The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29
Visits to the Pablo Institutions.
BRIDGE STREET,
NEW YORK july 1852,

/
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ u
SlR-rhe very interesting account of visit to
various institutions under the charge Of the Ten
| Governors. recently inserted in your journal, has
excited the curiosity and met with tho appreciation
| Of many of yenr subscribers, who were previously
very ignorant of the mode Of conducting, aud the
nature OF, those excellent charities ! forwarded
some copies of your paper containing those state
ments to friends in Lopdon, to show them how DIFF
use and liberal was tho scale on which thes, asy-
ums. &c, were conducted find, however, that
the writer of the Visits to the Public Institutions
on ElackwelIs and Randails Islands, has very
briefly E anced at an Institution in the course of
erection Black wells Island Ct allude to tho new
work house,) and was therefore induced to IN axe
further inquiries into the objects and nature Of it,
and submit the information Cleaned, TO be handed
to the talented gentleman your staff editorial,
whose statements have perused With pleasure and
preserved with care. Should they be deemed worthy
Tin any shape) OF being inserted in your Journal,
think they would convey some informa lion upon an
experiment about to DO tried, and to the results Of
which many persons will look forward with interest
Respectfully yours,
REMARKS on THE PROPOSED woRKHoUsE on
BLACKwELL'S ISLAND
workhouse for the reception Of the casual poor
OF New York, who are able bodied mechanics or
laborers, destitute of employment, has long been
desideratum. Happy indeed would the poor law
commissioners and parochial authorities of England
be, 10 have the opportunity Of making fair. un.
tramelled experiment with such institution as
that in the of erection Blackwells Islaad
The perusal of English poor law reports will show
what immense difficulties impeding the reform
OF pauper management in England, and. by contrast
exhibit how little there will be to contend with in
making the New York workhousc model institu-
ton. provided il is not mpeded by political party
feeling.
None, VIC presume, will be admitted to the work
house who are nGrm. impotcnt, lame, blind, or
aged The Almshousc is tho proper refuge for such
persons, and to it mono others should be permitted
to resort.
The able bodied, seeking temporary hone in the
wofkheuse. should be compelled to contribute to
the liquidation Of the expense of their support by
an industrious application of their labor The M.
ture of the work TO be performed by inmates, beyond
that Of which tho produce can be consumed in tho
institution, is matter for grave consideration by
experienced men like the present superintendent
An amount OF labor should be required from the
inmates equal to that performed by hard working
men who earn their own livelihood, as they will be
rs well fed and cared for eight nine-tenhs of
the laboiipg population in the oycrstocked Labor
markets of New York.
The workhouse, while it relieves paupcrsm. viii
tend TO the repression Of it, by Offering no encou-
ragcment TO the idle and dcprved; and it is there
fore important to consider what will be the effects
on the proper and Improper inmates Of such
Institution.
The improper character will complain, although
he has q better house over his head. better clothing
on his back, better aud moro pnatable food to cas
than uine-tsntas Of the pessantry Of Germany,
France Italy, or Ireland; and he is not required TO
DO harder work.
The order, regularity, restraint, want Of stimu-
lants and the cleanliness, win be insupportabe
this character, and he viii avoid an institution
where such regulations infinitely framed aud
miautely carried out-will eagerly seek for work:
and instead Of existing portion Of the properly
Of others, WILL perhaps, husband his resources, and
possibly resume his rank ia the scale Of moral
being.
The proper deserving man, compelled by Eaut Of
employment or temporary sickness, to seek shelter
in the workhouso, w1l regard tho rules and regula
tons rs contributing to his comfort and webeing,
and vii. express his sense Of them by cheertuliy
adding his modcum Of labor to the repayment OF
them.
Even the yagrant. committed by the police jus.
tice for being destitute Of shelter, habitual
crunkGId, Will be redeemed from hcrding with
thieves and prostitutes in the pepitentiacy. and
efforts viii be made, and opportunity offered, to
raise his emulation and spirts; and great will be
the qualification Of the gentlemen who have origi-
mated the institution. if they succeed in any degree
IN lettering the condition Of such an individual
That the woIkhouse on Biackwelfs Island viii
(wten completely be in condition Of perfect
rangement for the purposes required Off, We have
no doubt, ard the importance of the principle
which will guido lis management will be acknow-
lodged
It's to be hoped that the opportunity OF erecting
bathing house on the east branch Of the East
river will not be neglected.