Communication from the Acting Commissioner of Internal Improvement. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following preamble and resolution: "Whereas, It appears from the report of the Commissioners of Internal Improvement, that there was expended during the year 1844 for the construction of new cars, the sum of $19,976 46; and for the same purpose during the year 1845, the sum of $26,217 87 ; which sums combined, fall only short $680 67 of the whole amount of cars now on hand, as per inventory in said report; therefore "Resolved, That the Commissioner of Internal Improvement be, and he is hereby directed to report to this House, the number and value of cars on hand at the commencement of the year 1844; the amount expended for repairing the cars since that time; and if the value of said cars at the commencement of 1844 shall be found to exceed the said sum of $680 67, he is further required to report what disposition has been made of such excess.' "" The repairs of cars, racks, engine and tender frames, have all been charged into one general account, called "repairs of machinery and cars," until the commencement of the present fiscal year; consequently I am unable to say what has been the expense of repairs of cars only, for the period named in the resolution of the House. It may not be irrelevant to remark, that accounts are now opened with each of the articles above named; and that at the close of the present fiscal year, the definite sums expended upon either and all of them can be accurately stated. Having no shelter for our cars, they are necessarily exposed to the storms of winter, and the scarcely less injurious operation of the heat of summer, in addition to the wear and tear of constant use upon a rough road. All of which sufficiently accounts, I apprehend, for the present cars being worth less than their original cost. The amount charged each year for building new HOUSE.] cars, is, of course, charged into the stock account of the Central Rail Road. The House are respectfully referred to the following memoranda from the report of the board of Internal Improvement, for the year 1843: Building new cars, Repairs, machinery and cars during that year, Number of 8 wheel passenger cars, $11,498 53 18,477 26 Amount of expense in building new cars in 1844, as per report of commissioners, 19,976 46 Repairs of machinery and cars, 17,726 46 Valuation of cars and racks, including rack covers and 3 unfinished cars, 38,485 00 8 ❝ racks, 15 Amount expended in building new cars in 1845, as per re port of commissioners, 26,217 87 Repairs of machinery and cars, 23,611 84 Valuation of cars and racks, including rack covers and 1846. No. 4. Report of the Committee on the State Prison. The committee on the state prison, to whom was referred the " annual report of the inspectors of the state prison at Jackson, for the year ending Oct. 31, 1845;" also, a resolution of instruction, requiring the committee to "inquire whether the present mode of employing convicts in said prison, operates injuriously upon mechanical and manufacturing industry, and if so, what alterations, if any, ought to be made in said method of employment ;" having had the same under consideration, respectfully present the following report: From the statement of the number of days' work performed, and the amount earned by convicts during the year ending as above, it appears that the total value of labor amounts to $11,348 07, of which $6,922 70 is the amount for contractors in the several mechanical pursuits, and $4,425 37 for the state. The number of convicts employed in the fulfillment of contracts, is from 69 to 130, and the branches of business to which their labor is directed, are shoe-making, coopering, the manufacturing of iron machinery and of woolen goods, blacksmithing and wagon-making; of these the largest number are employed in the manufacture of woollens, a branch which interferes less with the general industry of the country than any other. The following abstract will show the number of convicts actually employed, and the character of the occupations in which they are engaged: |