e were,
also, important repairs, with improvements in the drainage and
ventilation, made.

These outlays were mostly made by the warden, the Governor, for the
time, assenting and advising. In '69 the Governor and council relieved
the warden of all financial responsibility, appointing one of their
number to act as prison agent, and make the purchases and meet the
outlays at the prison, in which year they put a new roof to the south
wing and made other important alterations and repairs. From the
legislative grants and prison earnings all these expenses were met, and
the year closed with the institution free of debt, in good repair, and
with all needed labor appliances, which was a great relief to all having
the care and responsibility of the concern, rendering the task of
keeping things tidy and in comfortable order much easier than formerly.
It is better and more economical for the State. That constant patching
up and fixing over in numerous places, swallowing up money, no one
hardly knowing how, is now nearly ended, permitting the real gains of
the institution to accumulate and stand prominently in view, though
everything there is not quite perfection yet.

The drainage and ventilation were found very defective and in bad order,
but by the remodeling are made as good, perhaps, as can be in the
situation.

In this general fitting up, the prison officers and men voluntarily
contributed to quite an extent, of which no account anywhere appears,
though the State enjoys the gain. In the summer and fall of '69 and the
spring of '70, I frequently saw the deputy, out of the usual work hours,
going with squads of men to labor on the sewers or wherever they could
advantageously.

The prison is lighted by gas. In the hall the burners, thirty-two in
number, are placed along the outer walls, each from eight to ten or
twelve feet from a cell, but being old and leaking badly, they give a
poor light, the bars to the cells casting shadows on the books or papers
the prisoners may attempt to read. Hence, one of the governors ordered
candles to be furnished to the cells extra when desired. These were so
extensively called for that in '69 the gas had been largely dispensed
with for the candles.

In case a prisoner is attempting to run away, or is rising upon an
officer, the officers are held at liberty to shoot, knock down, or use
whatever means may be needed in self-defense or in preventing their
escape. Otherwise prison rule does no