New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-15
Houses OF Industry, 10. 4.

broad principles upon which the city should eS
tablish Institutions for the relief of those who
have night to the synpathies and charities of
the community. We estimated that with half
million of dollars, two large Houses of Industry
could be established one of which would srccor
the poor, and the other would offer an asylum or
retreat to criminals, drunk ards, and outcasts OF
all kinds. The city can build a sumptuous pr
son. costing 100000, to punish crimes already
committed. Now leaving all charitable and be-
nevolent feelings towards the depraved out of the
question, would il not prove perhaps in the end
real economy to the city by lessening the ex-
pense Of criminal courts, police establishments,
&c to build an asylum for the vicious poor, and
the prevention of crimes that are to be commit
ted Be this as il may, we advise, as we recon-
,nended, that but one House of Industry be esta
blished until it can be proved by practical expert
ment whether the Poor-old and young-who
have their health, can support themselves and
in addition, one-third Of their number, who may
be entirely incapacitated for work. II S250,0OO
were thought too large sum to be applied TO this
charitable undertaking, very good commence
nent could be made with 100000; a part of a
large establishment would be made and the plan
could be carried out fully, when deemed advisable.
Without paYng any attention to that empty
criticism, which merely condemns without having
any thing to propose, and which is too destitute
of benevolence to seek even TO propose any thing,
we will state our conviction, which is that plan
can be devised by which the Poor can support
themselves and we feel certain that unless this
can be done, The Poor will always be most mise.
rably provided for and thousands Will be left 10
perish by slow starvation and priyations, or be
plunged into vice and crime.
To enable the Poor 10 support themselves, q
good Organization, as we have stated, must be
giren to Industry; that is, the various branches
of Labor must be so organized and prosecuted that
the efforts of all the old as well as the young
can be applied to production, and that those who
have contracted habits Of idleness will find ssme-
thing that they can and will be willing to do.
Quite variety Of branches Of Labor both in agri-
culture and in mechanics should be established,
so that the capacities and strength of all who are
able to be active, can be usefully employed, and
the Establishment be made to furnish the things
necessary to the support Of its inmates.
A considerable tract of land should be con-
nected with each House of Industry-at least
thousand acres for 500 persons-and as great
q developement as possible be given to agrcutu-
raj Industry. Take for example, the vegetable
gardens; if they are rightly laid out, proper
division of labor observed, and all necessary ia
cilities for prosecuting agriculture introduced,
the labor of men, women and children can be
applied very advantageously to this department
of Industry All the vegetables necessary to the
of the establishment could easily be
raised. If little emulation were excited, and
the labor were not prosecuted IN that drudglng,
disciplined and brutal manner that it generally s
in Work Houses, there is no doubt that the most
law could be induced to work, and be cured in
time of their bad habits
Besides agricultural Industry, such branches
Of manufactures should be introduced as will be
required to supply the establishment and the IN
mates with agricultural and other implements,
furniture, clothing, &c. A cloth mandatory,
for example, should be established, so that the
clothes required for the Poor could be produced
by their own labor. If the proper pains were
taken and the proper intelligence applied by the
CITY in organizing the different branches of labor
in the House of Industry, there is no doubt that
agriculture and manufactures could be success
fully prosecuted. A few competent and ener-
oetic overseers only would be required In the
different departments of Industry TO secure an
orderly and systematic prosecution of them.
cap mandatory, shoe shop, blacksmith, tin
smith and machine shops, should also be estab-
lished The workshops should be large and airy
so as to be healthy, and very minute DIVISION
of labor be made SO that the work could be rem
dered as easy as possible, and adapted TO the ca
liabilities of the unskilful, of the old and young,
and others who are partially incapacitated for
work.
We have before recommended the culture and
manufacture of silk it should be principal
branch of Industry whatever was produced
from this department would be sold, SO that
revenue would be derived from this source 1t
would REQUIRE no doubt some trouble and good
deal of skill and intelligence to organize properly
the culture and manufacture of silk, but Il can be
done, and if it would aiG essentially in rendering
the House of Industry selfsupporting estab-
lshment, it should be done.
To show the Importance of this careful organi-
zation of Industry, let contrast the condition
of one of the charitable institutions which the
City now supports at an expense of S4O,Ooo
year-the Long Island Farms. There are at
this establishment some hundreds of children,
majority of whom are quite robust and hearty,
and of an age TO be able to produce Two hun
dred acres of land are attached to the estab