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gag and mouth iron have gone out of use and a more moderate system of punishment substituted.  The turbulent character of the prisoners reported to me by the former superintendent is now unknown under Mr. Wardwell's government.  He has been instrumental in establishing religious worship among the prisoners, who on each Sabbath assemble in the chapel established by him, where religious services are held.  Each convict is furnished with a bible and every possible effort is being made to school the prisoners in its teachings.  The State still labors under the disadvantage of employing its own convicts, This system will ever prevent the Penitentiary from becoming a source of revenue to the State. Measures ought to be taken to secure the hiring of the prisoners to manufacturing companies, this done the Penitentiary would no longer be a draft upon the State Treasury, Mr. Wardwell informs me that one hundred convicts are idle there being nothing for them to do except police duty. It is necessary to make a number of changes in the management of the prison in order to make the
 

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