Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-09

State Prison.

Mr.. EDIroR The burning of the State
Prison at Thomas,on, will probably in its re-
building lead to many Improvements, as well
in regard to its interior convenienees, as its
safety from FIRE, and for the management of
its internal economy. And it will be we'll for
the State, if it leads to better and more econ
| omical administration of its affairs, and more
simple and profitable employment of its convict
labor.
From the foundation of the institution to the
present time, it is very doubtful whether the
State has derived the least benefit from their
labors, as they have been employed. And
whether upon the whole, it would moi nave
been quite as cheap for the government TO have
boarded them at some respectable hotel. II
Will be recollected that large sums of money
were lost, in the attempt to supply New York
with hammered granite. The constant losses
that have since been made by bad debts, on
the sale of the various manufactures carried on
IN the Prison work-shops-from the mendlng
OF shoe 10 the construction of stage coach,
have been more than equivalent for the prison
ers' labors.
1t requires the skill Of good mechanic,
with most un,iring industry, aud the aid of
capital carefully applied, 10 be successful in
almost any branch of manufacture. As it has
been, the result 10 the State could not have
been otherwise. In many, if no, all the State
~. 4
the convicts has been disposed of BY contract,
for terms of time, TO manufacturers, who have
had their work shops in the prison yard, and
that IN most cases, they have made it profitable
to themselves, and beneficial TO the prisoners,
BY encouraging them 10 perfect themselves in
their various trades, by the stmulauts of bo-
muses. for work over the allotted distributing
them for obtaining living when their term of
Imprisonment shall have eApired-with some
thing in hand, for their immediate support. 1t
is well known fact, that many prisoners, on
their liberation from confinement, are, from
utter destituiion, impeled TO resort TO their
old habits of depreciation upon the community
Under the system of letting the labor of the
convicts by contract, large saving would be
made in the police force of the prison, now
necessary, besides suppressing the overseers Of
The work shops. Would it not be better 10
give away the labor of the conyicts. than TO
continue the present system Of purchasing the
raw material for manufacture, and selling the
article for less than cust
Ii is well known that there is now on hand
in the prison work-shops-and has been for
years-articles of manufacture that have cost
some ten or twelve thousand dollars, that are
scarcely, in the market, worth as many hun
dreds. The executive government are now at
the prison a; Thomaston, and they will IN
doub;edly give the whole concern thorough
ovcrhauling, and be enabled 10 give TO the leg
islature such full information upon all matters
apperiaining 10 the prison and its management,
as will enable them 10 pass such laws on the
subject, as will meet the appreciation of the
communicable ends of justice and humanity
| am not aware that any fault is TO be i'm
puted 10 any person or persons, in the matter
1t is the system that has been pursued that is
wrong. NIAToR.
January Sd. 1851.