The New York herald., 1845-01-08


years Ia its o,rly stages, next TO the prevention and
punishment of cns tss heavy burden upon the public
treasury and the removal OF that burden o making me
labor OF the convcts pay the OF their punish
ment, the object most anNiously sought IL was
faaly reached through radical changes in the con.
struction Of prisons, and the improvement
in prison discipline which those changes rendered
practicable. entertain the impression that our State
the fest to bring about the accomplishment oil these
great improvements the construction and police Of
prisons, and with them the equally important result oil
making support themselves Various accidents since
that point first reached such the consruc
tion of buildings additions to- and improvements OF,
the old and necessity for changing the labor of the
convcts from employ to which they had become
accustomed that which they to learn, have Great
ed calls upon ths treasury aid support the State
prisons but ordinary rule when the labor OF the
convcts has been directed to support alone 1t Is believed
thsit has fully met that charge, and for some years.
has yielded very considerable surplus
The reports made to me by the inspectors OF the
prisons at Auburn and Mount Pleasant, present
both these institutions at present IN sound and
prosperous state the health OF the prisoners ordIna
rlly good, the discipline carefully preserved, and
the avas OF the labor Of the convicts for the cur
rent year, promising to meet the expenses OF the
prison.
The number Of male prisoners in the Mount
Pleasant Prison has increased one hundred, compa-
ring the year 1874, with 1913, but more than halt
that increase Is accounted tor by the transfer OF
thirty prisoners from Auburn, aud the addition oi
eight counties TO thst prison district The whole
number there confined on the 3d. Sept. last, was
eight hundred and sixty-three. The number of
female convicts at Mount Pleasant, at the same Pc
riod, was seventy-two, four less than the number at
the close of the preceding year. The whole ex-
peuses ot the prison. for the last fiscal year amount.
ed to $6i.2l5 03, which the inspectors say is less,
by from two To fourteen thousand dollars per year,
than the expenses of the three preceding years.
they anticipate that the avails of the labor of the
convicfs tor the current wear, will be equal to the
support OF the prison. This report makes several
important suggestions for diminishing the expense
and improving the condition OF this prison. and es-
pecially as to sufficient supply OF pure water; but
as the annual report OF the Inspectors to the Legs
with all the statistics in reference to the prison,
more fully than could do ia this communication,
respectfully reter you to that document, when II
shall be laid before you, and invite your attention
to Its statements and recommendations
The number OF prisoners conhaed at Auburn on
the 3o.h OF November last, was seven hundred and
hfty-hye. being but twelve more than at tie close
oil the previous year, but it should be borne in
mind that the transfer to the Mount Pleasant Pri-
son, OF thirty OF the Auburn convicts, probably di
mlnlshed the number remaining in the latter prison
to about the same extent while the change Of the
prison districts would have diminished the number
OF commitments tor the latter. portion of the year;
The whole expenses Of this prison for the last fiscal
year, were $6S, ,l07 40 but this included some five
thousand dollars OF debts standing over from pre-
vlous years. which were paid during the last year,
from special appropriation made from the treasu-
ry Tor that purpose The earnings of the prisoners
employed upon contracts, during the last year,
amounted to S52. .3S9 10, and the same earnings,
1or the current year, are estimated at $3.50, 600
while the expenses of the prison for the year, tor
general support and repairs, are estimated at the
same sum. The report from this prison contains
many interesting facts. relating to the discipline
victs, but which, as they will probably be repeated
10 the annual report OF the inspectors to the Legis
lature, and as they call for action on your part,
omit to notice.
complaints were made on the part of the mecha-
mes OF the State against the manner of employing
the convict labor in the State Prisons, as pirlicu-
lary unjust and oppressive upon them as class Of
our citizens. The ordinary branches of mechanics Al
and manufacturing labor chosen for the occupa-
mons OF the prisoners, and the manner of employ
ing them IN the branches selected, by hiring their
labor to mechanics and manufacturers in those
trades, 1t was urged, raised up an unequal and un-
far competition, in favor of those employers
against their fellow-citizens of the same trades,
out without that facility TO procure cheap labor !;
that the State could afford to hire out these con-
vct5 at a rate OF wages merely equal to their sup
port, IN the economical way in which that support
IS provided In the prisons because the services of
the laborer to cost it nothing that such
labor could be made ts supply the market at a less
price, with better article and greater profit, than
the mechanic }or manufacturer can do, who has
the benefit of this artificial standard to govern
the wages of his ldborers.
A further ground Of complaint was that this mode
of employing the convlcts, thus constituting them
mechanics confined TO a few trades, and those to
great extent OF the most common, and necessa-
rily followed in all parts of the State, was throw
ing the whole body of these State criminals, after
their discharge from prison, upon that particular
class of society, and making them the associates
ot the apprentices and journeymen in those trades
The last legislature considered these complaints
worthy OF an effort 10 change the policy, and au-
thorized the erection of new State prison. in the
iron region of the state, with to the employ
ment OF the convlcs IN mining, making iron, and
such branches of the manufacture of iron as are
not commonly practised by the mechanics Of the
State. site hag been selected tor the proposed
prison, by the pc Ions and in the manner pointed
out in the Law, 10 a,ed in the county Of Clinton. 200
is believed to be very extensive bed of iron ore of
excellent quality; and the location, with refer
ence to coal, water, and other requisites for the
proposed business, Is considered very favorable
The annual report OF the agent OF the proposed
prison, will place you in possession of all the facts
Importation your action In furtherance OF this ex-
pertinent to change the labor of the convicts in
our prisons. Your predecessors adopted and es-
tablished the policy Of the measure, and $I7,5OO
have been paid Tor this site for prison. as one I'M
portant step towards the execution Of their law
plan for the new prison will accompany the re-
port of the agent, and further appropriations will
doubtless be wanted TO enable him to proceed with
the erection of it, and the necessary buildings for
the proposed manufacture Of iron. OF the amount
of appropriations which will be necessary, | am
not advised, but you will be informed by that Off
cer and presented by him with the facts and views
upon which his estimate is based.
The course having been deliberately resolved
upon, it should be prosecuted with energy and good
faith, and the work should be hastened as rapidly
as the means at your command applicable to it.,
and true economy of expenditure, will permit
Still those who feel an interest in the accomplish
ment of the change should constantly bear in mind
that time is required that the work to be perform
ed, and the expense TO be incurred, must be very
great, before the revolution proposed can be per-
tected, even If the experiment should be attended
with complete success. The enterprise ia one OF
deep interest, but one which inpatient haste may
endanger, and cannot serve.
The public charities of the State form another
class OF objects for your paternal care. Among
them one stands more prominent than the pro.
vision made for the insane, and especially for the
late lv
established at Utica, is particularly designed for
the relief of this most unfortunate class of our
fellow beings, and the munifcence OF preceding
which the counties and towns OF the State availed
themselvesoi its benefits, afford the highest ev.
dence Of the strength OF that charity in the aiec-
tions OF our people. There is not, perhaps an in
stance upon record where a public institution of
that descrptlnn and extent has heen 90 nrornnflu