New-York tribune., 1880-01-14
SfNG SING.

The net earnings OF tins prison were slightly lees
than those OF the year previous considerable amount
OF labor has done by prisoners. temporarily unr
ployed az other work by which valuable Improvements
10 the property OF the State have been made. Four
cement pine drains have been laid across the yard.
"A new carriaGe-way constructed, aud building con-
Ianing a block of ten cells, for solitary confinement,
e wSter font has been completed ana but two guards
VIII be required there 10 prevent escapes, whereas
from twelve formerly required FOR that pur
The new dock Is nearly completed. The work has
been DELAYED consequence Of building two 1tiOnal
piers each extending into tbe river TWO huhdred ieet,
with an Of hfty feet Ibcse Improvements complete
tue harbor. which has prn very dangerous
one but OF the best and safest on the rvrr.
The convict population Tor The year was 1900
the largest ever before rcach Oi thlS hunDrr 81 Tue
ahlc-bUdied were employed under various con-
tracts except those engaged IN necessary worA in and
about the prison
The deficiency Of S3i.I79 a. occurring In 1873 has
not only disappeared but for the first time ia history
there Is a surplus OF S21ss % TAis been reached
Notwithstanding there has been reduction Of nearly
200 In the daily average number OF prisoners as
compared with the previous year. Al the same
time the supply OF food furnished has been
been for further advance OF from 10 10 % per
cent contracts. which viii Increase he cnrnngs
by al $4,000 per annum. substantial nnproS
20 the prison property have been made during the
year, mostly by the labor OF the conyicts.
CLINTON.
This is the only prison In which tac earnings have
deficiency however Is growing annually less. notwith
standng the rcduccd number Of commitments with
an average daily population OF only J73 requiring far
larger proportion OF officers than either Of the other
prisons, aud less fayorably situated with refe-
renee to convenience OF access to the great
commercial maIia II cOald not be cxpcct ed
TO become selfsustainng. These disadvantages have
been partly waited by the completion of the Pattg
burg and Danuemora Railroad and. with The flcnes
afforded by the enlarged prlson u WI speedily reach
paying basis Ihe work Ol tiligchichl Wasconmenccd
early IN October last, ana at the Dies
been laid. The contract calls Tor the completion OF
the work by 1t DAY of November rext The State
viii then he provided with al The room tEat viii be re-
quircd PROBABLY Tor many wears 10 come Tor the cus
tOdy oi It's cDuyicts and Clinton VIII De one of the
largest and comprte prisons IN the United States
| After the completion vi tic Pattsburg and ID nne-
mora Ralroad II was touud that Ii cOul not Dc MAIN
Under these circumstance was deemed Tor the best
interests OF the ale 10 elect lease OF NE road
thus, having accomplished the great o1cct III view III
building II, to avoid the loss Involved ln s maintenance
lor an increase 10 por day the price paid
tie labor Of each upon the completion the road
| crease In The profits that slnge contract
resulting exclusively from tie building Of the
] road. win amount 20 over $4,000 per annum
Both the buldug ana tue leasing OF the ROAD were
gasdc rs con1ucng 10 the best interests 0i the Stale
available labor OF lho prison at .muncratya rates.
aud tic laller because IL could not, aud proDahly
loss. Already the in rrascd eprnipgs Of the prison
| have moro thdn paid the Interest ON the
argcd prison completed, scrc Is probability tnJt
these gains w!l increase rapidly % emDlTse the
| Statc n :ulI w,lhin few years
The laws D. they exist authorize the cOnrts IN
their discretion 20 certain persons convicted O
feOncs either 10 The pcaeuiJrirs 90 the STATE rs
Under these Laws there are now ncarly 100 maie
prisoners convicted OF fclonics, u confinement Ia the
| various peni tentnrIrs as fOllnwg:
| Kings County. 32l Backwclfs Island, 1914 Albany
County, 1l2 OHoudagn County, so; Monroe County,
| %; Ellie County. 80 total 74l.
The cost TO fLc State O MAINTAINING these prisoners Is
S741 per week. T3S, ,532 per nunum UDOn the com
rlefo of Will
ample accommodation I0r 1,2O0 cOnyicts II the class
referred to Transferred from the peni-
tenarfes the State prisOns, instead or costing the
STATE S3S J32 anuum Tor their maintenance, their
earnings would amount TO at least 100000 per aDnum