The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-03
BLICK WELLS TSLIND.
shall the Pcnitentiary he Enlarged or Re-
moved Altogether f-One Citizens Views.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-.Sir. The
present plan OF the Commissioners Of Charities
and Correction for enlarging tho Blackwclls
Island Pcnitcntiary 10y the erection Of another
wing is one which may well direct serious con-
sideration To the ACCESSIBILITY of entirely remov
ing the buildings for penal correction from that
island instead of making such costly eXtcn-
sions Of them rs will make them permancncy
there for generations to come. 1t does not seem
right that this beautiful spot. SO conveniently
located. and so fitted by nature for the highest
usuos Of b"nen ,cnce. should be in any part
hightcd 10y the canker OF crime. rs that the no.
bic service done to humanity In some Of its in
sttutions. should be tainted with the disgrace
clinging 70 TIE spot by reason Of its huge cages
Within few years our city. with It's imme-
diatc dependencies. will have population OF
probably 100000 souls. All must understand
that such IN Increase in our numbers VIII rem
der inevitable correspondent increase in the al
ready vast army of the needy and helpless There
Is a very evident tendency in society. growing
year by year, toward the Encouragement oi the
loose. irregular, liberal but inefficient systems
II almsgiVing and charities hitherto in vogue
and ia favor II the delegation of all such cures
and duties Co. ia" authorities. the recognized re-
sponSlhie servants OF the public. Both from
the increased need for them and the pressure Of
a now and more enlightened system MI ting
and CONTROLLING them. We may cNp"f 10 see in
the near future multiplication ot public found
In. HsyiumS. maternity hospitals lunatic Hsy-
luu-, orphan sylums. charity hospun-. homes
for the aged. a.. W. re should W. look for a
nsld upon which to rry out this hrend work Of
prar teal hrnrvoic ne II not To- Blackwell =
lSlandy Famed by pure. lifc-giving bror2es
surrounded by prospects To delight the eye and
divert the mind easy of drainage andconvcnient
Of access, there il verifying to recommend IL.
and nothing. IL would seem. beyond the cost of
change, TO excuse Tn" continuance Of tho plague
spots OF crime an punisim. ~ now d.faring IT,
The ueeessarv Institutions for purely philan-
thropic ends viii uuir" all the space. Already
they are lustiing tho prnltrntiury and the work
house. II b. NOT right that in th" eye of the
public the helpless and poor should thus hc
So"n elbow To- elbow with the criminal The at
tliude dngrudeS those VINO only dDsnrV" pity.
neigl horhood. Its effects are even had upon
the criminal. Occupied "a Black wells Island
now is 10y confused jumbo of Institutions in
whlD mcndlranry anu criiuualiiv 10 hand in
hand. there IL no such thing possible ~ the
strict maintenance of r'iprmniory discipline.
Biackwelis Island rlay be- looked upon as a
place Of holiday resort. which n early everybody
can visit who eIr"s To do So That isolation SO
desirable for prison life il imprtcticNb" there.
Even when actual communication with visitors
things every huur-nn tho wator. on the land, in
the Alto distract their attention and divert
ih/r ;nind- from saluinrN contemplation.
Z De" unfortunate facility wit. which escapes
from tho island ur' managed '~ too well known
ant understood 90 rtIutr" especial remark
The subject H. one upon which there should
be- an earnest arl prompt rNprH S-ion Of opin-
ion. IN" p"nltrnihry on the islnnd already
holds ll3u cpnNlrts. ana more room Is de-
manded snail % he allowed 10 spread until its
ground or Will our authorities act with intell-
gent force ghi and remove il To- some lonely
island or g. some other less public and access
ihli a lO'aliiyf In view Of the growing needs Of
our city i is hardly probable that the change
can ever be more cheaply made than now
II.