Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28
TO WORK PRISONERS,
Many Plans Earnestly Dis
cusSed by County officials.
WHAT THE KEEPERS SAY.
Sam Fleming Suggests a huge BOule-
ward Like ChicagO's.
WHAT THE KEEPERS SAY.
SOME FAVOR THE CHAIN-GANG.

The County Prison Board was to have
met at the workhouse, at Claremont, at 10
o'clock yesterday morning, but at the ap-
pointed time only Judge Ewing and Con-
troller Speer, of the County Board, and Q.
G. DonnelI and Addison Lysle, of the
Workhouse Board, were present Judge
Magee arrived at 1920, and W. A. Magee,
Treasurer of the Workhoouse Board, at 8
O'Clock in the afternoon. Mayor Pearson,
of Allegheny, had stated Thursday evening
that he intended to be present at the meet
ing and advocate his idea of putting the
convicts to work on the streets and country
roads. His remarks on the subject, which
were printed in The DISPATCH yesterday
morning, were to the effect that all the idle
oonvicts should be used to keep the high
ways in repair, and also to improve them In
every way possible. Mayor Pearson was
not present, however, and even If he had
been it is not probable that any def
mite action would have been taken
as there are 13 members of the county board
which is composed of the six common pleas
judges, the mayors of Pittsburg and Allie
gheny, the sheriff of the county, and the
three county commissioners.
The great question now before the board
is what to do with the convicts who have
been thrown out of employment by the bar
rel factory closing, owing to the opposition
of outside coopers. Many schemes for Civ
ing employment to the prisoners have been
discussed, but nothing which is satisfactory
TO all the members Of the board has been
suggested.
THE LIST OF PRISONERS.
There were 709 prisoners, 633 males and
76 females in the institution on December
26, and of the males at least $50 are practic-
ally out of employment The barrel factory
in which from go to 300 men were working
now gives employment to about 20, and
these are engaged in making half barrels.
Those who were thrown out of work are
given an hour or two to exercise each day,
or allowed to pass away the time in clean |
ing MP the grounds.
A number of plans have been devised by |
which the time OF the men could be occu-
pied. Besides the scheme to put them at |
work on the roads it has been suggested that |
more land be purchased and the conEicts be |
instructed in farming. With sufficient land, |
it is argued, enough farm products, cattle |
and hogs could be raised to feed the inmates |
of the institution, realizing enough money |
from the sale of meat and vegetables to |
almost pay the expenses of running the |
place.
The gentlemen who visited the workhouse |
yesterday were very loath to talk on the |
subject, stating as a reason that the visit /
they made was a preliminary one to look into
the situation, and from the result of the visit !
Try to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion.
A number of the keepers, when spoken to
H. IL 6
work for the short-term men, but what is
needed is work for those who are here for
three, four. five, six and seven years. For
the shOrt-term prisoners we do not care so
much, but the others must be given work of
some kind which can be done inside of the
walls.
MAKING BARRELS.
''Take, for instance, broom, brush or
barrel making. We can put long-term
man in any OF those departments, at GER
tain kind OF work, and during the time be is
here be kn 'ws just what he is to do, and be-
fore long becomes an adept in his work. We
have men here whom it would be extremely
dangerous to take outside the walls, and if
eight or ten of them were taken out together
it is not at all probable that they would all
be brought hack alive. The chain
gang system might be all right
for the buns who have themselves
committed in the fall to spend the winter
here. They could not be driven away with
q club until spring. There are dozens OF
these fellows who sail on the lakes during
the summer and when navigation closes
strike out for some friendly workhouse
where they can get all they want to eat and
drink until warm weather commences
That class of prisoners would work any
where, but there are others who would Starve
before they would consent to appear in pub
lie. You can see this feeling among them
by the way many of them turn away their
faces when visitor is about.
Superintendent Warner refused to talk,
saying that il was a matter which would be
decided by the Prison Board.
County Controller Speer was not disposed
to sag much either A meeting of the
board should be held to take some action.
W. A Magee said he did not favor the
chain gang system, but was in favor of
sending Superintendent Warner around the
country on a kind of rowing commission to
to make contracts for such work as the
prisoners could do.
PROTECTING HONEST LABOR.
County Commissioner Daniel McWill-
iams said: Il am not in favor of allowing
the convicts to do any work which will be
detrimental to legitimate labor. A sugges-
ton has been made by the real estate dealer,
Mr.. Fleming, which think is a very lauda-
bic one. He suggests that the convict labor
be used to construct boulevard from Clare
mont to Allegheny and from Allegheny to |
He claims that it would be a
lasting benefit to the locality by materially
the value Of property on either
side, which is no doubt true, Great care
would have 10 be exercised.
However, L believe in the selection of the
men, as there are many prisoners who would
not work on the public roads, and others
who belong to respectable families in the
two cities who have become inmates of the
place, and whose friends would object most
strenuously to any public exhibition being
made of their kindred. am strongly in
iavor of buying more land and making the
prisoners produce their own food at least
" hatever is decided upon which does not
conflict with honest outside labor will
heartily endorse. Commissioner MERGERS
views as published in The DISPATCH yes
erday, meet with nv unqualified approval"
After looking over the farm yesterday {
afternoon those members of the board who
had visited the workhouse returned home :
The special committee consisting of judges
Collier and White and Commissioner Mer- c
.er, which was appointed TO look into the C
ituation, viii report to the full board at the
lext meeting, which will be held on the first L