St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-07
CONVICT LABOR.

Whlle the pubic were DeWalllnS Cn6
enforced idleness of the couvicts in the
Saltwater prison after the repeal of the
convict labor law, and many were pre-
dieting that they would all become i'll
sane, Warden SToRDoCK was trying
his hand at an experiment in solving
the problem of what to do with the con-
victs in order to relieve their idleneSS ana
at the same time make their labor profit
able to the state. While his experiment
was only temporary eXpedient, it is
worthy of notice because its success may
aid in a further solution of this
problem. When the contracts had
all expired, and, in pursuance OF
the law abolishing the contract
labor system, the convicts were turned
back into the state prison to await fur
Their legislation, Warden SToRDoCK de-
cided to use their labor in constructing
an inner wall around the prison-ani inn
provement which, in his opinion, would
not only add to the security of the
prison, but would diminish the expenses
of the institution by lessening the num-
Der of guards. During the winter and
spring he has built in round numbers
$4,000 cubic yards of stone wall at cost
of S,700, or about $3.50 per cubic yard,
including the cost of supporting the
convicts. According to the lowest price
ever paid by the state when this kind OF
work was done by contract, it would
have cost over $4,000, or s4.90 per
cubic yard. Thus there has been
a saving to the state of nearly
one-half. Now if convict labor
can be made thus profitable to the
state in this one item of work, why is it
that the same labor cannot be used just
as profitably in other ways-and that,
too, without competing with skilled
labor?
The suggestion made by Gov. MER-
RAM, that the conyicts be set to work
manufacturing Irvine. will doubtless be
considered by the prison board at their
next meeting. And yet it is question
able whether a careful investigation
into Irvine manufacturing will sustain
the governors suggestion. In the first
place, it involves the purchase of ex-
tensive and expensive machinery;
and in the second place, it is
not certain that the Irvine can be
made from fax. But if it can be
it will necessitate the storing Of large
quantity of exceedingly infammable
material inside of the penitentiary
grounds, which would be an objection.
The Irvine manufacturers claim that
there is only cents difference between
fhn Of hn io1 q
price of the manufactured article. If
this is true, it would give the state an
exceedingly small margin for profit;
too small, in fact, for the risks and ex-
penses that would be incurred. 1t is
possible that the Irvine manufacturers
have underestimate the profits in Or
der to discourage the building up of
rival enterprises. Still, it is a matter
about which we have so little informa-
ton that the prison authorities should
give the subject close inyestiga-
ton, in order that the state may
make no mistake at the outset of its
experiment with prison labor. There
are probably other industries that could
be made more profitable, and if so the
fact should be ascertained. One thing
is certain-the state has great deal OF
work of its own to be done, and as
Warden SToRDoCK has demonstrated
that the convictS can be used proftably
on state work, then why not extend
their field of operations in that direc-
ton, at least until some settled policy
can be determined? 1t is better for the
health of the convicts that they should
have constant employment, and it is
certainly better for the state that they
should be made to earn their board.