New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-04-24

/ Mr.. T.. u. BALDWIN SAD ne Whilid occupy
few moments of the time of the House IN GIVING
some of the reasons IN favor OF the bill. II VIII
be remembered that in $50 a law was passed,
which provided that no mechanical trade shor!d
be taught to the convCts III either OF the State
prisons This would have limited the number OF
/ those engaged IN such branches OF business as are
usually supplied without importation TO the small
i number who had previously learned such trade
before conviction. and would have been so small
that no complaint would have arisen on account
of that kind of competition. Had tins law been
honestly and faithfully carried out, all complaints
on The part of mechanics would long ere this have
! ceased; but unfortunately there were no pans
and penalties attached to it, TO enforce It's observ-
ancc bv the agents, officers and contractors; and
the powerful interest of contractors was too strong
for the law TO withstand and continued to defeat
the law from the time OF It's passage IN 1880 until
/ the last session Of the legislature when il SO hap
/ pened that there were upon tins floor consider
/ able number who raised their voices against the
Injustice which, had been done to mechanics for so
long period, notwithstanding their earnest petit
tons from wear to year twas determined that
the law of 1885 should be enforced, provided the
/ Attorney General would certify and report what
contracts, if any, had been Illegally made, and
bill was passed for that purpose, which provided
also for the appointment Of commissioner to re-
port upon the practicabty of employing the con-
victs in the mines Of this State Thcrcrort Of the
Attorney General has been laid upon our tables,
which states that nine of the contracts al the lu-
burn prison, and two at the Sing Sing prison.
have been illegally made, and by the existing
laws will be null and void on the first OF May
next.
1t will be seen by reference TO the petition Of
the agent Of the Auburn prison, that about 2O0
convicts are now out Of employment at that PR
son, and probably there are nearly as many uncm-
ploycd at the Sing Sing prison or soon will be-
The question now arises how shall they be en-
ploycd? ! trust that this house has too much
good sense TO return to the old, exploded and rep
rotated system of employing convlcts at those
trades which chiefly carried on by the labor Of
our citizens, and requiring regular apprentice
ship before knowledge of them can be acquired.
The State has heretofore warmed and lighted the
shops, and furnished stcam-powcr, watcr-powcr.
and machinery, to aid IN breaking down these
kinds of business. in many of which such facilities
are not usually enjoyed by the mechanic out Of
the prison. And here let me ask what gentleman
within the sound Of my voice. would be willing TO
pat his son TO a trade, into which was annually
vomitcd forth swarm Of convicted fcons, to be
placed side by side with apprentices and Journey
men. within the narrow confines of the workshop.
where there is probably eXcrtcd by immoral per-
sons more powerful influence than in any other
situation am fully aware that no plan can be
adopted which is not liable to some objections,
and it only remains TO seek for that which has the
least, and is most conducive to the interests of the
State. Such | think, is the plan recommended
by the commissioner, Mr.. Cook. The business OF
mining and the manufacture of iron is chiefly per-
formed by mere labor, and 4 laborer can always
shift from one thing TO another much easier than
person who has devoted large portion of his life
TO the requirement of all the minute parts of
trade. 1t is designed by the bill now under dis
cussion to employ the convicts in the manufacture
of sucl, articles as are chiefly imported, such as
the finer qualities of rolled and hammered bar
iron, steel sheet IRON, wrc &c. OF these there
was imported IN 1871 ofStecI S609,20l :; OF ham
mcrcd bar IRON, SI,Gll,6l9; rolled bar iron,
$2,112,27S. BY the manufacture of steel, great
facilities will be afforded TO introduce into the
country the manufacture of variety of tools.
which are now imported. There was imported in
1911 tools TO the amount of $3403,074.
The iron mines Of Clinton and Essex counties
contain the most valuable kind of ore which is
known in any country, what is called tie black
I
den and Russia. The iron manufactured from
this is worth from $50 to $50 per ton, while that
from the English, the Pennsylvania. the New
Jersey and the Connecticut ore, is sold al from
800 TO $50. Iii the opinion OF practical and
scientific men that the Catalan forge may be so
constructed as To conduct the escape heat by
means of tucs TO the boiler OF steam engine, thus
obyiaing the necessity of conveying the ore dis
lance of from ) to 20 miles, as is now usually Gonc
at the north, in order 10 procure water power to
propef machinery for blowing and hammcrng The
IRON into blooms. This, without requiring any
additional fuel must be the means OF SAVING
great deal of expense Mr.. Cook when lie made
/ his report considered tlis as an experiment; but
ii has been ascertained that the principle has been
tested both IN this CITY and IN New ork. There
have been two or hrce circumstances from Clinton
county, which have been fully and ably answered
! BY MIR. Cook and we have also had from that
/ county and others considerable number OF pet-
tons in favor OF the plan. In the printed rcin0n-
STRANGE land upon our table from Clinton county,
an attempt is made 10 show that the loss on
every ION of iron would be some ten or twelve dol
! lars, while at the same time, graat apprehension
is evinced least the State should interfere with
the profitable business of losing some ten or twelve
dollars on every ton of IRON manufactured. MI
+ c. while al the north visited the Peru IRON COM
pany's works al keescvilie, and was received with
every attention. information furnished and The plan
spoken of fayorably but it 50 happened that al
though the quality OF the ore at this mine was
good, vet the VEN was very narrow think only
) feet IN width. and required thata steam engine
should be run day and night, to keep II free from
/ water. so that it might be worked. The price
named for it was very high. and Mr.. e. did not
think fit in his report 10 recommend the purchase
ofit Here is the great secret OF the remonstranee
from that quarter. An estraYagant calculation
is gone INTO, the details Of which WI! not now
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