In compliance with my duty as Warden of this Institution I have the honor to submit here forth a Bi-ennial Report of the general management of the prison for the years ending Oct 31 1880.

Convicts.

Convicts in confinement Oct 31 1878—1102
Of this number there were in the prison at Raleigh 365
On the Western N.C. Rail Road 558
" " Spartanburg Asheville RR 1
" " Georgia & NC Rail Road 28
" " Chester & Lenoir RR 50
" " Western (now C. F. & Y. V.) RR 100   1102

From Oct 31, 1878 to Oct 31, 1880 there were received from counties 942 and there were recaptured 65 making a total of 2109. Of the 942 prisoners received there were 119 white males, 4 white females, 779 colored males, and 40 colored females; there were 873 committed on first sentence, 64 on the second, 4 on the third, and 1 on the fourth. The greatest number in prison during the two years was 1135, the smallest number 992 and the average for the entire time was 1090.

Of the 2109 in prison during the two years, 640 have been discharged by expiration of sentence, 72 have been pardoned, 201 have escaped, 180 have died, 11 have been killed in attempting to escape, 1 has been killed by a falling tree, and 1 removed for another trial, leaving 993 in confinement Oct 31, 1880.

Distributed as follows:
In Prison at Raleigh 301
On Western NC Rail Road 357
" Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley RR 245
" Georgia & NC Rail Road 10
" University RR 55
" Quaker Bridge Road (Jones Co) 25   993

We are much pleased to notice that there has been a gradual but constant decrease in the prison population since 1877. That year, as may have been seen by reference to table No. 11, there were 548 commitments. In 1878 there were 495, a decrease of 53, and in 1879 a further reduction of 17, and in 1880 shows 14 less still making the commitments of 1880 just 84 less than in 1877. This apparent improvement in the moral character of this class of our population is certainly very gratifying.

For a more thorough history of the prison population, see tabular statements carefully prepared and compiled by Mr. J. P. Stedman, clerk and book keeper of the Prison, giving in detail, age, sex, color, crime, term of sentence &c &c as well as State and counties from which they were received

Table No 1 Penitentiary Record for the Years 1879 & '80
" " 2 Western NC.RR. " " " " 1879 & '80
" " 3 Spartanburg & Asheville RR " " year 1879
" " 4 Georgia & NC RR " " years 1879 & '80
" " 5 Chester & Lenoir N.G. RR " " year 1879
" " 6 Cape & Yadkin Valley RR " " years 1879 & '80
" " 7 Oxford & Henderson RR " " year 1880
" " 8 University RR " " " 1880
" " 9 Jones Co Road " " " 1880
" " 10 Total Record of Prisoners for the years 1879 & 80
" " 11 Annual number of prisoners received
" " 12 Nativity
" " 13 Education
" " 14 Occupation
" " 15 Ages
" " 16 Sex
" " 17 Social Relation
" " 18 Counties
" " 19 Term of Sentence
" " 20 Offences
" " 21 Number of Imprisonments

Convict Labor for 1879-80

6752 3/4 Days on New Building @ 60 $4051.65
41821 3/4 " on Wall & Quarry " " 25093.05
120 " on Machine Shop " " 72
6915 3/4 " " Blacksmith Shop " " 4149.45
8683 1/4 " " Shoe " " 5209.95
5229 1/4 " " Tailor " " 3137.55
3014 3/4 " " Carpenter " " 1808.85
4476 " " Weaving " " 2685.60
21310 1/2 " " Kitchen, Laundry, &c. " " 12786.30
9786 1/2 " at Brick Yard " " 5871.90
2542 " " Insane Asylum " " 1525.20
5522 1/2 " by Farm Hands " " 3313.50
304 " at Work on Roads " " 182.40
393 3/4 " in Tobacco Shop " " 236.25
24217 1/4 " in General Prison Work " " 14530.35
1865 " " Hospital " " 1119
786 " at Capitol " " 471.60
213 " " Fair Grounds " " 127.80
1086 " in Grading Ground " " 651.60
145,040                                  87,024.00

Sanitary Conditions of the Prison

Great care is exercised in the police of the Prison Buildings and Grounds, and a special eye is had that no refuse or waste material of any kind shall be allowed about the prison grounds, all ditches drains &c are carefully watched and kept in good order and, the greatest cleanliness required in all buildings and about the prison yard and grounds. I am very sorry to have to state that the death rate in the prison has been very large for the past two years but it has been mostly among that class of the criminal population who are mere recks when they enter the prison or of those who have been engaged for years on rail road work, many of them having taken their regular shifts for several years in the Swannanoa and other tunnels on the Western N. C. Rail Road and were finally returned to the prison with shattered constitutions and their physical strength entirely gone so that with the most skillful medical treatment and the best nursing it was impossible for them to recuperate.

For a more detailed and minute statement of the sanitary conditions of the prison please see report of Dr. J. W. McGee, the able and efficient physician in charge. 

Discipline

The discipline of the prison, as heretofore, is of a mild but firm character, for while the convicts are required to yield implicit obedience to all the prison rules and regulations, yet they are stimulated and encouraged in every legitimate way to become better men and women, and it is seldom that severe punishments are inflicted as the milder means generally answer the desired purpose and are as a rule much more permanent and lasting in their effect.

The prisoners in the main seem very cheerful and labor faithfully and generally seem much mortified if they receive a demerit on account of their labor or conduct. 

Exterior Wall

I am very glad to report that this massive work (requiring several years in its construction) is now completed—a few words here by way of brief description of the work may not be out of place.

