Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-22
CITY Az FAgHgI

Cry Work. JoUsE,--Every days Experience teaches
Us that there is yet wanting this city one institution
which would exert wholesome influence upon its mo-
rails. We allude to city Work House where vagrar Is
could be forced to labour for their daily bread Our
Streets courthouses and ais infested BY this WORTH
lees class who tax the energies of the police ec the
city to heavy expense, and finally quartered upon
the State large portion of the public revenue an
nuay expended for the maintenance in the public als
OF Migrants and petty maefactors. Now, lit to
US, the money thus expended might be more proably
employed in dispensing the blessings of education
amongst the poor and needy children Of the State while
at the same time the condition Of the class Of offenders
above alluded to, might be improved 1t is the duty o
the public authorities to prepent rather than punish
crime. The present system, however, actually hods
out inducements to the idle and worthless to indulge
those habits which have rendered them debased and
worthless. So long Migrants fed clad and ren
dered comfortably idle al the expense of the State so
long will jals be filled with the refuse population OF
the Northern cities. The inmate Of Northern Work
house has good reason to ielicate himself upon ex-
changing it for comfortable cell in our city jail, be-
he receives here all the necessaes afforded by the
Work house, and is not required to perform any manual
labour whatsoever As to the moral influences exerted
by confinement in Jail, we presume no one will for
moment contend that the condition of vagrant can be
or four months with persons Of" i'll fame and name who
like himself, have nought to do except to 'ski time"
Nova we'll regulated Work-house might exert happy
influence. Habits OF industry and sobrety might be in
cucaed; at all events, the vagrant would retire the
expiration OF his term, in worse condition morally
than when he entered it, Can this much be said in ia
your of the city Jail?
1t appears to US that Work House night be put ia
operation in the city, at small expense The fine brick
building situated East of the Poor House. designed ORR
gnally as hospital we believe, but rarely used be-
cause the city enjoys happy exemption from inec
tlous maladies might be converted into ork house
and thus made to serve useful purpose Since the en-
largement OF the Poor House building, ample accom-.
modatons tor the paupers have been provided and we
presume wards for the sick might be provided there in
cases of emergency.
We have been led 10 these reflections by Witnessing
almost dalyt the crying necessity which exists for cor
regional Work House Those who are in the habit of
attending the morning levees ofhis Honour the Mayor
cannot ia to be torciby impressed with the number
Migrants seeking refuge in the city Jail. On Tuesday
morning, for instance white women; to their shame
be it said, brought up from the cage where they
had been lodged the previous evening BY Mr. Pearce
who stated that they had only been released from Jail
lew hours, when he found them in Broad street. drunk
and misbehavng. The Mayor recognised the lovely
couple as Betsy Bottoms and Jane Blackburn-names
well known on the police books. Now, both women are
able to work but, being addicted drink and above
ALL possessing ondness for work. they have elected to
live in the city JAIL where they can "eat drink and be
merry" at the expense of the State. Will not every
honest citizen be tempted exclam with US" Oh for
work house, where worthless creatures like these nav
be compelled to earn their daily bread %