Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-11-28
CLINTON PRISON.

from which we shall take the liberty Of |
making u few extracts. Tho compliment
paid 10 the scientific qualifications, in'cgri.
ty, ftmncss and sound judgment Of the
agent, Ransom Cook, Esq, reccives hearty
response from every citizen, in this section,
who has watched the progress of things at
Dennemora or is acquainted with the obsta.
cles the agent has encountered and success.
fully. overcome. 1t is no small task to lake
two hundred convicts into the centre Of the
forest, within stockadc guarded by twelve
men, and keep them secure while they are
erecting their o,cn cells PlattsbWgh KEEP
"One of the first difficulties encountered in the
disposition of criminals, is To reconcile me reoi
matory treatment Of the Offender, win PUBIC
economy. In that our euccc>s has heen perlrcs'
and under proper management, mere Is Nv 1 ~
Guilty in supporting all the convlc's sentenced ,ot
n year md upwards. by their own labor. i'ni
kano,her difficulty arises from the competition
l>h is crea'td, to the injury Of the free mechan,,
BY teaching their trades 10 The most depraVcn
uses of society, and selling the product OF such
YT.bA un Ter what would be the far market price
qience, are: first. rs is alleged, that new opera
tives are forced into their branches OF business
by vi icl an unnatural competition is cteateu'
second, tin, vile set Of men are Yea, wnen men
sentence expire TO nccociaie win ana mus a
eaL Lg lpahrh tsHes become in measure dishonore
thereby.
These consequences have ranked in the brens'
OF the American mechanic from the BEGINNING Of
this competition and for more than fortv years
the Legislature Of the State of New York have
been memo 'iaized and leseged with PETITIONS up.
on the subject Within the last twelve or fifteen
years the excitement upon this hject has heen
much increased. State conventions Of mechanics
hive been called newspaper established TO aid
the cause; candidates for Office required To give
public pledges in relation to it. and tens oftkons
ands Of nc'i,ions have been presented 10 the Leg
islaturc for relief
In this state Of excitement and controversy the
subject remained until 1912, when few mcchnn.
Us suggested the employment Of the convcts in
mining and smelling the metallic ores.
The Legislature embraced the proposition so
far as 10 pass law, April 9th, 1872 authorizing
the Governor. Secretary Of State, and Compiro-
Ter, 10 appoint commissioner, whose duty il
shond lie 10 examine the mineral regions Of the
State, and report 10 the next Legislature upon the
practtrability Of the plan and the expense Of the
proposed change.
The peculiar responsibility and enormous en-
rcnse of such an experiment, and the disastrous
n select commissioner who. with all the scen-
ihci qualifications and experience necessary TO
judge wisely. should have the integrity ard firm
ness 10 Judge honestly. With this view. Ran, om
Cook, Of Saratoga County, was invited by the
State 10 accept the commission. Being himself
an experienced mechanic, though in no wise in
volved in the agitation about convict labor, and
in every particular answering TO the requirements
for such mission, he WAS authorized 10 proceed
at once with the investigation.
al t,,ata T.. n -.
pressed Of the practicabilty OF the enterprise prob.
ably increased the confidence of the Executive in
his AMP onlmen', as if undou ted|y did the conf.
dence Of the Legislature in his report. His first
impressions, however. gave way as his inves, ga
tons progressed, and he finally reported decided
Nv u favor Of the project. He treated the subject
as financial one expressing The opinion that this
business could he prosecuted without the inter.
vcniion Of contractors. who nj the other prisons
generally absorbed large portion Of the con.
