Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-14

The Work-house and its MANAGEMENT
Mr.. EDITOR: Through the politeness of
Superintendent Carter, in company with
James M. King, Esq. and Mr.. lEkaggs,
chairman of the County Court, I visited tor
day the work-house located on the Rut7.
ledge road, some few miles east of the city.
I was somewhat surprised to witness the
promising condition of affairs and the per
feet order everywhere prevalent, to say
nothing of the apparent cheerfulness of
the convicts, who seemed to be contented
and on the best of terms with the manage
ment. There are ffty-six in all, thirty six
men, including two or three small boys,
and twenty women. l found but one sick
and one with lame foot. The remainder
seemed to be in excellent physical condi-
ton, and showed that they were being care
fully treated, getting wholesome food and
living in comfortable quarters. All are I'M
der kind but firm discipline. They are
kept close to their work, but not over
worked. Superintendent Carter is hu-
name man, and while he exacts prompt
obedience and demands constant labor, he
is not disposed to put more upon
them than they can bear
He divides or exchanges labor as
far as it is possible to do. For instance,
the women. These take their turn first in
wheeling rock to the crusher and then beat
ing rock. Then he Keeps constant eye to
the economy of labor, putting the men to
the hardest work and the women to the
highest. In this way he pushes forward
every department of labor. iss A=a+7- -l--- s
The principal attraction of the work
hnnSl 10 tho rock her which T f0nn1
under Roadway, under the supervision of
Mr.. Buffatt, the intelligent engineer, who
understands his business and is doing a
good work for the county, He is first
class man, and l congratulate the manage
ment upon securing his services The
crusher is supurb machine, and performs
its work in capital style 1t will crush about
fifty tons of rock a day. 1t is moved y an
eight and half horsepower engine 1t
occurred to me, while looking on at its
movements, that it did not afford quite
power enough, though allowances must be
made for my ignorance of such matters. IN.
Knox County never did a more sensible
thing than when it decided to purchase
rock crusher. It's an Investment it will
never regret making, and one that every
taxpayer in the county will indorse. 1t
will save thousands of dollars to the county
boz, of building upa system of maeadamized
roads in our midst, which will add to the
v.lue of farms vastly In five years from
now, there will be good turnpike roads
leading out from the city on all sides of it,
and reaching the county lines adjacent.
These will build up the commerce of the
country, strengthen the commerce of Knox
vile and enrich the farmers, to say nothing
of the good sense of our county authorities
in utilizing and turning to account the labor
of convicts. ... s.nI4 ~
They are now employed in macadamizing
the Rutledge road, and if nothing happens,
by the skillful management of Superinten-
dent Carter, they will complete five miles
by next January. The work is being push
ed with vigor. The farmers along the
line are giving comfort and aid to
the matter and are acting nobly. At least
even of them have agreed to become re-
spJnsible for furnishing or rather hauling
crushed rock enough to complete one quar-
ter of mile each. They are to be com
mended for this. An important change is
made in the direction of the road Just be-
You'd the residence of Col. Hall. 1t makes
gradual detour to the left passing in front
of the home of Mr.. 10 Kirk and stunning
a number of ugly hills on the old road
which it will intersect near Mr.. Hannibal
Loves. This is a decided improvement.
1 cannot close this article without allud-
ing il the most BETTING terms to the judi
cious management of Superintendent Carter,
which has been sensible, rigorous and eff
fectiye r. ..... aU- c.