The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-01-28
The Empire Capital.
Albany, N. y, Jan. 20.
Editorial Correspondence.)

railroad centre OfconsldcraDle importance
il would he dead indeed. II has great
wealth, il is true, but there il no enter
prise among the citizens. and very little
manufacturing which is the life Of our
inland cities. There is great contrast
between this city and Troy which is only
ak miles up the riverj here are great
variety of manufacturing which give an
impetus to business and life that its
staid and conservative rival lacks. But
the people of Albany, many Of them
proud of their Dutch descent, look down
on the brisk and enterprising Trojans
with an air Of exalted superiority.
Strangers at Albany always visit the
State House if they have any time or the
least curiosity. Everybody has heard of
the largest, most expensive and least
satisfactory State Capital in the country.
The foundation was begun some six
years ago and il il still far from compile
ted. Eighteen millions of dollars have
been expended and FIVE or six millions
more are needed TO finish the job. We
use the word job advisedly for it is
apparent that many fortunate contractor
who served his state must now be in
very comfortable state of wealth. The
building is immense, imposing and all
the other adjectives that mean large. but
it is unsatisfactory because it is dropping
to pieces. The foundation is not strong
enough for the weight of granite it bears.
1t is rumored that it has been condemned
and bill has been introduced i'm the
Assembly TO have the capital removed to
Syracuse. Some of the rooms are mag
nifcent in every respect, the Senate
Chamber and Court of Appeals being
particularly fine. The executive depart
ment is IN the South East corner and
Governor Hill can 10, k out on fine view
of the city, the Hudson and the hills
beyond. Still he is not satisfied and
prefers Washington 10 Albany, the Polo-
mac 10 the Hudson, and is ready and
willing to change his present Buddenseik
quarters for the tar less expensive resi-
dence, the White House. Next To the
STATE House, the Pcntentiary is the more
interesting "sight" in Albany. L, is n
county institution but contains large
number of United States prisoners. The
prison is built around an open court and
is considered one of the safest places of
confinement in the country. Only one
prisoner has escaped in the last fourteen
years. The writer visited the prison
about noon. The convicts had just gone
from the workshops 10 the cells for their
dinner. AT precisely one o'clock the
doors leading into the court were thrown
open and about 900 prisoners in squads
of twenty marched with the "lock step"
to the workshops. Shoes aud brushes
are manufactured but at the present time
the shoe concern in New York city who
give the contract are not pushing their
orders and about half the men are idle.
They are obliged to take their places in
the shop and stand there throughout the
day. Even with SO many men idle the
prison is more than self supporting and
last year there was balance of 81 200
on the right side of the ledger. The
womens' department contained about one
hundred inmates who do the cooking.
make. wash and mend the prisoners
clothes. Some famous prisoners have
been confined here. Among others,
Ballard, the most expert counterfeiter
who ever manufactured the queer" He
served twelve years of thirty years
sentence and was recently rardoned by
Cleveland Harvey, who recently en-
bezzled money at Washington. has Just
started in on a twelve years sentence
We were most courteously treated by Col
Augustus Bowers, the assistant superin-
tendent, who has been connected with
the institution since lS4S. The Colonel
is most enthusiastic Odd Fellow and
has many friends in the order in Provi-
dence. Albany people are justly proud
of their Y. NJ. G, A. Building. Ii is Il fine
structure on Pearl street and was first
occupied last fall. The citizens gave the
land, and Mr.. James b. Germain,
philanthropic banker put up the building
at cost of $4,000 and presented it to
the Association. The Leland Opera House
the most popular place of amusement
here, is owned and managed 10y woman,
Mrs. Rosa Leland. She was formerly an
actress but is a greater and more unusual
success in her present position, and the
house is extremely popular and well
conducted. Last week at benefit for
the Actors Association Mrs. Leland was
called on for speech and made an
extempore address that far eclipsed the
studied utterances of the Mayor of the
city. Albany is a good hotel city and
has all kinds from the famous "Delevan"
TO the cheapest hostelry imaginable. II
has a novelty in this line in Keeler's.
The proprietor is ex-sherif of ALBANY
County and has been in the hotel and
restaurant business all his life. lie sets
n table ft for an epicure and his beds are
constructed under the immediate super
vision Of Morpheus himself. Kind reader
II IT is ever your misfortune to be exiled
In Albany mine host Keeler can do much
10 alleviate your unhappy lot.
The first number of the Westerly