First, I would say, that the site on which the wall is built was a very uneven plot of land, requiring filling on the prison yard varying from three to twenty feet. The wall is seventeen feet thick at the base to a common level on the outside, and then has offsets on every course on either side until the body of the wall is seven feet thick, at which thickness it is carried up to the inside yard level, when it is reduced by water tables on either side to four feet eight inches in thickness and from this point the wall is twenty feet high, carried up with a close pointed vertical face on the inside, but a batter of one inch to one foot on the outside and a pitch face finish. The entire structure is built of large blocks of hard granite with beds and joints, well cut and laid in best lime and cement mortar and thoroughly bonded. On the top of the wall is a double course of coping each course projecting six inches on either side, and the top course all being bond stone 5 ft 2 inches in length.

I believe it may be now truthfully said that North Carolina has as good if not the best prison wall in the United States.

The work on the wall since my last report may be stated as follows:
3578 Perch of stone work 13417.50
14,132 ft superficial cutting 6783.36
At contract prices would have cost $20,200.86
While the state has constructed this work by a cash outlay of 6,118.67
Less for material sold in this dep't 49.50 $6069.17
Gain to the State by convict labor of $14,131.69

New Building

I am sorry to say that owing to the small and inadequate appropriation made by the last General Assembly the work on the main prison building could not be as vigorously prosecuted as we had hoped it would have been and I am clearly of the opinion that the delay has and will be very much to the prejudice of the State, as the temporary buildings and stockade are rapidly decaying, requiring a considerable sum of money each year to keep them in repair. During the next year the stockade will have to be re-set and thoroughly repaired as it is now almost entirely rotten off at the ground and liable to tremble at any time. There is a pressing need felt for the permanent cells as the present temporary buildings are entirely unsuited for prison cells, being necessarily very badly ventilated and no means by which they can be warmed during the Winter, and they have been used now for beyond the length of time originally contemplated and I think they have been a fruitful source of disease and death. There is also pressing necessity for the permanent domestic buildings of the prison and of very much more shop room than we now have for it is impossible to manage the business of the prison with the present arrangements with satisfaction or proper economy. Therefore I do most respectfully and very earnestly suggest that your Honorable Board recommend to the General Assembly such an appropriation as will enable a vigorous prosecution to an early complition of the work. After the completion of the Exterior Wall in June 1880, we then commenced to make and lay brick and also to manufacture such iron work as was required for the main prison building, and very fine progress was made up to the close of the season for such work.

The work on this building since my last report may be stated as follows: 

Brick work

68640 Brick laid in Domestic Building
55480 " " in ovens & ventilating shaft
323010 " " on West and Main Building
365690 " " East " " "
66516 " " in Lower Corridors " "
137380 " " " Foundation Centres " "
1016716 at contract prices would have been $12,708.95

Wood Work

Lumber & Framing Joists Domestic Building 3712 sq feet
" " com. Roof " " 4176 " "
" " Joists Chapel Building 3672 " "
" " Com Roof " " 4165 " "
1572 sq ft $864.87
Lumber & Framing Truss Roof Door & Chapel Building 500.00
Dead Floor Domestic Building 104.40
Dressed " " " 243.60
Framed Walls " " 94.75
1094 3/4 Lum. ft Wash Boards " " 109.42
22 Doors & Frames complete " " 572.00
22 Cir. H. Window sash Glass trimmings for windows 249.48
128 Box Window Frames 725.76
                                         $3464.28
128 stone sills 1181.44
1601 yds plastering 515.20
Tin Roofing Domestic & Chapel Building 1476.17

Iron Work

144 Window Grates (No. 1) 38016 lbs
12 " " (No. 2) 2376"
8 " " (No. 3) 1200 " 41592=41592 $2888.22
at contract prices would have cost $22,234.26
While the work has been built by the state for 13937.25
Less money rec'd in this dept 4931.81—9005.44
Showing a gain of $13128.82

Brick Yard

The bed of clay bought by the State several years ago, on Walnut Creek, was exhausted during the year 1879 and since that time we have been forced to buy clay by the 1000. If a good bed of clay convenient to the Prison can be found and secured on satisfactory terms I think it should be done as early as possible. Since last report there has been made and burned 1397198 Brick
Cash paid for lumber, turning wheels, clay, wood & hired labor 1837.10
Hunting the clay costs about $1.00 per M-day 1397.29
                                                                         $3234.39       

Showing the brick to cost at kiln a fraction over $2.25, per 1000 exclusive of convict labor

Temporary Buildings

There has been no improvements in this department except general repairs and incidental changes but for this purpose the expense has been 912.53
Less cash used in this department 109.40
                                                      $803.13

This department must of necessity contribute to be very expensive until the old pole stockade and the many delapidated wood buildings can be dispensed with.

Blacksmith shop

Total value of work in this department from Oct. 31, 1878 to Oct. 31, 1880 was $16,692.22
To 6915 3/4 days convict labor @60 $4,149.45
Hired labor coal &c amounted to 1689.67  5839.12
Gain to the State by convict Labor $10,853.10 

Expenses in Building Department

Total amt expended in building department during the years 79-80 and purposes for which it has been used may be stated, as follows:
New Building 13,937.25
Exterior Wall 6186.67
Temporary Buildings 912.53
Brick Yard 1837.10
              $22805.55

Value of work executed with above named sums and amts of money received which properly became credits in the Building Department are as follows:
Work on New Building $22,234.26
Cash used in this department 4931.81
Work on Exterior Wall 20200.86
Cash used in this department 49.50
Temporary Buildings cash used in " " 109.40
Credit contract labor with  24720.28
$47525.83 $47525.83

