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substantial brick building, 91 feet long by 41 feet wide, situated on the upper end of the steamboat wharf. On the first floor there are four rooms, as follows: a reception-room, for arrivals by boat, where the superintendent makes an examination of new-comers, noting on each mittimus such facts as are necessary for reference; a large reception-room, for relatives and friends of House of Industry and House of Reformation inmates on visiting days; a waiting-room, for almshouse inmates who are leaving the Island on leave of absence or discharge, and a waiting-room for discharged prisoners. On this floor there are four earth-closets. The second floor has eight good-sized rooms, four in front and four in the rear, with a passage-way or hall running the whole length of the building. These rooms are occupied by officers, night-watchmen, and such mechanics as may be employed on the Island from time to time. Above this story is a large attic, which completes the building.

Another important improvement is the New Mechanic's Shop, located in the rear of where the old carpenter's shop stood. The main building is 75 feet long by 42 feet wide. On the lower floor are carpenter's, blacksmith's, and paint shops, with brick partition walls dividing one from the other. On the second floor is a large, well-lighted, and ventilated room, the whole size of the main building, which is now being divided into two rooms. An attic story completes the main building. The rear building is one story, 47 feet long by 26 feet wide, and contains the engine and boiler rooms. A boiler has been set in the proper place which supplies steam for heating purposes, and is of sufficient capacity to run an engine when mechanical labor is introduced into the unoccupied rooms of the main building.

Twenty earth-closets have been placed over the vaults in the female prison yard. The success has been beyond expectation. From experience at this point, at the farm-house and pauper schools, I do not hesitate to again recommend

that they be introduced in all departments on the Island where vaults are now used.

Three new tubular boilers have been set, to take the place of three flue boilers worn out with long service. The benefit of the new boilers, by decreased consumption of coal of at least 30 per cent., and increased quantity of steam, has been appreciated the past winter.

The Mystic water, which a year ago was carried only to the main building, has been continued past the piggery, barus, pauper schools and girls' reform school, some 2,938 feet of 8 inch, 139 feet of 6 inch, and 185 feet of 4 inch water-pipe having been laid. Hydrants have been set at points convenient to the buildings to guard againt destruction by fire. In this connection it is recommended that an additional quantity of hose be purchased (unless the Boston Fire Department will furnish it), and that a hose house or tower be built in which to keep hose-carriage, hose, etc.

The use of soft water for laundry purposes shows a saving of at least 50 per cent. in consumption of soap, and also a large saving in sal-soda, and wear of clothing in washing. The saving made, by the use of pure soft water, in coal, soap, soda, and decreased wear of clothing in washing, will undoubtedly pay the water-rates.

Eight fire extinguishers have been purchased, and placed in convenient and accessible points, by which a fire may be extinguished in its incipient stages.

The filling in behind the sea wall has progressed as rapidly as possible. This work in winter is necessarily slow. It is hoped that in another year the filling will be completed, and coal-sheds erected. It is recommended that a wharf be built in front of the wall for vessels to lie at while discharging coal, stores, and other kinds of freight.

The steamboat wharf has been thoroughly repaired by driving new piles, removing the old stringers, girders and braces, and putting in new ones and re-covering the entire wharf with new three-inch plank.

The old wooden building at the wharf, formerly used as a receiving house, and the shed adjoining having been torn down, it is recommended that a shed be built on the wharffor the temporary storage in stormy weather of goods and supplies received daily from the city by steamer. In a severe storm it will be impossible to remove goods from the wharf to the institution in time to prevent damage to the goods; hence the necessity of temporary storage accommodations at the wharf.

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The wharf at the "Gut” has had 100 feet added to its length. This addition was not made any too early, as a landing could not be effected at the present time with the small boat at low tide at the end of the old wharf. The action of the sea continues to rapidly fill in that part of the Island.

The new shed built two years since for carriages, carts, wagons, farming implements, curing and storage of onions, etc., has been taxed the past year to its utmost capacity. It is recommended that an addition of 75 or 100 feet be made. The additional room can be all used and is required.

A contract having been made to establish telegraphic communication between the Director's office in City Hall and the Island, and the work having been commenced, it is hoped that the line will be opened in a few days.

The receiving-room, male bath-room, male prisoner's sitting-room, shoemaker's shop, tailor's shop and bakery, all situated in the basement story, are too small for our present requirements. The institutions have outgrown them. The bath-room contains but seven tubs, without room for more, in which have to be bathed our large number of male inmates. All inmates are bathed on admission, and once a week afterwards. All have clean water, no two being bathed in the same water, consequently much time is consumed by bathing, which can be greatly decreased by increasing our bathing facilities.

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The male prisoner's sitting-room is not half large enough. In extreme cold or stormy weather, when prisoners cannot be put on outside work, this room is literally packed.

The shoemaker's and tailor's shops are small, partly under ground, dark, poorly ventilated, and really unfit for such

uses.

The bakehouse has but one oven, without room for another, which is worked to its utmost capacity. In case of its giving out or requiring extensive repairs, it would leave us without baking facilities on the Island.

To remove these difficulties an appropriation of ten thousand dollars has been made to build a new bakehouse. It is proposed that the shoemakers and tailors be removed to the new mechanic's shop, there being sufficient room in the upper part of the building after providing a work-room for a number of the House of Reformation boys. These changes will give room to increase our bathing accommodations, to enlarge the receiving-room, and make sufficient room for the accommodation of male prisoners in cold and stormy weather.

The reports of the chaplain and resident physician, giving details of their labors, are herewith submitted.

The corps of officers, teachers and matrons connected with the several institutions, have labored faithfully in the discharge of their duties.

The cares, constant duties and responsibilities of another year are ended. With sincere acknowledgments to the Board of Directors, and especially to the President, for encouragement in my endeavors to a faithful discharge of these duties and responsibilities,

I remain,

Respectfully,

GUY C. UNDERWOOD,
Superintendent.

REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN.

GUY C. UNDERWOOD, ESQ., Superintendent of Deer Island Institutions:

SIR, AS chaplain of these institutions it again becomes my duty to submit to you my annual report.

Religious services have been held in the chapel every Sabbath during the past year, and the people have been very orderly, and generally very attentive. Having in our numbers all classes, and all shades of religious belief, it has been our constaint aim to be liberal, and never to attack the religious tenets of any particular church. The chief cornerstone of our preaching has been, and ever shall be, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself."

The singing and chanting have been done by the boys and girls belonging to the House of Reformation, and they have performed their part well.

Special attention has been given to those who have expressed a desire to reform. Years ago there was no "Refuge," no "Home," to which such persons could be sent when they were discharged from these institutions; butthanks to a kind Providence, and also to the philanthropists of our day—it is not so now. There are at the present time three institutions, fully established, for the reception of discharged female prisoners, namely, the Dedham Home, North Street Mission, and the House of the Good Shepherd. All of these furnish employment for the inmates, and when they have gained sufficient moral strength to conquer their

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