As i, was an important feature in Mr. Cook's
plan 10 build his prison by convict labor, the frs
etep TO be taken was TO provide suitable accom-
moda,ions for the number whmt, he might re-
qire. In January last in the midst of snow iv,
feet deer, the AGENT nnmenced the stocknding o
the prison yard, which embraces about ffteer
acres Of land and fifly-lve rods Of the mouth o
the mine. This work WINS not completed unit
some time in Nav. White this wa. in progress
the temporary buildings fer the accommodates
of the cany4;c.... were commanccd on The ols. o
Apr with 80 inches Of snow yet remaining NJ
onthe ground. heavy growth OF sugar maple
birch, beach. elm, hemlock and spruce, covered
the greater part Of The yard and all that part wher
the b,ildings were to be erected.
On the Sd day Of June last, the agent Sc, OF
far the new prison with fifty convicts from SIM
Sing, who were mostly taken from the ,arric> o
that prison.
When The hour of departure arrived, the con
vic,s were taken into the chapel, when the agen
rave them brief de crip'ion of the place to whic
they were to be taken, the treatment they w"ul'
receive The industry and obedience that would b
required. The chap lain gave them an exhoFta
ton and his parting benedcuon.
Embarked on b ,ard tow-boat which lay Il
Sing Sing until The next morning, The convict
s?ent restless night. After breakfast the agef
distributed tobacco amongst those who couiu &c
be persnadei to abandon us use. The aVlni,
with which it was graspc,. bv many was t,u'
surprising. One said he han chewed nearly AZ
his straw bed in prison as SUBSTITUTE. "o.
and leather cuttings had been SEQ by others &c
the same purpose. No tabled spell or char
could have SO quickly quoted the u ne aslnes> an
diffnsed the smile of cheerfullness upon The couI
fenances OF men as did this to5acco.-
The convicts behaved extremely wei! on Inc
jouracv and reached their new abode " ithout
single effort having been madc 10 effect ,'scap
After seeing them comfortably qaarteret'' u
agent proc :e:led 10 Auburn prison, where he Lf
cured and added 10 his number forty'four ne
coDvse.s.
The temporary buildings erected for the receE
ton of the convicts have good floors OF tw
thieknesscs OF plank, are capboarded with roug
bosyde, and have roofs laid with the covers
boards They are all % feet in width, and star
IN 4 line. First Is kitchen, 81 ieet long,
which are an oven and four caldrons. ABOUT
feet distant isa building 20 feet Pns usga as "a
iors, ghoenakers' and BARRIERS s.aop. len lie
distant from THE the temporary prson cohme
ces which is $50 fee, long. The bed : OF the co..
victs are upon the floor. where they steep WI
. their heads 10 the side of the but'ing. lney
separated from each other by parnEi'"
Npring the night by piece Of trace cl:'ln %
Zee feet long one end of which ia cG'nnec
cja\ the floor and the other Is attached 10 me al
the convict by a shacklc and paddock
|ce about 10 feet in width is sill left in the mr.
q of the floor, between the two rows OF CO.
yic,s, whose feet point towards each others. ]
this space the guard walk during the night
Four guards are kept on duty IN this ha'i at
time one at each end in guarding the doors ar
two in walking the hall table at winch I,
Z : conyicts dine extend the whole length OF I,
= hall. and is so arranged as TO he hung up by u
/ beams when not in use, where II is entirely out
the way. The other temporary buildings II
y unnecessary 10 enumernte.
Apprchensons were entertained Ivy some, VIII
this location for the prison was chosen SO reno
from civilization, and buried IN the pro'on'
denths Of prmeval forest that II would cons
tue a temptation TO the convicts to Use upon
Keepers in the hope of nal king their escape IN ,
woods. The agent now, however seems 70 ha
h.cone convinced thai the woods rather prot
ne Prison than expose it to this danger,
While he was absen. a, Auburn, on the oc'
.;on we have beCore REFERRED TO, two conv,cls W
were Al work in the yard, in which as ye. tn
was much standing timber, eret ted pole agar
the pickets, by which they clmhed 10 men
and then dropped on the other side; lney W
discovered by guard VINO gave 'ne a. Ind
was fred, in order to give notice TO the lev
habiants of the surrounding country. The
l. .l,aio La afIe ilnner md