The total expense of the prison population from Nov. 1 1878 to Nov. 1, 1880 has been $290,650.20
Divided as follows.
Prison at Raleigh $160,083.47
Western NCRR 82478.97
C. F & Y. V. RR 48087.76
                         290,650.20

For a detailed statement of the disbursement of the above named amts and the per capital expense of supporting convicts &c on the different works, see report of Mr. D. C. Murray Steward of

Total value to the State of work performed and cash earned by convict labor during the years 1879 & 80 may be stated thus:
Work in Building Department and cash received in said department 47525.83
Credit to State for work on WNCRR to March 29, 1880 103096.00
Cash received for convict labor on WNCRR from Mar 29. to Nov. 1. 1880. 21946.56
Value to the State of work on C. F. & Y. V. R. R. from Oct 31. 1878 to Oct 31. 1880. 56438.25
Value of shoe department 46320.94
Oxford & Henderson RR 9849.00
University RR 1488.55
Hire convicts as farm hands 2254.78
Convict work at Insane Asylum 1525.20
Material & Labor at Capitol 883.87
                                          $291,328.98

Therefore it will be seen that the convicts have earned $678.78 more than the prison department has cost for the two years ending Oct. 31, 1880

Shoe Shop

I regret to have to say that this branch of industry in the Institution has not been as thoroughly developed as it should have been up to this date. And there seems to have been a number of causes (over which we had no control) why this should be so. First, there was not a dollar of money appropriated to conduct this business and the money appropriated for the support of the prison was much less than was absolutely necessary for the subsistence; therefore it was not a matter of choice whether money should be judiciously expended when it was clearly seen that by so doing very handsome returns could be secured to the State, but it was necessary that every item of business in connection with this industry should be so directed as to require the use of but small amounts of money. Second, the buildings in use are unsuited and insufficient in which to conduct a systematic business of any extent, but others could not be built or even the permanent buildings, which were well on the way, without the use of more money than could be appropriated for that purpose, and therefore could not be done, and the same thing is true as to machinery and all the modern appliances that enter so largely into the account these days of making a good shoe for a little money. But we have to be content with doing work about as it was done twenty five of fifty years ago, with the exception of a few inexpensive machines which may tend to give the shop some what the appearance of a manufacturing establishment, but without a sufficient selection of them to aid very much in expediting the work, as many important parts of the work usually done by machinery are still performed here by hand.

In selecting and buying the stock, which all manufacturers regard as a very important item of the account, here we must take in very small lots picked up over the country as best we can, therefore when the shoes are made they have cost more money than they should and it becomes the more difficult to sell the work as it is made, and we cannot afford to have it accumulate as that would engage too much capital. And again, the management and superintendence of a small shop becomes very expensive as a shop properly arranged working 200 or 300 men could be operated with about the same expense for superintendence as a small shop. Then, with the money at command the business will not justify keeping a drummer in the field all the time therefore we have to burden some of regular officers of the prison with occasional trips out to sell shoes and at this (though the labor assiduously) they must of necessity be very inefficient as most of their time and thoughts are usually engaged in quite a different official direction.

In this shop there has been used for all purposes including tools, stock, hired labor, board of superintendent &c the sum of 44185.21
moneys recd from this shop together with stock and tools on hand amount to the sum of $46,320.94
Credit convict labor with 2135.73
                    $46320.94 $46320.94

Tailor Shop

In this shop we continue with a few hands to manufacture all of the prison clothing for the convicts, both here and on the different rail roads and other works, and the work in this shop is conducted exclusively with convict labor under the supervision of the foreman of the shoe shop.

Chapel Services

I am gratified to report that the Sabbath school organized here some years ago with Mr. A. M. McPheeter as superintendent and Mr. S. W. Whiting assistant superintendent and a number of others of our most estimable and Christian gentlemen of the city as teachers is still in a flowing condition, and we feel that great and lasting good is being accomplished through this school every sabbath, except the fifth, immediately after the close of the sun day school, religious services are conducted by a minister from one of the city churches, four of them having been engaged to alternate with each other. The ministers have been regular to their appointments, have preached with fervor and zeal, and we confidently hope have sown many seed in good ground that will yield much fruit in after years. To the several ministers of the Gospel and to the officers and teachers in the Sunday school we return our most hearty thanks for their faithful labor and valuable services.

Library

Since last report we have made a small addition of 123 volumes of well selected magazines which we have had placed in good binding in they make a valuable increase of the little prison library.

Unusual and Disabled Convicts

I desire to call the attention of your Honorable Board to the fact that as the law requires that none but sound and able-bodied convicts shall be sent to work on railroads &c therefore we are forced to retain here in the prison all of the rejected or unusual convicts that are admitted as well as to take back from the rail roads all that may become unable (from any cause) to perform good labor, so that this Institution becomes a general hospital for all of the refused and worthless class of the entire prison population of which there are here about 200 in number. And it is become exceedingly difficult to find employment for this class of convicts at any labor they are physically able to perform, and I would again venture the suggestion that if you could secure a tract of land near the prison where this class of labor (or a portion of it) could be used as farm hands they might be used in that way to much better advantage than at any other work at which they could be employed.

They are now as a class a dead burden to the Institution and while the farm labor would be healthful to them it might be made very remunerative to the state as they might produce large quantities of such articles as we now supplied only with by cash purchases. Therefore every article produced by them would find a home market and would reduce the cash outlay for support to that extent. By this arrangement I am clearly of the opinion that this class of the prison population could be made to support themselves and in a few years might do more and in a few years might do more, but unless some such plan is adopted I do not see how they are to be kept employed at any labor of value to the state.

In closing this report I desire to return my sincere thanks to you you gentlemen of the Board of Directors for your constant and firm support and for the many tokens of your confidence and respect and to the officers and employees of the prison my highest regard for the ready and efficient manner in which they have discharged their respective duties.

