Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-20
COUNTY WORK HOTJSEI RUM

writer was connected Win COunty W Ork
House, situated in one of the neighboring |
having done anything wrong, but was engag- |
ed in assisting the Superintendent in con-
Quoting the business operations of the Insti-
tuition.
The object, in the establishment Of this
Institution, was to rid the County Jail of a
class OF persons confined therein for petty Of
lenses, where they would remain for 20, 80,
60 and 80 days in idleness, at the expense of
the County
At this Institution, the inmates are re.
auircd to work to sustain themselves, and
thereby relieve the County of the burden of
their maintenance; as well as relieve society
of their obnoxious presence.
The work performed at this place, is,
mainly the manufacture of coal oil barrels,
of which they turn out about TOO barrels
daily, and in the market these barrels COM
mand higher price than those made out.
side. During the month OF October, of the
present year, the price obtained was -. s.
per barrel.
The Institution owns farm of 30 acres,
upon a portion of which the building are
erected. The greater part Of the remainder
is titled for the use of the Institution, Iais
ing thereon large portion Of the potatoes
and other vegetables consumed by the in
mates
During the mild months OF the year, bricks
are manufactured very largely, from clay
found, suitable Tor the purpose, on the pre-
misses. These also command the highest
market prices, and ara equal TO any made in
the vicinity.
Another branch of business carried on i.
the steam Laundry, in which not only tho
washing ofthe prisoners is DONE but they dc
the washing for the Pullman Car Company,
4 - =. ~ -.
considerable sum of money.
The Institution for the year ending Dee
1872, was very nearly self sustaining, AM
would have been entirely so, had the manu-
iacture Of barrels commenced earlier in tn
wear. The barrel factory did not get int
operation until the month of March, 1872
The average number of inmates for tn,
year 1879, was SO5, ofwhich $50 were male
and IS females. The females are mostly en-
gagged in making and mendns the clothin
of the inmates.
For the present year, ending Dec. 1873,
is estimated that the institution will be, nc
only self sustaining but will yield revenu
TO the County of $4,000 to 100000. [
view Of the enormous taxes imposed upo
the citizens Of our county, Tor the support {
our poor house, (which is mostly filled wit
vagrants) and our County Jail, ask woul
it not be wise and economical measure,
establish qcork house in Our County, with
easy reach ofthe city of Wilmington, whei
Migrants, the disorderly, and all committt
for petty offenses to our County Jail, cou
be confined, and required TO 9cork for the
maintenance? | would give the Mayor
the city Of Wilmington, and the Justices
the Peace throughout the county, power
commit persons to the County Work Hous
for petty offenses lin default of paying Il
fine imposed for 80, 60 or 90 days, accor
ing to tho aggravaiion of the offence.
1t is always wise and proper to confn
and exclude criminals from society, but
maintain them, an adleness, every one will
prepared to admit, is unwise 1t is expe
sive to the tax payers, and an injustice al
wrong to the criminal. There never can
any hope of the reformation ofthe offende
if you con6ne him in a narrow CELL and gi
him nothing to do When his term Of il
prisonment expires, he will go into socie
again, a worse man than when he enter
the prison doors, and be prepared for t
commission of crimes ofgreter magnitude.
My position, in the Institution where | "
engaged, gave me ample opportunity to @
serve very much of the lower strata of
ciety, and to learn great deal of the ly
and antecedents Of those who were so inf
tunate or depraved, as to find home in t
work house.
mere WtIc GtCtlNtu lHlp tut HUTh uOu
during the months Of January, February al
March of this year, 49l, tof which 429 we
males and 62 temales,) and Of this numb,
447, admitted that they were addicted to t
use of intoxicating drink, and this, in me
of these cases, was the primal cause OF tn,
finding their way to such place. Only
per cent. OF the whole number, alledeed tn
they abstained from the use entirely, of t
Intoxicating cup. And there is no way
knowing, certainly, that all these told t
exact truth concerning their habits
Could the criminal statistics OF the wht
country be collected together, would it II
be found that about the same proportion,
here noted, had their start in the down b
of crime, through strong drink? If this
so, that mine tenthS AL tie crimes oft
land are traceable TO rum, is it wise, is
safe, and is it humane, in the State, to t.
crate the sale Of rum?
Is not the state the parent OF Society, al
isit not bound through its laws, to guarant
so far as possible, its safety prosperity al
happiness?
Ought not every good citizen to frown u
on the sale and use Of intoxicating drink,
the community in which he lives, and exc
himself TO his utmost, to create a public Sc
timent against it? In this way and by Il
means, it may be, that when the time com
to elect other law makers, we shall ha
such chosen, as will obliterate all icen
laws, for the sale Of intoxicating beverage
from our Statute Books, and enact law |
tally prohibiting their sale to the end Of /
corded time. E. D. G