The Arkansas banner., 1845-08-20
MECHANICS ASSOCIATION OF THE
 CITY OF LITTLE ROCK

z-zz-------4 I MECHANICS ASSOCIATION OF THE
 CITY OF LITTLE ROCK.
 The committee heretofore appointed ny the Association, beg leave to submit the tol- lowing address, 10 the people of Arkansas. Submitted Aug. ,, 1915.
 l TO THE PEOPLE or ARKANSAS:
 ImpelIed by ruinous competition kept up by the Penitendary, the mechanics oi l Little Rock have associated themselves to- gether, for the purpose of calling the atten- lion of their lellow-citizens to the great in- justice that is done the State, by the present system of employing the convict labor. T It appears, up to this time, that the coll yicts have been employed in the various me- chancal brances carried on in this city. To this we should not object, was 1t not, that to secure monopoly of the market, the artl- cles manufactured by the conpicts are dis posed of al but. little more than cost of the raw material; hence the continual demand on the State treasury for means to support the institution.
 We find from the report of the Saperin- tendant, made to the last Legislature, and a statement furnished by the Auditor, that the amount drawn from the Stale Treasury for the support of the PeHiJentiarV since tie 10th of February IS42, is SI3,2zI 29; that is, for period of some less than three and a half yeaf1 From this, it appears that the annual cot 10 the Slate for the support oi the institution Is $3,777 47.
 We will now see what is the necessary expense of keeping the conyicts per annum If we assume the average number to be 36; and allow S35 piece for feeding and cloth-
 Hg them, it would amount 10 Sl,330. We will then allow 5 l,090 for the salary of the principal agent, and ,500 for five assist ants; which, together, will make the total annual amount for keeping the prisoners , 53,830; then subtract S3,717 47, the aver f age annual amount drawn from the treasury from S23.830, the annual expense to keep the conyicts, and 1t will give a result of S52 53 as the annual amount earned by 39 strong : able-bodied men.
 Much sympathy has been expended fol l those who have to compete with the paupel
 labor of Europe, and heavy duties have been levied to protect them. Butbelore their con. dition can be compared with ours, we mus
 conceive the European laboring without com : pensation, fed clothed, and housed, free o [ expense, all duties removed, and the articles they manufacture transported to this country and disposed of without profit or charges.
 Nov, leIl0W-citizens, we ask il justice
 does hot require that We should be relieved from this ruinous competition. Ne ask i the interest Of the State would not be great : ly advanced by directing the convict labor te one or two branches of manufacture tha 5 would require but liale skill. We now sag- gest soap and candles, for which there is ar , abundance of waste materials about this city : Ne have heretofore suggested bageing and rope, and the more we investigate the sub iect the more We are convinced of the ad- vantages of such employment. We have been informed that the eonviets in the Ken lucky Penitentiary are almostexclusiYely em- ployed in the production of those articles and the result is that the nett annual profi from the labor of the l62 eonyicts is up- wards of G28,000, or more than SIP tc each convict.
 , The advantages that yvoold la..,pl. froH : the last named employment does not stol : with the amount that could be realized t1 the hand. Ii 1t was known that there va. ready market at this place for hemp, there Is no doubt our farmers would engage in iG cultivation; and we have reason to believe i would be a very profitable crop
 From the report of the commissioner o patents, made 10 Congress, VIC learn tha the average yield per acre in Mississippi i half alton; while in Kentucky t is but 80( lbs. The best Water-roted hemp has beer sold for as much as S200 per ton. Tht same report speaks of species of hemI that can be grown on overflow lands. Who could calculate the advantages that woult result from its introduction into this State
 We intend to collect and lay before you al the information we can iu relation to the eHl ture and preparation of hemp for market and should you be induced to instruct you representatives in the next Legislature t adopt our suggestions, We have no doub our agricultural interests will be greatly ad
 yanced9 and our Pcnuentiary made to yielt q revenue 10 the State of at least l5,000 De annum; which, if applied juaieiousIy to pur poses ol education, would prevent more iron the commission of crime, than Is ever likel1 to be reformed by tine present system.
 We ask You, lellow-citizens, to consider disPassionately, our suggestions; and if you believe them likely to conduce to the gener al welfare, we shall expect your hearfy co operation.
 We ask our brother mechanics through. out the State to give us their generous ac [ in removing this oppressive wrong. ARCHIBALD ARMSTRONG. Ch'n Qf Com, out the State are requested to publish the above address,
 C. L. SULLIVAN, Rec. Sec.