The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-06-14
MISCELLANY.
Z " " W Fer TirnsREconD.
n ~ UPsTHE HUDSON. -
BY !. R. II
NO. II

Passing up the river, a distance Of thirty
two miles from New York, we arrived at the
beautiful village of Sing Sing, which is partly
situated on elevated ground, and commands
a beautiful view of the river, and surround
ingcountry. At this place are several extern
sive marble quarries. The principal object of
interest here is the State Prison. 1t is stu
ated upon the banks of the Hudson River, ten
feet above high water mark.
The Hudson River Railroad passes directly
through the prison-yard The prison grounds
comprise one hundred and thirty acres and
may be approached BY vessels drawing twelve
feet of water. The keepers house, work
shops, &C., are built of rough !" Sing Sing
marble" quarried from land owned by the
State, in the vicinity. The main building is
four hundred and eighty -four feet in length,
running parallel with the river, and forty
four feet in width. 1t is five stories high,
with two hundred cells on a floor in oil, one
thousand cells.
The convicts are shut up in separate cells
at night, and on Sundays, except when at.
tending religious services in the Chapel
While at work, they are not allowed to ex-
change a word with each other under any
pretense whatever, not to communicate any
intelligence to each other in writing nor to
exchange looks, rwinks, OF to mako use Of
any signs, except such as are necessary to con-
vey their wants TO the walters. The plan of
combining each convict in separate cell dur
ing the night, or the g Auburn SYSTEM as
it is called, was adopted at the Auburn priss
on, in 1924. The prison, at that time, con-
tanned but five hundred and fifty cells Be-
ing, therefore, insufficient to accommodate
all the convicts of the State, an act was pass
ed by the Legislature, authorizing the cree
ton of a new one. Sing Sing was selected as
the location, and Capt, Lynds as agent to
Auburn prison, one hundred convicts to re-
move them to the ground selected for the site
of the new Prison; to purchase materials, en-
ploy keepers and guards, and to commence
the construction of the building The reas-
ons for taking the convicts from Auburn, and
transporting them SO great a distance. instead
Of from New York, were, that the convcts at
the former place had been more. accustomed
to cutting and laying stone, and had been
brought by Capt. Lynds into the perfect and
regular state Of discipline he had established
there, and which was indispensably necessary
to their safe-keeping in the open country, and
the successful prosecution Of the work.
The party arrived at sftg Sing, without ac-
cident or disturbance, IN May, 1925, without
a place to feceive them; or q wall to- enclose
them. A temporary baffack was erected to
receive the conticts at night, and they were
then set at work building the Prison, each one
working at his trade, lone carpenter, anoth.
er a mason, &c.,--all the time having no 9TH
ef means to keep them In obedience but the
rigid enforcement of the strict discipline
adopted at the Auburn prison. For four
years the convicts, whose numbers were grad
ually increased, were engaged in building
their own prison, and finally completed it in
1929. The prisoners since Che building was
completed, have been engaged considerably
IN quarrying marble from the extensive ledg-
es IN this town. sss
Opposite Sing Sing, across Tappan Bay,
WhAcu 10 Wtucob dt thso Pothey 40 v eahfAscSo
Hook. bold head1and, rising majestically
from the river. On this mountain there is a
crystal lake, about two miles in circumfer-
ence, which forms the source of Hackensack
River, and which, though not half mile
from the Hudson, is elevated three hundred
feet above it. This is called Rockland Lake.
from whence large quantities Of the very
clearest ice are annually sent to New York
The Ice, cut i, large square blocks, is solid
down to the level Of the river, and upon the
opening of the Spring, it is transferred in
boats to the city.
Croton, thirty-five niles from New York, is
q thriving village, located near the fountain
reservoir the head of the far-famed Croton
Waterworks, by which the city OF New York
is supplied with water. 1t is place well
werfh visiting. r
The building Of The Croton Aqueduct was
commenced IN 1885, At the charter election
Of that year, the citizens OF New York were
required to vote for, on against, the project.
There were II, $50 votes cast /; II 1857 of which
VT re in favor of, and 8 8G3 against tile act of
inc 0 poraiion. 50
On the 4th Of July, 1912. the water was let
into the reservoir, and o, the 14th Of October
following it was brought into the city in the