Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-03
The PenitcntIary system.

The PeRitentfary system
We have been requested to publish the
following letters, relative to the effect on
manufactures of the present Penitentiary
system as established by law:
NASHVILLE, TENN, Sept. /, 1870.-Mr.
A. S. Colyar: Dear sir-Replying to your
favor of the 30th ult., we take pleasure in
stating wherein the present Penitentiary
system is injurious to our branch Of manu-
features. The injury is done us in selling
the kinds of ware we make at prices vary
ing from 10 to % per cent. less than ours.
This difference in prices will cause us, if
persisted in, to reduce prices, and, if con-
tinued, we will be forced to sell at cost or
less than cost of production, in order to re-
tain our trade.
This difference in prices viii demoralize
the trade everywhere, and we, who are do
ing our utmost to build up branch of
manufacturing that brings the skilled me-
chanics and capital from tho North, are
made to suffer by an institution which is
supposed to be working for the interests of
the State. We are, very respectfully,
PREwTTr, SPURR & Go.
NASHVILLE, Aug. 81, 1S70.-Hon. A. s.
Collyar-Dear Sir: Yours of yesterday
asking for the facts in reference to the in
jury done the mechanics of Tennessee by
the present management of the Penitenti-
airy is received.
The facts go far as they effect us, are as
follows: g.s ~
We are engaged in the foundry business
in this city, and the manufacture of hallow-
ware has been a speciality with us for sew
eral years past, and have always arranged
our prices at figure that prevented the
shipment of ware into this place from
Louisville and Cincinnati, which are the
only places we come in contact with. While
the above named cities have advantages over
us in manufacturing, we have heretofore
received fair profit on our manufactures;
and could still continue to do so, if it were
not that the present Board of Inspectors Of
the Penitentiary show determination that
neither the State or individuals shall have
q profit on their products, and if the law
under which they were appointed had di-
rected them to use the Penitentiary as an
engine to crush private enterprise, the
course they have taken would prove the
best to accomplish that object.
We charge them with putting down the
price of tableware % per cent below what
it can be obtained from any other point,
and at which it would be rninous to manu-
facture it. Also offering to cast machin-
cry for patrons of ours at 20 per cent less
than we were then doing it for.
In the report of the Inspectors of the
Penitentiary submitted in June last, to the
Legislature then in session, they say
Believing that the letter and spirit OF
of oh - !
that the intent of your Honorable body
was, that the convict labor of the State
should be so directed as to conflict, to the
least possible extent. with private enter
prise; and that the will, SO expressed, re-
Elected the general desire of the people OF
the State; and, further, being convinced
that sound policy and true economy, both
in the management of the institution and
the fostering of all manufacturing inter
ests i'll the State, required a careful dis
tinctoin as to what particular branches of
industry the convict labor should be di-
rected, the present Board of Inspectors
have determined to make thorongh change
in the application of that labor; selecting
those branches of mechanism in which, if
it completes with private enterprise at all,
will only be with large capital, and not
with parties of small means, struggling for
existence in our State.
Moreover, the branches which we have
selected, requiring for conductingas private
enterprise such large capital, as yet, in this
era of the infancy of manufacturing deve-
opment, no step has been taken by private
individual enterprise for their establish
ment in this State. We refer to the manu-
featuring of railroad box and fat cars,
hemp bagging and general assortment of
stoves and hollow-ware."
Now, we do not SO much object to the
Inspector working so large proportion of
the convict labor on hollow ware, as we do
seriously object to them selling the pro-
ducts of that labor twenty-five per cent less
than it can be put down here from any
other point, and at which price it would be
ruiDous to us to still continue the manu-
facture of 1t.
By their Sound policy and true econO-
my, both i n management of the institution
and the fostering of all manufacturing in
terests in the State, they have entirely
Frustrated the manufacture of hollow-ware
in this part of the State.
Hoping that through your laudable eff
forts in behalf of the mechanics in this
State, we may obtain some redress for the
wrongs inflicted upon US by those now
having charge of the Penitentiary, we are,
Yours, ETC., d. GILES & Co.