New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-12-04
Houses of Industry no. 3.

ceding articles, and succor the different classe'
to which the City should extend aid and charity
two Houses Of Industry should be established i
would not do to minele the two classes OF which
we have spokcn-thc degraded beings of al
kinds whom the City should endcayor to reform
with the reputable poor, whom 1t should succoF
There should be an establishment for each class
thew should not be connected in any way, and
should be situated even in different localities
Each establishment, when completed, sh"uld
be large enough to accommodate at least l'o'
persons. 1t will be objected that two establish
ments accommodating 5000 persons, VIII not De
sufficient to relieve all those to whom we cohteii-
plate extending the benefits of a wise and ]nn
cious Charity: this Is true, but II those III 'sie
two first Houses of Industry, founded upon
proper plan, support themselves by their own Ia
Dor, SO that they will be no expense to the city
others can be founded as required, and mean time
tho nresent Aims House can be continued. We
are perfectly certain that If system cannot be
devised by which the Poor can support them
selves, they will never be properly taken care OF by
others (; it is vain to hope tfrom the benevolencc
Of the Rich or the generosity OF corporations :
the poor are too numerous. II the plan which we
have to propose, will not attain the above end
that is, make the ablc-hoded Poor support them
selves, then we will acknowledge it d failure, and
that our idea of extending effective charity to
those who really need it cannot be carried into
practice.
With each House of Industry one thousand
acres of land at least should be connected.
location as near the City as possible should be
obtained, and as SO considerable tract is requ:-
site. it must be had at moderate price. With
out expressing decided opinion upon location,
we would recommend careful examination Of
the Hampstead Plains, Long Island. They arc
quite accessible to New ork by the Long Island
Railroad, and, owing to this facility, the location
is not too distant.
These lands on those Plains can be obtained
we believe, very cheap consequently large
tract could easily be procured for each establish
nent. The soil is poor but by a scientific ano
proper system Of cultivation, it can be greatly I'M
proved and rendered productive. The labor OF
the Poor would be proftably applied in improving
the lands, and the Establishments would be
greatly increased in value
MEANS OF RAISING THE CAPITAL.
The Poor cost the City,,of New-York nearly
$500, 900 annually; at six per cent. this is an
interest upon s5,O09,000. If the City could, by
expending at once 100000, save a very large
portion of this annual outlay, it would Certain
ct,,, ,r1 halicy,e This SI1yn
would in the commencement be sufficient to SC.
cure the establishment of the two houses. The
CITY should not bear the burthen alone; all ap-
peal should be made to the philanthropy and gen.
crosby of all aflucnt citizens, and the plan should
be carried out by the donations and subscriptions
of individuals as well as by public appropriations
1t is important that individual philanthropy
and enterprise should be interested in this worl,
and partake in its management, IN order that
Party Politics should be excluded from Its direc-
ton, and prevented from turning out its officers,
engineers, master workmen, &c. about as soon as
they began to have some idea Of their duties.
private stakeholder in company always asks
whether person to be employed possesses capa-
city; an Alderman inquiries first whether he is OF
the right party-if not, he must walk. Compa-
MES are sometimes mismanagcd ; but it will
hardly be doubted that Directors chosen by
Stock holders would construct the necessary build
! ings, &C. cheaper and better than it would prob
ably be done by our City Fathers of whatever
party. The City might appoint its share of tho
Directors, the Alderman and Assistant of each
Ward choosing one; tho private Stockholders
adding seven or a greater numbcr according to
the amount Of their subscription.
We deem it important to ctfer to those who
furnish the capital some equivalent. For this
reason we would recommend that all capital in
vested, whether it be derived from the subscrip-
tons of individuals or an appropriation from the
City, be represented by stock. 10 secure this
stock the land, ediices and other property of the
Establishments should be mortgaged, or char
ter might be obtained, in which case the Estate,
real and movable, would become sharchold prop
erty. The stock should be made to pay some IN.
terest, even if slight, for otherwise no Involvement
would be held out to individuals to aid in the en-
terprisc other than that OF philanthropy or bcncv-
olence, and we fear that this alone would not be
sufficient: we therefore deem 1t judicious TO
strengthen it. We will explain in its proper place
the source from which the interest to be paid on
The stock will be drawn.
When one Of the establishments is under way,
and the workmen are employed in preparing the
grounds and erecting the edlfccs, subscriptions
and donations could be received i'll produce and
! 9th tn tho S,DDort oft
men, or the prosecution ofthc work. If proper
feeling were aroused in the public mind in favor
OF the enterprise, very great aid could be obtain