The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-23

well as most state prisons, both the public and
inspectors will hasten to pronounce it but web Of
chicanery and imposition upon the interests Of the
State. When 1t Is capable Of the readtest
proof that the physician, Just resigned,
has been overoearng, inattentlve and In
some few instances cruel another cause
will be recognized for growing dissatsfac-
ton. When 1t has become a matter Of common
report throughout the prison and the village that
the chaplain is the recipient OF fees from the con-
victs for the smallest favors, the Inspectors act
wisely in accepting this oflclal's resignation, to
take effect next month. When, also, 1t Is asserted
by men whose oath will stand In law that certain
Keepers have to their certain knowledge. exacted
perquisites from convicts, In extent from paper
OF tobacco to percentage OF prisoners earn
ings, 1t is nigh time for Warden HuDbel to devise
some means to discover and break up this whole
sale system OF corruption, SO ruinous TO prison
discipline. When 1t is known, also, that the con-
tractors under the old regime are the most blatant
In denunciation Of the new, there will be better
understanding regarding The indscriminate abuse
heaped upon the present Warden, who began his
work BY cutting down all extras and doing away
with many scheming contractors.
LOOKING AROUND LITTLE.
The prison is reached, after few minutes walk
from the hotel or depot over a rugged road. Pass
ing the guardhouses in order as they are reached,
! visited the Warden's Office. and. by his orders,
was subsequently conducted over the prison. On
my way through the prison grounds had noticed
the large gangs Of men IN the quarries, and mad
observed among other things machlne for grind
ing marble dust. To the keeper who conducted
me over the institution | put many inquiries
regarding the history OF the quarries and the
rise o the marble dust business. learned nothing
OF Importance from him. He was either ignorant
OF the history OF the stone cracker or II informed,
considered IT to his best interest to MAINTAIN
stupid silence. 1t is certain that regarding the
inner history Of the Weston ester Marble and Lime
Company, OF which one Alfred Walker was presi-
dent, as well as the ''board OF directOrs.o this
keeper, In common with the majority OF the de-
luded taxpayers, was ignorant. I had heard
enough, however, to awaken my desire to know
more.
Beginning with the Warden, interviewed every
person within the confines OF the prison or the viii
lsge who, from any cause, could be supposed 10
know the lacts. After struggling up and down the
hilly Streets making inquiries OF street urcnns aud
shopkeepels at last found one Anthony b. Muir
stances under which the marble dust contract
shop during +. the sns sass the fsspeFi
visited, In another part Of the village,
81 ne p1 ms wh Une n Vas on eu aa
found HIM blunr, genial sort OF man, who be-
lie yed In non-commlttai and acted on the maxim
nature" lie evidently desired to be prepared ,or
any sudden revolution OF a1airs. ! next visited
james Fulton, who was superintendent OF the
ment as state Agent.
a MAN DID NOT SEE.
next drove TO the little village OF Sparta to In.
terview q superintendent OF the cooper shop
named Wetzman, but learning on inquiry from
the Warden q the prison, that this man was in
disgrace and had been discharged under the In
putation that he had assisted IN the escape OF
'twenty years convict" did not hunt him up.
institution out the Information obtained from him
was but relteration OF what was already in my
en 70 s s ya Sns h ana
now visiting the prison TO temporarily supply the
place of The regular physician, who iatey resigned
also saw q former cnlef clerk OF the institution,
who now publishes newspaper IN the village.
Finally, taking the cars, proceeded Gown the
river 10 Hastings 10 lind suo-contractor under
the late State Agent Walker There no end to
facts and documents within reach regarding the
history Of the rise and coup d'etat o. the West
then, to this interesting narrative:-
GOLD NINE AT SING SING
The State Prison Was removed from New YORK
city to Mount Pleasant ABOUT 1925, and the extern
sve marble quarrles in the VICINITY were pur-
pIoyed on sas rh
move was mainly induced by the demand
from New YORK mechanics that convict LABOR
should not be employed In the various branches
OF skilled competitive industry. Large quantities
OF marble were quarred and several we-known
pubic buildings were erected with 1t. Alter q
time, however, the quarries ceased to pay, the
stone became Of little value Tor building purposes
and chiefly valuable lor lime: The result was that
long ago as 1855 one John MlOn obtained a fifteen
years. contract ana he expended over Si01. 900 III
endeavors resulted in utter failure and his enter
prise was abandoned. Warden Hubbeii states ihat
"the marble quarries are not In condition to
yield profit to the Staten and hat "the lime burn
ing business Is OF little value" He recommended
that the cutting or stone Ior market should DO
entirely abandoned and declared that the quarry az
sing sing was constant drain upon the Treasury
Thus condemned. the quarries remained unworked
until February, 1866
A
This date marks the rise OF q new era In State
Prison contracts which had Its advent with an
organization consisting Of one man aud known as
the WESTMINSTER Marble and Lime Company"
II was clear that II these quarrles could oe got
into the control OF an unscrupuious contractor,
Who VINO, by developing vast Imaginary resources
parent value, he might be able to resell ms claim
to tue State tor great advance. No scheme
cunnngly conceived. and It's execution was rather
more simple. While in the case OF bogus gold
mines sharp fnanclers VINO propose to invest
their own money, have to be deceived. nothing
more CRITICAL than legislative committee was TO
be encountered Sucn committee was appointed
and a deal OF correspondence ensued. me long
Barnum, Hammond and Scneu, the Inspectors.
alter the passage OF an act by the Legislature,
asked TO be informed the price az when ne
would abroEate the contract. MI. Waker mod
esy replied that he was directed by me trustees
to say tnat the sum OF $4,000 10 the least we cona
agree 10 take for sad contract" The value OF the
STOCK owned by Walker Is variously estimated, out
the anair was regarded as
VERY GOOD THING FOR HIN.
In the inventory OF the stock q me company
wnlch accompanied the oli q sac ssee page 20,
been the properly Of walKer and ne disposed or
quarries was OF snort duration. Under State man
agement It soon proved an utter failure. Mr..
walker was then re.engagea 10 ssperin-
tend the work az state Agent. and took