Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
AT THE PENITENTIART.
what MessFs. Cherry, O'ConnOr a Co,
the Iesseea. are DO7ne.

what MessFs. Cherry, O'ConnOr A Co.
the Lessees, are Doing.
By reason Of the location of the State
Penitentiary at Nashville large amount Of
labor is at the disposal Of the State. Here,
as in most other States, this labor is leased
10 contractors, whose interest, naturally
enough, prompts them 10 so direct that Ia
Dor as to make il a source Of profit. Ger
tain difficulties and obstacles, however,
present themselves in connection with
direction Of convict labor that are, to say
the least, annoying, and almost numberless
contingencies are constantly arising. To
illustrate: The contractors assume to be
responsible to the State for the compul sorry
services Of the eOnvicts. Few Of these
conviets are, at the time Of their entrance
into the prison, adopts IN any branch Of
skilled labor. Some are mere boys, others
decrepit men, and yet employment Of some
kind Is to be found for all who are physi-
cally capable Of labor. They are put into
the shops and apprenticed to some depart
ment; for a considerable time their services
are actually valueless, but and contractors
must not only teach them to work, but at
the same time pay the State the same for
the nOvitiate as for the workman who is
thoroughly skilled. And here a eOntin-
gency arises, that while it may be a capital
thing for the convict can scarcely be said
to be 80 for the lessees. Facts abundantly
prove that those who become skilled and
valuable workmen rarely serve their time;
the contractor suddenly finds one, two or a
dozen Of his best Eorkmen leaving with
out warning, and he has no recourse.
Sometimes nearly an entire department Of
some Ofthe shops viii be summarily closed,
and, as result, the leSsees rarely find the
s'cOntractn so s'sOft' a thing as the public
at-large imagines. This is but one Of the
many annOyances and uncertainties expe-
Iienced, and which no forethought can
guard against.
The present lessees.Of the convict labor
Of the State are Messrs. W. II. Cherry,
Thos. OCOnEOr and w. Y. G. Humes,
under the firm style Of Cherry, O'COnnor &
Co. Gen. Humes is a practieing attorney
at Memphis and consequently gives affairs
no personal attention, but is represented
here by his brother, A. R. Humes, a very
efficient gentleman, who has charge Of the
prison Office. Messrs. Cherry and OCOn-
nor reside here, Mr.. Cherry taking charge
Of the Office, while Mr.. OConnOr devotes
most Of his time at the prison to personal
superintendent Of the details Of manu-
featuring. These gentlemen have been les
sees since Dec. 1871, and their contract
with the State will expire Dec. /, 1876.
Within the prison walls are carried for
ward quite number Of lines OF man1fac
turing industry, perhaps the manufacture Of
wagons, carts and WheelbarroWs being the
leading single items. Stoves and hollow
ware are also prominent, some plOWs are
made, and considerable attention IS paid to
the manufacture Of furniture. Of wagons,
the number turned out per year will doubt
less approximate from twelve to fifteen
hundred, and from personal inspection Of
a number Of the vehicles made by Cherry,
OConnOr & Co., we must candidly admit
that they are fully equal to and in many
cases superior to similar products Of the
most renowned establishments Of the cOun-
try. The same care in all the details at
tending upon their construction is shown
the material used is all selected with a
view to its SPECIAL adaptability to its proposed
uses, and the finish is in every respect Of
the best class.
The same remark viii apply to the other
articles made by the firm, and their reputa-
ton for good goods extends throughout all
of the country. Perhaps the principal mar
ket for the peDitentiary wares is found in
Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ala
bama, Mississippi and Kentucky, and with
in this territory a large trade is controlled.
The productions Gin their aggregate vaiue)
are about the same each year.
The sales are made at wholesale, the
lessees ignoring retail buyers almost alto
getber; at all events, no effort is made to
sell directly to consumers, and in this re-
spect, as in others, Messrs. Cherry, OCOn-
nor & Co. are upon the same level with the
other principal manufacturers Of the eOun-
Try. The business they control is one Of
great importance to the city, and they have
so fairly carried out their contract with the
State-they have 50 materially prOspered
the reputation Of the prisOn-made articles,
that they deserve commentator for their
efforts.
We have no idea that the contract has
proved sbOnanZa' as yet, however, and,
in conclusion, we can only hope that their
fOndest expectations Of 1871 may yet be