All of which is respectfully submitted

W. J. Hicks
Architect & Warden

Table No. 1
Penitentiary
Record during the year 1879.

Convicts in prison Nov. 1 1878	365
Received from counties	431
Recaptured	5
Rec'd from W.N.C.R.R.	35
Rec'd from C.F. & Y.V.R.R.	14
	850
Discharged	46
Pardoned	16
Died	25
Escaped	2
Sent to W.N.C.R.R.	177
Sent to C.F. & Y.V. R.R.	222
Sent to O & H. R.R.	77
	565

Remaining in prison Nov. 1, 1879 285
Average number of convicts per day 325
Average number of days worked per month 6,278
Total number of days worked during year 75334 1/2

Record during the year 1880.

Convicts in prison Nov. 1 1879	285
Received from counties	400
Recaptured	16
Received from C.F.& Y.V. R.R.	1
Received from Oxford & H. R.R.	125
Received from University R.R.	6
Received from W.N.C. R.R.	8
	841

Discharged	48
Pardoned	15
Died	41
Escaped	12
Sent to O. & H. R.R.	67
Sent to University R.R.	121
Sent to C.F. & Y.V. R.R.	101
Sent to Jones Co. Road	29
Sent to W.N.C.R.R.	106
	540

Remaining in prison Nov. 1, 1880	301
Males— White	47
Males— Colored	211
	258
Females— White	2
Females— Colored	41
	43
[Total]	301

Average number convicts per day 302
Average number days worked per month 5,809
Total number days worked during year 1880 69705 1/2

Table No. 2
Western North Carolina Rail-Road
Record during the year 1879

Convicts on road Nov. 1 1878	558
Rec'd from counties	22
Rec'd from Penitentiary	177
Rec'd from Chester & Lenoir N.G. R.R.	43
Rec'd from Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley R.R.	1
Recaptured	15
	816

Discharged	190
Pardoned	11
Died	75
Killed	6
Escaped	35
Sent to Penitentiary	35
Removed for another trial	1
	353

Remaining on Road Nov. 1, 1879	463
Average number of Convicts per day	537
Average number of days worked per month	11, 540
Total number of days worked during the year	138,477

Record during the year 1880

Convicts on road Nov. 1 1879	463
Rec'd from counties	14
Recaptured	17
Received from Penitentiary	106
Received from University R.R.	31
	631

Discharged	184
Pardoned	13
Died	25
Escaped	44
Sent to Penitentiary	8
	274
Remaining on road Nov. 1, 1880

Males— White	33
Males— Colored	320
	353
Females— Colored	4
	357

Average number of convicts per day	373
Average number of days worked per month	8,334
Total number of days worked during year	100,007 3/4

Table No. 3
Spartanburg & Asheville R.R.
Record during the year 1879.

Convict on road Nov. 1 1878	1
Discharged Dec. 1 1878	1

Table No. 4
Georgia & North Carolina R.R.
Record during the year 1879.

Convicts on road Nov. 1 1878	28
Recaptured	1
	29

Discharged	8
Escaped	3
	11
Remaining on road Nov. 1 1879	18

Average number of convicts per day	28
Average number of days worked per month	545
Total number of days worked for the year	6,544 1/2

Record during the year 1880.

Convicts on road Nov. 1, 1879	18
Recaptured	1
	19

Discharged	2
Pardoned	1
Discharged	6
[Total]	9
Remaining Nov. 1 1880	10

Males—colored	10
Average number of convicts per day	125
Average number of days worked per month	291
Total number of days worked during the year	3498 1/2

Table No. 5
Chester & Lenoir Narrow Gauge R.R.
Record during the year 1879

Convicts on road Nov. 1 1878	50
Discharged	4
Died	1
Killed	1
Escaped	1
Sent to W.N.C.R.R. May 23, 1879	43
	50

Average number of convicts per day	45
Average number of days worked per month	1016
Total number of days worked during the year	7004 1/2

Table No. 6
Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley R.R.
(Formerly Western R.R.)
Record during the year 1879.

Convicts on road Nov. 1, 1879	100
Rec'd from counties	25
Rec'd from Penitentiary	222
Recaptured	2
	249
	349

Discharged	39
Pardoned	5
Died	4
Killed	4
Escaped	25
Sent to W.N.C.R.R.	1
Sent to Penitentiary	14
	92
Remaining on road Nov. 1, 1879	257

Average number of convicts per day	185
Average number of days worked per month	3,451
Total number of days worked during the year	41,413 1/2

Record during the year 1880

Convicts on road Nov. 1, 1879	257
Rec'd from counties	50
Recaptured	5
Rec'd from Penitentiary	101
Rec'd University R.R. Co.	2
	158

Carried Forward 415
Brought Forward 415

Killed by falling tree	1
Discharged	106
Pardoned	10
Died	13
Escaped	39
Sent to Penitentiary	1
	176
Remaining on road Nov. 1 1880	245

Males—White	26
Males—Colored	217
	243
Females—Colored	2
	245

Average number of convicts per day	258
Average number of days worked per month	5781
Total number of days worked during the year	69378 1/4

Table No. 7
Oxford & Henderson R.R.
Record during the year 1879.

