured by the sense of touch, which. is usually well developed among the blind.

For the foregoing reasons, the Board determined to remove the entire plant used in the manufacture of brooms at the Industrial Home for the Blind, to the College for the Blind, at Vinton, and thereby afford those attending the college an opportuuity to learn the trade, and thus become, after leaving the college, self-supporting, in a measure at least.

With the closing of the home, it was necessary to place some responsible person in charge of the property, and due notice having been giving that a custodian would be appointed, a number of applications for the position were received by the Board. Some of the applicants for the position desired, in addition to the use of the property, a fixed salary payable each month, but after careful inquiry in regard to character and fitness for the position, A. L. McCoy, of Knoxville, was appointed custodian of the property of the state, without salary, and giving bond for the faithful performance of the contract made with the Board. As compensation for his services, Custodian McCoy was. assigned certain rooms in the building for the use of himself and family, the use of the farm for hay and pasture, and all fruits and vegetables produced, and the use of such outbuildings as were necessary in caring for the property.

The farm is now all in grass, except the orchard and garden, the fences have been repaired, and it is now proposed to paint all iron roofs on the buildings, and make such other improvements as will place the property in the best possible condition.