Early Governors' Papers

10

the prisoners will also be constantly engaged in some mechanical employment, which will produce a profit on their labor. When their number is increased to thirty five or forty, if well managed, the prison will be no longer a charge on the State. It is believed that its clear gain will cover the salary of officers, and all other contingent disbursements. This conclusion is sustained by the experience of all well conducted penitentiaries. The proceeds of the labor of the average number of about one hundred and fifty prisoners at Weathersfield Connecticut, exceed the whole expense of their support, including the salary of the officres more than five thousand dollars a year. At Baltimore for the last seven years, the average profits at the Peniten =tiary has been upwards of ten thousand dollars annually. Other institutions presnt the same favor -able results, and there is every reason to believe that we may soon calculate on similar advantages. Even now,at the commencement of its operations the prison is less expensive to the State, than was our old system of criminal law. A few years ago I adddressed letters to the clerks of the county and circuit courts, requesting an account of the expense of the confinement of criminals in the country Jails after conviction. The result of my inquiring was that it was little short of twelve thousand dollars a year. From this charge we are now entirely relieved. The present criminal code may be defective; if so the power of