The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-11-20

From a London paper

Recommended by the Society for the In
prOUement Of Prison Discipline.
The attention of the Society for the
Improvement Of Prison discipline has
long been devoted TO the adoption of
some plan for the eflectual employment
of prisoners. All attempts of this ma
ture have heretofore been attended with
considerable difficulty but it is conf
IDENTIFY anticipated that this invention
will not only afford suitable employment,
but act as species of preventive pun
ishment. Although but very recently
introduced into practice, the effects of
its discipline have, in every instance,
proved highly useful in decreasing the
number of commitments as many pr!s-
oners have been known 10 declare that
they would sooner undergo any species
of fatigue, or suffer any deprivation, than
return to the house of correction, when
once released.
This wheel is exactly similar to a
common water-wheel; the tread-boards
upon the circumference, are, however,
of considerable length, SO as TO allow
sufficient standing room for row of
from ten to twenty persons upon the
wheel. Their weight, the first moving
power of the machine, produces the
e---A--. Sas0s ";1vu dPpfed upon the
circumference of the wheel at or near
the level of its axle: to secure, there
fore, this mechanical advantage, screen
of boards is fixed up in an inclined po-
sition above the wheel, in order 10 pre-
vent the prisoners from climbing or
stepping up higher than the level re-
quired. A hand-rail is fixed upon this
screen. by holding which they retain
their upright position upon the revolv-
ing wheel.
By means of steps, the gang of pris-
oners ascend at one end, and when the
requisite number range themselves upon
the wheel, it commences its revolution.
The effort, then, 10 every individual is
similar to that of ascending an endless
flight of steps, their combined weight
acting upon every successive stepping
board, precisely as stream of water
upon the float-boards of water-wheel.
During this operation, each prisoner
gradually advances from the end at
which he mounted towards the opposite
end of the wheel, from which the last
man taking his turn, descends for rest,
another prisoner Immediately mounting
as before to fill up the number requir-
ed, without stopping the machine. The
interval of rest may then be portioned
to each man by regulating the number
of those required TO work the wheel
with the whole number of the gang
thus, if twenty out of twenty-four are
obliged to be upon the wheel, it will
give TO each man Intervals OF rest a.
mounting TO twelve minutes in every
hour of labour. Again, by varying the
number of men upon the wheel, or the
work inside the mill, so as to increase
or diminish its velocity, the degree of
hard labour or exercise TO the prisoner
may also be regulated. At Brixton, the
diameter of the wheel being five feet,
and revolving twice in a minute, the
space stepped over by each man is
1898 feet. or 73l yards per hour.
To provide regular and suitable en-
ployment for prisoners sentenced to
hard labour, has been attended with
considerable difficulty in many parts of
the kingdom. The invention ofthe Dis
cipline Mill has removed the difficulty;
and it is confidently hoped. that as its
advantages and effects become better
known, the introduction of the Mill will
become universal in houses of correc-
ton. As species of prison labour, it
is remarkable for its simplicity. 1t re-
quires no previous instruction ; no task
master 10 necessary to watch over the
work of the prisoners, neither are ma
terlals or instruments put into their
hands that are liable to waste or misap-
piication, or subject to wear and tear
the internal machinery of the Mill being
inaccessible TO the prisoners, is placed
under the management of skilful and
proper persons, one or two at most be-
ing required to attend the process which
keeps in steady and constant employ
ment from ten TO two hundred or more
prisoners at one and the same time
which can be suspended and renewed as
often as the regulations of the prison
render it necessary, and which imposes
equality of labour on every individual
employed, no one upon the wheel being
able in the least degree to avoid his pro-
portion.
The classification of the prisoners ac-