Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-12-07


being required 10 attend process which !
keeps in steady and constant employ |
msnt from ten to two hundred or more /
prisoners at one and the same ume,
which can be suspended and renewed as
oiIen as the regulations OF the prison
render it necessary, and which imposes
equality OF labor on every individual en-
ployed, NO one upon the wheel being
able, in the leas, degree, to avoid his pro-
portion.
'fhe arrangements ofthe wheels inthe
yards radlating from the Governors
central Z. siaence, places the prisoners
thus employed under very GOOD inspec-
ton, an object known 10 be Of the utmost
importance in prison management. Al
the Brixton House Of Correction, with
the exception Of the very few confined by
the casualties Of sickness or debility, ali
the prisoners are steadily employed IN
der the eye Of tbs Governor, during a
considerable part Of the day.
The classification, also, of the prison
crs according to offences, &c. may be
adhered to in the adoption Of These dis
cipline wheels; the same wheel or the
same connected shafts can be easily
made TO pass into distinct compartments,
in which the several classes may work in
separate parties. A tread whesmay be
erected in each OF the yards Of the prison,
by which the Inconvenience and risk of
removing set of prisoners from one
part of the prison to another may be OBJ
waited.
As the mechanism of these Tread
Mills is not of a complicated nature, the
regular employment they afford is moi,
likely to be frequently suspended for
want of the repairs of the machinery
and should the supply of corn, sc. at AIRY
time fall off, it is not necessary that the
labor of the prisoners should be suspend
ed, noe can they be aware Of the crcutn-
stance; The supply of hard labor may
therefore be considered as almost unfsii-
ing.
With regard 10 the expense Of these
machines it may be observed, that al
though sheir original cos, may, in some
instances appear heavy, the Subsequent
advantage from their adoption, 10 poin,
OF economy, is by no means inconsider-
able, and it is derived 10 manner
which must be most satisfactory to those
who have the important charge and re-
sronsible control Of these public esta-
hlishments, viz. from the diminuion in
the number ofpersons committed. Such
have been the results already experienc-
cd at those prisons where this species OF
corrective discipline d enforced. The
saving ~ the coustry (in consequence Of
the reduction in the number OF crimi-
nails in the public charges for their APP
prehension, commital, conviction and
maintenance, cannot but be considerable.
II IS unnecessary 10 occupy much time
in proving the advantage which the in
vention of the Stepping Mill presents as
q species ofpreventive punishment. AL |
though but very recently introduced, and |
hitherto but sparingly brought into &C
tion, the effects OF is discipline have in
every instance proved eminen,ly useful
in decreasing the number ofcommit-
ments. AS a corrective punishment, the
discipline of the Stepping Mil has had
a most salutary effect upon the prison
ers, and is not likely to be easily forgot
ten; while it is an occupation which by
DO means interferes with, nor is calculst-
ed to lessen the value of, those branches
of prison regulations which provide for
the moral and religious improvement, CT
the criminal"
The Discipline or Stepping Mil which
has been in use in England for some
time past, as an appendage to the Peni-
tertiary System, by which prisoners are
kept at hard labor, was pu, into operation |
in New-York, on the 23d of September,
and preparations are making for its in
PRODUCTION into the Penitenuary Of Phila-
dclphia, and strong hopes are entertain
ed that it will have the effect to give TO
the system that success, in the relcrma.
ton of criminals, which its friends have
hitherto in vain looked for in it, except |
when SO arranged as to subject large
portion of the criminals to the punish
ment OF solitary confinement.
Delaware Gazette.