Received from the Penitentiary from Oct. 23rd to Nov. 1/79	77
Remaining on road Nov. 1 1879.	77
Total number of days worked	317 1/2

Record during the year 1880

Convicts on road Nov. 1 1879	77
Recaptured	1
Received from Penitentiary	67
	68

Carried forward 145
Brought forward 145

Discharged	7
Died	2
Escaped	11
Sent to Penitentiary May 15th. 1880	125
	145

Average number of convicts per day	108
Average number of days worked per month	2195
Total number of days worked during the year	14271 1/4

Table No. 8
University Rail-Road
Record during the year 1880

Convicts received from Penitentiary from February 9th 1990 to Nov. 1st 1880	121
Recaptured	1
	122

Discharged	4
Pardoned	1
Died	4
Escaped	19
Sent to Penitentiary	6
Sent to C. F. & Y. V. R. R.	2
Sent to W. N. C. R. R.	31
	67
Remaining on road Nov. 1 1880	55

Males—White	4
Males—Colored	49
	53
Females—Colored	2
	55

Average number of convicts per day	90
Average number of days worked per month	1,925
Total number of days worked during the year	16,684 3/4

Table No. 9
Jones County Road Record during the year 1880

Rec'd from Penitentiary May 18th. 1880	29
Recaptured	1
	30

Discharged	1
Escaped	4
	5
Remaining Nov. 1st, 1880	25

Males—Colored	25
Average number of convicts per day	29
Average number of days worked per month	528
Total number of days worked during the year	2,977 1/2

Table No. 10
Showing the record for the Total Number of Convicts on the different works

	Penitentiary	Western North Carolina R.R.	Spartanburg & Asheville R.R.	Georgia & North Carolina R.R.	Chester & Lenoir R.R.	Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Formerly Western R.R.	Oxford & Henderson R.R.	University Rail-Road	Jones County Road	Total Discharged &c	Total Received &c.
Convicts Nov 1. 1878	365	558	1	28	50	100					1102
1879 Received from Counties	431					25					478
Recaptured	5	15		1		2					23
											1603
Discharged	46	190	1	8	4	39				288
Pardoned	16	11				5				32
Died	25	75			1	4				105
Killed		6			1	4				11
Escaped	2	35		3	1	25				66
Removed for another trial		1								1	503
Remaining Nov. 1. 1879	285	463		18		257	77				1100
1880.
Received from Counties	400	14				50					464
Recaptured	16	17		1		5	1	1	1		42
											1606
Discharged	48	184		2		106	7	4	1	352
Pardoned	15	13		1		10		1		40
Died	41	25				13	2	4		85
Killed						1				1
Escaped	12	44		6		39	11	19	4	135	613
Remaining Nov. 1. 1880	301	357		10		245		55	25		993
Males—White	47	33				26		4			110
" Colored	221	320		10		217		49	25		832
Females—White	2										2
" Colored	41	4				2		2			49
	301	357		10		245		55	25		993

Table No. 11
Prisoners received since opening of Penitentiary

From January 6, 1870 to November 1, 1870	241
From November 1, 1870 to November 1, 1871	188
From November 1, 1871 to November 1, 1872	150
From November 1, 1872 to November 1, 1873	167
From November 1, 1873 to November 1, 1874	212
From November 1, 1874 to November 1, 1875	440
From November 1, 1875 to November 1, 1876	439
From November 1, 1876 to November 1, 1877	548
From November 1, 1877 to November 1, 1878	495
From November 1, 1878 to November 1, 1879	478
From November 1, 1879 to November 1, 1880	464
	3822

The following tables show the Nativity, Education, Occupation &c of convicts received during the years 1879 and 1880.

Table No. 12
Nativity

	1879.	1880.
Alabama
California	1
District of Columbia		1
Florida	3
Georgia	7	2
Iowa		1
Kentucky	1
Louisiana		2
Maryland		1
Mississippi	1	2
New-York	1
North Carolina	396	392
Ohio	1
Pennsylvania	2
South Carolina	29	26
Tennessee	3	1
Virginia	30	34
Foreign, England	1	1
France	1
Ireland	1	1
	478	464

Table No. 13
Education

	1879	1880
Illiterate	347	318
Read	54	46
Read & Write	71	100
Ordinary	1
Good	4
Collegiate	1
Total:	478	464

Table No. 14
Occupation

	1879	1880
Actor	1
Barbers	3	5
Barber & Cook	1
Blacksmiths	8	5
Brick-Masons	2
Butchers	1	2
Carpenters	6	11
Carpenter & Blacksmith		2
Carpenter & Miller		1
Carpenter & Shoe-Maker	1	1
Cigar Maker	1
Civil Engineer	1
Cobblers	3	3
Cooks	10	15
Clerk		1
Dining-Room Servant		1
Distiller	1
Ditcher		2
Driver & Gardener		1
Engineers		6
Farmers	17	37
Firemen	3	3
Fishermen	2

Carried forward- 61, 96
Brought forward- 61, 96

Hostler		3
House Servants	2	4
Hotel-Waiters	4
Laborers	379	308
Laundress	1
Machinist		1
Mattress-Maker	1
Miller	1	2
Miner		3
Printers	4	4
Plasterer	4	4
Quarrymen	1	2
Rail-Road Hand		1
Rock-Mason	1
Saddle & Harness-Maker		1
Servant	1
Seamstress	1
School Teachers		2
Shingle Getter	1
Ship Caulker		1
Shoe-Makers	8	13
Stone-Cutter	1	1
Strikers		2
Sailors	3
Sailor & Barber		1
Telegraph Operator	1	1

Carried For'd- 471, 447
Brought forward- 471, 447

	1879	1880
Theater Agent	1
Tobacco Roller		1
Tobacco Hand		1
Waiters	3	7
Wagoners	1	6
Wagoner & Sawyer	1
Weaver		1
Wheelwright & Carpenter	1
White-Washer		1
	478	464

