New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-09-26
Glance al the Aabarn State Prison.
Editnr,aI Corr, pondceee.

a Glance al the Asbarn STATE PEis1n.
Editorial Core pondraee.
CAvueA LAKE, Sept z, is<..
looked in a, the Auburn Stats Prison for an
hour this morning, and was afforded every facility
for examination and information BY MIR. Cook, the
Superintendent, and Dr.. Ptaey, the Physician
Passing and inspecting range after raage Of The
cells IN which the prisoners arc locked up al
night, and which are cleanly and solerably airy
bat smaller than they should bs, we assembled to
she Hospital, where the physician was receiving
the complaints of his patients and administering
to their wants. These, as they were prescribed
for one after another, were ,urred over 70 Mr..
Benjamin Rathbun, who though felon es plating
bis crimes, has, for his intelligence and coed con.
duct, been made dispenser of medicine. and
general functionary of the Hospital Acting a.
man, he is treated such, though under sentence
as criminal he appears tranquil and cheerful.
of middling stature and rather insxpressive coun-
tsnance. saw little about him 10 mark the
great speeulator, builder hnancier and forger OF
Buffas-she Napoleon of the Empire of Lithog-
raphy-the petrifacton as j, were Of 1896.
The nunber Of prisoners here confined ia now
e93: rather less than the average bu, increasing,
as the Fall circuits are held. Fifteen arrived
from Buffalo yesterday. understand tina, tho
amount of crime through the interior this summer
has been larger than usual.
The Prison is remarkably healthy. Only three
or four are suffering under dangerous maladies.
and these came into The Prison diseased Some
illness on the change Of seasons is usual but this
fall it is comparatively light.
wandered through the workshops where six
hundred men are busily at work making Shoes,
Barrels, weaving Carpets, &c. sc. All appear
TO work with entire obedience and industry. Nine
yards Of carpet-wcaving is days work, ,houe h
man can accomplish twelve. Many convc;s are
engaged in building, &c &c. Two large and
airy brick workshops, three or four hundred fee,
long, have jus; been completed. They cost some
$4,000 and are put up in the best manner, no la
sor being employed on them but that of convicts.
When these shops are occupied, the old ones,
which are less airy and healthful, will be demol-
ished.
l was right glad to learn from the SupeIin,end-
ent that The new State Prison law, restricting the
employment Of convicts, is not absolutely worth
less. Already there is difficulty in disposing Of
the labor of convic,s under it. He will have $50
men that he knows not what to do with OF. the Is,
OF January. Here will be temporary inconve-
nience and pecuniary loss to the State bu, the
State Prison was not built speculation. Soon
the Labor now thrown out Of Coopcring, Shoe
making, &c. will be absorbed in employ ments
which do not place it in ruinous competition with
that of our honest Mechanics, wherein it will be
less profitable to the State, but no longer injurious
to her most deserving citizens Already the man
uiacture of Cutlery is commencing in the Prison,
while that of Silk is rapidly extending. 1t com
lncneed last year with two persons employed
now there are thirty engaged in Keeling, spinning,
&c. with excellent machinery propelled by SINAI Il
team-ensine. Six hundred pounds OF Sewing
Silk were despatched to New.York few days
since for market. All the Cocoons tina, offer
are readily bought a, So to 81 per bushel. saw
to-day the first piece of Silk thai has been woven
in the Prison. 1t is very firm and thick, though
not yet finished. 1t will cost about 81 so per
yard.
A paragraph appeared in The Tribune few
weeks since, denouncing the practice OF dropping
usttr on the heads of refractory prisoners
punishment. The practice is to poar water on
the heads of such prisoners as cannot be reduced
to obedience without punishment. This is dscoa
:inued the moment the culpri, submits. Now
have not much faith in punishment at all, but il
humane than this There arc great many PEG.
pie who would be the better Of JUS, such treatment
TO say nothing OF punishment. he.