The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-13


Wards IAand about the same time conveyed BY the
society 10 the city II V we'll too TO observe here tia. by
the report Of hssocsty Of January 1881 thsre werv then
wns'ns - -. .S. IL - - ~, wnoa scans 70 nave
preceding by seventythroe The average number in
fact during the year 1850 ranging between 800 and 400
and from the tenor Of the report II plain that In No
yembcr preceding, the present house became fun and
ovcrcwing from the fact Of receiving ccuycts from
twenty counties of the state bdes those from this
city and that therefore the doors have been repeatedly
closed and kept closed TO number Of those within the
city, by its courts directed to be sent to It. II appears
then that the society besides yeariy revenue from the
State, OF eight Thousand dollars and from the city
of four thousand dollars besides the proceeds of theat
rcsl and circus licenses, have obtained ordinance
vestng IL with power 10 sell and apply to their use
the proceeds OF the city property ory lots) at the
foot Of East Twenty street worth lat eighty
leasing the lien that property from the Sinking Fund
OF the invady of these proceedings there cannot be
doubt of the violation Of the faith Of tho city and State
the city stockthere cannot Ice question. True in the
passage of the ordinance tho consideration that the
ground the society should purchase for site should bc
conveyed to the city and the only ground they did pur
chase that purpose since been conveyed but con
veyed entirely different purpose than that for which
II intended and under distinct and different induce
meM yiz-the appropriation Of tho land on Randalls
Island. The conveyance of the land on Wards Island
cannot lrgaize illegal a transaction that above
mentioned II further then appears that In addition to
the eighty thousand dollars worth Of property above
aosrs Of n.
ton Of between hrtysix and thirty Of land
Randals Island including that part actually employed
Potter's Field. while employed and without the
provision If another cemetery in place OF IT, and that on
the authority alone Of this resolution to act apart and
appropriate the Mayor and Comptroller have conveyed
away absolutely to the society the fee In the land last
mentioned which land the committee believe worth
to the city at least thousand dollars per acre max
Ing total value of city property obtained from this city
Of hundred and fourteen thousand dollars and up
wards ess tho value Of eleven and NTH acres land
Wards iand), besides fifty thousand dollars from the
State OF tho invaIidty of the last mentioned convey
anccs. for want OF due authority there be
tainiy and besides tho intent Of the Common Council
In making grants Of this nature In all preserve in
the city the fee OF tho property well known The
mittee refer TO grants to city institutions But in
to this institution cardinal error which has
influenced much Of these proceedings the impression
that is city institution II originally so; but by
tho laws OF the State compelling II to receive conycts
from other counties and cndowng II with revenues
substantially made State institution, and the pract
cal proof OF this is In the effect of these laws in filling
the establishment with convicts from other parts the
State, TO exclude numbers OF those from tho city
habituay now, to render II difficult to get them ad
mittcd ut all The only feature left, indicating its con-
nection specially with the city that its managers are
required TO he inhabitants of the city 1t is to be
membercd too, that II Is corporation entirely indie
pendent OF tho city government; Its managers not
elected by the people but by subscribers to IT, and in
vacancies elected for the residue Of the term by
the managers remaining Tho people not nor have
the city government any voice whatever proceed
ings Is it, then wise proper to give the institution
potent power over the criminal department Of the
munity and endow IL absolutely with large amount
ct public property, without any municipal or public
contro but other considerations suggest themselves
Rsndalls island are not conycts they the chill
dren Of nsortupe-they are innoccnt-thcy placed
there with reference to their future education,
rcspectabity. and happiness; when they leave the
institution they do without bcmsh or dcgra-
daton, and in after life they look back to their
position there without blush pang Ii It right to
place this island for convicts to
convey outdoor impression that, which cannot be
avoided the general doubt abroad Of the fame of Ran
das Island children, rendering uncertain, in after
times whether the child from the nurseries
the PRISON. Win not tend to ax painful stigma in the
minds Of those not familiar with institutions the
innocent well the guilty! Again 1t is quite proba
bic that the increase of the nurseries, in the
few years must be such to render requisite
the use OF the nurseries all the land which the island in
cludcsl And is the important time make provisions
for the future well for present wants IT. too
seems apparent that the class Of convcts whom
the society has jurisdiction shall increase they anc
pate then indeed, far better for the public will II be-
that island of sufficient capacity be obtained for the
society than the location they desire better would
II be Tor the city twas It city institution to purchase
at once an leland for thcmar better than locate them
on this piece of land and mngle thus two institutions,
essentially different in character at least in de-
gree in the view of strangers and distant communities
not intimate with their details than to confne nstitu-
tons within what must be- before many years inconvo-
nicnt limits 1t Is well to note, that institution
has been authorized by the Legislature and II is organ
lied, and in good hands by which all children below
fourteen of age found Migrants to be pro.
vded for This institution especially applies to the city
and peculiarly demands the aid Of the city government
to note too that the House Of Refuge receives
sixteen years Of age that all between that ago and
twenty are to be confined in the ordinary prisons That
justify invalid proceedings render wise right moa
snres which are wrong or injurious though ultimately
tending, or meant to accomplish good end. Upon
careful consideration Of the subject the committee have
come to the conclusion that the annexed resolution
ought to DO adopted, and recommend its adoption
accordingly
Resolved That the Common Council be- and hereby is
qneied TO repeal the resolution whereof the annexed
cory arnroyedo by the Mayor September e5 1851
modify or change The same as The rights Of the
Copy OF resolution above referred to -
Received That all that part Of Ranaas Island emhrac
file in the office OF the south line
which would be of the northerly line
and twentieth street drawn directly through the
island be set apart and for the the So
,ety for tho Reformation of Juvenile Delnquents to
cusey used Tor that and that said Society
wall to be erected said lines ut least ten feet high
further that the land purchased by them for location
ards Island bs conveyed by them to tho city.
Adopted by the Board Of Aldermen September Q, ISL
Adopted hy the Board Of Assistants September 10
Approved by tho Mayor. September - ISL.
WESLEY SMITH I Committee
TlloS, J. BARR, County Offices
The Report was adopted without division and the
Board adjourned TO Monday next Mt o'clock