Table No. 15
Age when received 

	1879	1880
Under twenty	119	115
From twenty to thirty	236	202
" thirty " forty	74	83
" forty " fifty	24	34
" fifty " sixty	16	23
" sixty " seventy	7	6
" seventy " eighty	1	1
" eighty " ninety	1
	478	464

Table No. 16
Sex

	1879	1880
Males—White	55	64
" Colored	404	375
Females—White	3	1
" Colored	16	24
	478	464

Table No. 17
Social Relation

	1879	1880
Married	222	203
Single	248	252
Widows	2	2
Widowers	5	7
Grass Widower	1
	478	464

Table No. 18
Counties from which convicts were received 

	1879	1880
Alamance	5	1
Alexander	1	2
Alleghany	1
Anson		2
Ashe	6	5
Beaufort	5	8
Bertie	6	12
Bladen	1	2
Brunswick	3	2
Buncombe	10	8
Burke	2	3
Cabarrus	4	1
Caldwell		3
Camden		1
Carteret	1	3
Caswell	7	2
Catawba	1	16
Chatham	7	6
Cherokee	3
Chowan		3
Cleveland	1	6
Columbus	8	3
Craven	5	7
Cumberland	8	7

Carried For'd 85, 103
Brought For'd 85, 103

	1879	1880
Currituck	3
Dare	1	1
Davidson	13	3
Davie	4	5
Duplin	5	6
Edgecombe	26	3
Forsyth	16	11
Franklin	3	6
Gaston		4
Gates		1
Granville	7	8
Greene	7	8
Guilford	18	13
Halifax	19	12
Harnett	2
Haywood	5	1
Henderson	3	3
Hertford	9	1
Hyde	3	6
Iredell	9	8
Jackson	1	2
Johnston	3	3
Jones	5	1

Carried For'd 243, 207
Brought For'd 234, 207

Lenoir	14	6
Lincoln	5
Macon		1
Madison	4	4
Martin	4	15
McDowell	3	5
Mecklenburg	16	11
Mitchell	1	1
Montgomery		4
Moore	4	5
Nash	3	6
New Hanover	24	30
Northampton	3	3
Onslow	1	1
Orange	4	10
Pamlico	4
Pasquotank	4	2
Pender	5	4
Person	2	1
Pitt	8	7
Polk	2	2
Randolph	5	2
Richmond	4	4
Robeson	4	13
Rockingham	8	8

Carried For'd 375, 352
Brought For'd 375, 352

Rowan	12	19
Rutherford	4	5
Sampson	14	2
Stanly		2
Stokes	1	8
Surry	1	3
Swain		1
Transylvania	1
Tyrrell	1
Union	9	4
Wake	13	18
Warren	10	12
Washington	4	4
Wayne	18	12
Wilkes		6
Wilson	14	8
Yadkin	1	6
Yancy		2
	478	464

Table No. 19
Term of Sentence

	1879	1880
1 year	119	85
1 " and 6 months	9	5
2 "	102	110
2 " and 6 months	1	2
3 "	70	77
4 "	19	18
5 "	70	62
6 "	14	14
7 "	14	7
7 " and six months	1
8 "	7	8
9 "	1	1
10 "	35	55
14 "		1
15 "	7	5
20 "	5	7
25 "	1	2
30 "		2
Life	3	3
	478	464

Table No. 20
Offences 

	1879	1880
Abduction		1
Accessory after the fact		1
Assault & Battery	1
Assault & Battery with intent to rape	3	4
Assault with intent to kill	3
Assault with intent to rape	8	3
Arson	1	4
Attempt to commit a Felony		1
Barn Burning	1	5
Breaking into Store House	1	2
Bigamy		3
Buggery	2
Burglary	3	2
Burglarous Larceny		1
Burning Fence	1
Burning Jail		4
Burning Stable		1
Burning Out-House		1
Cheating by False Tokens		1
Concealing Birth of Child	1
Entering Dwelling		1

Carried For'd 25, 25
Brought Forward 25, 25

False Pretense	4	4
Felonious slaying	9	2
Felony & Larceny		2
Forgery	3	8
Harboring Escaped Felon		1
Horse-Stealing	4	1
Illegal Registering as a voter		1
Incest		1
Infanticide		1
Larceny	369	338
Larceny & Receiving	46	45
Manslaughter	9	9
Misdemeanor		1
Murder	1	2
Murder 2nd degree	1
Obtaining goods by False Pretense		3
Perjury	2	4
Pursuing Live stock		1
Rape	2
Receiving		1
Receiving stolen goods	3	1
Robbery		2
Shooting into train		1
	478	463

Table No. 21
Number of Imprisonments

	1879	1880
First	450	423
Second	25	39
Third	2	2
Fourth	1
	478	464

Report of Steward

Steward's Office
North Carolina State Penitentiary
Raleigh Nov. 1st 1880 

To the honorable Board of Directors
North Carolina State Penitentiary
Gentlemen

I have the honor herewith to submit my biennial report as Steward of this institution ending the 31st day of October 1880.

An itemized account of articles, from whom purchased, and prices paid is shown in large book marked A.

The annexed statements No 1 and 2 shows the amount I have disbursed for general expenses from 1st November 1878 to 1st April 1879, and amount received by me from your honorable body and all other sources.

Statements Nos. 3, 4, & 5 embrace the amount expended on account of Penitentiary—W. N. C. R. RRd and C.F. & Y.V. R.Rd from 1st April 1879 to 1st November 1880.

The average number of Officers, Overseers, and Guards at the Penitentiary from 1st November 1878 to 1st November 1880 was 47. The cost of funding each one per day was 16½ cents.

The average number of convicts supported by the penitentiary for the same length of time was 350. The cost of funding each one per day was 7⅙ cents.

