Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-04

Work HOuse---EmplOyment of Prisoners.

Work HOuse---EmplOyment Of Rrls0nefs.
Chicago has set an example which the people
and municipal authorities of Cleveland should
take into consideration 1t is the establishment
of a Work House in connection with their City
Prison, where the sentenced are worked profta-
bly, to themselves and the City. For some par
ticulars of the Chicago system We are indebted
ren's Aid Society connected with the Industrial
School, who have lately visited the benevolent
institutions of Chicago for the purpose of get
ting further light on the best modes of doing the
most good with limited means.
The Trustees visited the Reform School, In
dustrial Schools, the Home of the Fnendless,
and the City Prison or Bridewell of our sister
city. During the past year Chicago established
Work House for the employment of the con-
victs, of which there are some 200, about 40
being females. 1t is located on City lot on
the South Branch of the river, and has good
dock for the landing of stone, wood, coal, DC,
for city purposes, where the Trustees found in
the yard about 100 men employed, some saving
wood for the use of the City Offices and Schools,
Others in wheeling stone. hut most of them III
breaking stone to be used in MacAdamizing the
streets. The prisoners do all the work in the
yard, preparing the wood for city purposes, and
also large quantities of stone for improving the
streets. The buildings consist of Prison for
males, another for females, Work shops, Tailor
shop, Work-house, and Chapel. The women
are employed in sewing for the Tailor shop,
making all the clothing needed for the prison.
ers. They also do the washing and ironing
A neat Chapel has lately been built within the
enclosure, where the convicts meet for religious
services half an hour every day, and for preach
ing and Sabbath School on Sunday. The Keep
er informed the visitors that great improve
ment had been manifest since labor had been
introduced, many of the prisoners having learn.
ed their first lessons in the industry that may
prove very beneficial. The yard is enclosed
with fence, not high, with iron pickets on
the top. The prisoners employed in saving
and stone breaking generally wear shackles on
their legs, which do not interfere with their
labor. The Keeper and few overseers man
age the workmen without difficulty, who thus
partially pay their way at least instead Of being
an entire idle burden on taxpayers.
A similar plan might be introduced in Cleve-
land to great advantage. Our streets need Mac
Adanizing wOfully, as everybody knows
Large quantities of wood have to be sawed and
split for the use of the Public Schools. Wash.
ing and ironing has to be done for the prisoners
sent to the cells. A lot of suitable size for
work and workshops could be obtained on the
river or canal at fair rates, accessible to boats
and vessels. Stone suitable for MacAdamizinp
can be cheaply obtained by Lake or Canal
The Newburgh stone, now being used in Mac
Adamizing the Plank Road bed to that village
will answer good purpose, if none cheaper
or better can be had. Our Police and Criminal
them, Judging from the past and the numerous
manufactures of criminals kept open day and
night in defiance of law all over the eitv. 1t
would be amerey to all convicts to set them to
work at some useful employment, and at terms
of reasonable length, rather than sending them
to the cells and idleness, for short terms for
lack of room, and then discharging many before
the expiration of sentence to accommodate
fresh recruits from the grog-shops and other
dens of iniquity.
The statistics of crime and its cost to the |
,ity would startle our citizens if fully present.
~ for ten wears mast An arnv has haar s,,,,
ported by taxpayers, without the slightest re-
enumeration in the way of industry, and but
'ery slight in increased security of person or
property. Our prisons have been nothing but
ehools of vice. and in most instances apt schol-
IFS have come out of them better fitted to prev
lpon community than before incarceration.
The subject is one of interest to every citizen
whether taxpayer or not, and is worthy of ex-
mination and trial. A work-yard with dock
hould be provided for the male convicts at ali
vents with the opening of spring, and the stone
reaking commenced If but short street a year
5 MscAdamized, it will be clear gain, for up to
lis time the whole prison system has been but
4 oppressive burden to the city. If the pris-
ners had been set economically at work in in
rowing the streets ten years ago, the central
ortlons of the city would by this time have had
'mething better than mud roads, and bottom
SIS just now at that Ii
The National Democrat.
Current report says the long promised Bu-