The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-25

for its builders, however much they may have
erred In other respects. The discipline of the
prison is excellent. Everything is clean and
Wholesome, and the prisoners breathe an at
mosphere as pure as circumstances will admit.
" the 149 prisoners about rs are employed in
tne manufacture of carriages and sleighs 10 in
the wood shop 20 in the paint shop, 30 in the
smith shop and in the trimming room. Thirty
three others are engaged in the manufacture
OF harnesses. The work done is first class.
Some OF the best workmen in the State are en-
ployed to superntend it, and the prisoners
themselves seem to possess a spirit of emula-
uon unknown in prison where the labor is
contracted to outside parties. Every article
manufactured is numbered and on the books of
the prison the name of the purchaser is enter
ca opposite the number. system introduced
by the present Warden, which has proved a
wise policy, In case a purchaser wishes to du-
phcate harness, carriage or sleigh he can for
ward the number and by reference to the
books the order is at once correctly filed; or in
case an article is stolen from the purchaser an
accurate description of it may be obtained or
by forwarding the name of the purchaser the
correct number may be secured, which will be
conclusive proof of its identity when found
About everything manufactured during the
year has been already sold.
The policy pursued by recent legislatures of
granting meagre appropriation to the prison
has caused the establishment to fall behind
the other State institutions in its appoint
ed with stoves, which consume more fuel in
the aggregatefhan boiler of sufficient capac-
ity to do the work would require, and the pow
or employed in the different shops is furnished
by the prisoners some of whom are thus pre-
vented from becoming skilled workmen, capa-
BILE of producing an increased revenue for the
prison. As this establishment comes in compe-
tition with other manufacturers of the same
articles, employing skilled labor and modern
mechanical appliances, it is thus placed at a
disadvantage, which is not decreased by the
feeling OF jealousy that naturally exists re-
garding its work. What the State should de-
mand, from business point, is that success
I'VE legislatures shall appoint prison commit
tee composed of men skilled in the various
trades carried or here, and mot afraid to make
such recommendations as they would make
were it private enterprise. The legislative
appropriation last year was only $1,000 for re-
pairs on the buildings, and an insufficient
amount in addition to pay for guard duty. Be-
yond this the prison has been compelled to be
self-supporting or to run the State into debt.
Under the present arrangements every pris-
oner is allowed ample opportunity to obtain a
good trade, and to maintain and improve his
intellectual condition. One prisoner, whose
term expires this week, can command as good
wages as any harness maker in the State The
prison library is large and well selected, being
especially rich in magazine literature, and the
Sundays and evenings of the prisoner are
given him to profit thereby The result is a
number of well-read men, who can intel
ligently discuss the merits of standard authors,
and one of whom can put to rout many a So
called theologian by his knowledge of
pantheism. G. LIN.