The whole cost of supporting and safekeeping each convict for the same period was 31 cents. This includes Officers' salaries, overseers, and guard's pay, food, clothing, and all other expenses—and is exclusive of credit for income from any source—

The entire expense of the W.N.C. R.Road from 1st November 1878 to 1st November 1880 was $82478.97. 

The average number of convicts on said road for the same length of time was 453.

The whole cost for maintaining and safekeeping them per head per day was 25 cents.

The whole amount expended on the C.F. & Y.V. R.Road from 1st November 1878 to 1st November 1880 was $48087.76

The average number of convicts on said road for the same time was 222.

The entire cost for supporting and safekeeping each convict per day was 29½ cents.

Respectfully submitted,
D. C. Murray Steward

Statement No 1

Amount expended and disbursed by D. C. Murray Steward from November 1st 1878 to April 1st 1879.

For provisions $12209.68
" Clothing & Bedding 3707.15
" Leather & Findings
" Medicines 624.21
" Hardware & Furniture 1720.40
" Fuel & Light 1992.98
" Forage 1025.77
" Stationary, Printing, & Stamps 234.75
" Salaries  at Penitentiary 10893.13
" " on WNC RRoad 8606.99
" " CF & YV RRoad 1949.51
" " Freight, Hauling & Rail Road Tickets 2102.07
"  Commutation & Tobacco 1559.75
" Lumber & Labor 1301.87
" Roofing Tin 426.89
" Tinning Roof 136.19
" Door & Dressing Lumber 119.25
" Making & Sitting Ventilating Shaft 225.00
" Horse & Wagon 165.00
" Directors 590.00
" Sundries 884.47
                $53310.74

Included in the above is amount expended for support & maintaining convicts for the same length of time on the 
W.N.C. R.R. $18736.80
And on C.F. & Y.V. R.R. 4254.67

Statement No. 2

Showing the receipt of money by D. C. Murray steward. From the Board of Directors and all other sources from 1st November 1878 to 1st April 1879.

From Board of Directors $52831.20
" Shoe Shop etc. 479.54
                     $ 53310.74

Statement No. 3

Amount expended on Penitentiary from 1st April 1879 to November 1st 1880.

For Provisions $19546.15
" Clothing & Bedding 18338.12
" Leather & Findings 37724.27
" Medicines 950.86
" Hardware & Furniture 3602.61
" Fuel & Light 4082.79
" Forage 2631.80
" Freight, Hauling, & R. Rd Tickets 3081.08
" Stationary, Printing, & Stamps 718.45
" Commutation & Tobacco 1418.49
" Lumber & Dressing Lumber 1416.11
" Saleries 29044.65
" Lime & Cement 1384.62
" Insurance 294.96
" Iron & Steel 1635.98
" Covering Watch Tower 43.44
" Gas Filling 135.00
" 1 Clay Tempering Wheel 220.00
" Powder & Fuse 39.00
" Window & Door Frames 157.83
" Tinning roof 169.01
" Lawyer Fees 70.00
" Directors  1900.00
" Ministers 358.63
" Sundries 800.55
            $129764.20

Statement No. 4

A classified statement of amounts expended on WNCRRd from 1st April 1879 to 1st Nov 1880.

For Provisions $22739.33
" Clothing & Bedding 10223.91
" Medicines 1331.78
" Forage 386.34
" Hardware & Furniture 646.41
" Light & Fuel 631.32
" Stationery, Stamps, & Printing 146.70
" Commutation & Tobacco 24728.02
" Salaries 20728.02
" Freight & Hauling & RRd tickets 2310.27
" Sundries 1153.96
" Capturing Convicts 43.35
" Paying off 102.50
" Old Shanties 100.00
" Leather & Findings 231.58
" Lumber & Labor 500.20
                       $63742.07

Statement No. 5

Amounts expended on Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Rail Road from April 1st 1879 to 1st November 1880.

For Provisions $16062.07
" Clothing & Bedding 5219.68
" Leather & Findings 471.89
" Medicines 474.35
" Hardware & Furniture 893.99
" Fuel & Light 534.25
" Freight, Hauling, & RRd Tickets 1809.88
" Stationary, Printing, & Stamps 220.78
" Commutation & Tobacco 724.89
" Lumber & Labor 1713.97
" Saleries 14105.43
" Guns & Ammunition 331.95
" Bedding & Quarters 317.35
" Outfit for Do 260.82
" Sundries 692.29
            $43833.09

Physician's Report.

To the Honorable Board of Directors of the North Carolina State Penitentiary,
Gentlemen,

In compliance with the law governing this institution I have the honor to submit this Biennial report, dating from Nov 1st. 1878, to Nov 1st. 1880. In these two years there have been thirteen hundred and four (1304) cases of disease treated in the Hospital here, with a mortuary result of sixty six (66).

Dr. Wm. Little my predecessor treated during the fourteen months of his service seven hundred and twelve (712) cases. Of this number there died of the following named diseases
Consumption 21
Dropsy 3
" of Heart 1
Debility General 2
Masturbation 1
Rheumatism complicated with Heart disease 1
Scrofula 1
Total 30.

When I took charge of the medical department of this institution on 21st. of January 1880, I found in the Hospital twenty seven (27) cases of disease under treatment. Of this number ten (10) were consumptives in various stages of the disease, some of them exceedingly low. Seven (7) others had incurable, chronic diseases. Up to the date of this report I have treated in the Hospital five hundred and ninety two (592) cases of disease besides these making six hundred and nineteen (619) and prescribed for more than fifteen hundred (1500) which were not deemed severe enough to be placed in the Hospital for treatment. Of this number there died of
Consumption 19
Conjestion of Brain 1
Cholora Morbus 1
Diarrhea Chronic 1
Dropsy Cardiac 1
Gangrene 1
Heart Clot 1
Heart Disease 1
Fever Typho Malarial 2
" Typhoid 1
Physical Prostration 1
Poison 1
Tubercular Disease of bowels 3
Ulceration of Stomach 1
Spinal Disease 1
Total 36

Of the whole number of deaths there were seven (7) whites, and fifty nine (59) colored. Eight of those occurring while Dr Little was in charge, and thirteen reported by myself, were of men who had been returned from the Rail Roads completely broken down, and hopelessly diseased. This class of patients, together with the unsound retained within the prison, has largely increased the death rate. Only four of the deaths were caused by acute disease contracted in the prison; the others were caused by chronic constitutional and incurable diseases.

The death by poison was the result of the eating of the matured leaves of the common Poke (Phytolacca Decandra) gathered, and prepared, by the convict himself, without the knowledge of prison authorities. The death of gangrene was that of the negro Andrew Fries, who was returned from the University R. Road about the 26th. of February physically prostrated, and with his feet gangrenous. In spite of unremitting care and attention, and the able assistance rendered by Dr. P. E. Hines who was called to consult with me in his case, he died in one month.

There have been five (5) gunshot wounds treated. One of which was received in an attempt to escape over the prison wall. I have performed five (5) surgical operations, viz: four (4) Anal Fistula and one for the cure of Hemorrhoids, all of which were successful in their results. There have been only two cases of measles, which were isolated, and the disease prevented from spreading among the convicts. The prison population is composed very largely of unsound men. In my examination of the inmates, and of those received into the prison during this year, I found nearly (200) physically incapable of rendering service to the state on the rail road. Many of these scarcely able to perform the lightest labor required of them here: and quite a number of them, especially among the negroes, bearing the marks of grave constitutional vice either Syphilitic or scrofulous, and just ready to become a charge instead of a profit to the state. My observation has been that Phthisis in the negro has frequently been preceded by an attack of Syphilis, and in consequence, I have been led to anticipate some lung trouble wherever my examinations have revealed its lesion. I think this may in some measure explain the reason why such a large percent of the colored convicts die of consumption. Perhaps another reason may be discovered in the unhealthy cell arrangement. These cells, in which the men are confined both day and night, when the weather is bad, were built only for temporary use, and are deficient in almost every element of comfort. They are very imperfectly ventilated—have no arrangement by which they can be heated in winter, and furnish an area of breathing space to each man not quite half that conceded to be the minimum necessary. The foul air which they are compelled to breather over and over again, loaded with the effluvia exhaled from their skin and lungs, and from their night buckets, inevitably poisons them, and renders them incapable of performing the labor required or of resisting various disease. I believe that this imperfect cell accommodation is the fruitful cause of many deaths, and I deem it highly necessary from every consideration—hygienic, economic, and humane, that it be remedied as speedily as possible.

The comfort of the sick would be very materially enhanced by removal into the commodious, and well ventilated Hospital now nearly completed, in which the grave and necessarily fatal cases may be separated from those which are not serious, and contagious diseases isolated. There is no other local cause existing here to produce disease; proper sanitary regulation is rigidly inforced, the convicts are well clothed and fed regularly on wholesome and well prepared food, they are subjected to no needless exposure in bad weather, and are treated well.

The Officers of the prison have been uniformly kind and considerate, cheerfully rendering me all the assistance necessary to the performance of my duty. To the Hospital Steward Mr. M. Johnson I am under many obligations for the very faithful and intelligent manner in which he had performed the heavy and responsible duties of his position.

The following table shows the cases of disease treated.
Abscess 17
Asthma 3
Adenitis 4
Arthritis 1
Bronchitis Acute 96
" Chronic 4
Brights Disease 1
Burn 1
Cardiac Hypertrophy 1
Constipation 30
Contusions 31
Convulsions Hysterical 5
Consumption 52
Cholera Morbus 5
Colic 17
Conjunctivitis 1
Diarrhea Chronic 13
" Acute 157
Dysentery 167
Dropsy cardiac 3
Dropsy 20
Debility 70
Dyspepsia 9
Epilepsy 18
Enteralgia 4
Fistula in Ano 5
Fracture 1
Fever Remittent 69
" Typhoid 11
" Intermittent 82
" Catarrhal 14
Gangrene 1
Gonorrhea 9
Gun Shot wound 5
Gastralgia 2
Gastritis 2
Hydro Thorax 4
Hip Joint disease 2
Hemiplegia 2
Hepatitis 5
Hemorrhoids 9
Heart Clot 1
" Disease 6
Hemorrhage of lungs 3
Hernia 3
Hemicrania 16
Influenza 83
Incised wound 1
Lumbago 4
Lupus 3
Masturbation 1
Measles 2
Miscarriage 2
Menorrhagia 3
Malingering 6
Neuralgia 23
Nephritis 3
Old age 1
Ophthalmia 11
Odontalgia 4
Pleuritis 3
Pleurodynia 1
Pharyngitis 2
Peritonitis 1
Pregnancy 2
Pneumonia 8
Poison (Poke) 1
Rheumatism 11
Retention of urine 1
Roseola 1
Spinal disease 1
Scurvy 1
Syphilis 19
Sun Stroke 6
Sciatica 3
Stricture of Urethra 3
Scabies 16
Scrofula 15
Sprain 6
Splenitis 1
Tonsilitis 6
Tubercular Enteritis 2
Ulcer of Stomach 1
" " bowels 2
Corned 1
Vertigo 1

I am with much respect, 

Your obt servt,
J. M. McGee M.D.
Physician