New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23
PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS.

Immediately behi, d the cell building is the
old n1essroorn. a ow-browed structure of stone
which is already doomed by the approaching
completion Of the new mess hall. ii may be
passed over thus lightly. 1t stands together
with a long succession of old brick shops. right
in the way OF improvement which warden
Sage has suggested and which should be made
at once There is an immediate necessity Tor
an additional soc cells and Mr.. Sages idea is 10
have the new cell building attached 10 the old
at the centre line and extended from 1t toward
the river a distance Of perhaps ''OO Feet. Dut
only four stories in height BY this means the
integrity of the present complete system OF
surveillance over the prisoners when in quar-
ters would be preserved for the present prluge
would serve for both buildings. After January
| next the old shop buildings Will be useless
aside from one or two Of the better sort, per-
haps The rest should be replaced. OF course,
the idea is that the convicts themselves sndil
be utilized to bring about this reform IN nulld-
ing As TO the character Of the buildings mem
selves a great deal depends upon what they
may be called upon to shelter
PUBLIC WORKS AND CONVICT LABOR
There are indications IN the amendment to the
Constitution OF an intention to utilize the pris-
oners for some needed work in the State. war
den Sage suggested while conversing on the
subject that they might be called upon to make
a portion OF the clothing worn In other nsttu-
tons in addition TO their own well as the
footwea.
Then there Is an enormous amount Of expense
attached to the public works Of the state
Every year great number Of small bridges
are built in the various counties, and these
bridges are all constructed Of improved ma
terial iron and steel They must be paid Tor
by the citizens. and why not lessen the taxes IN
this considerable degree? A warden Of one or
the English prisons, remarking uIon the pro-
ductive capacity of the place and the varied
skill Of the prisoners, said: III We did not
make mats We could make steam engines
This is perhaps more true of Sing Sing than
Of any penal institution in the world. 1t les
within the confines OF the First and second
Judicial districts of the state Of New ORR
which contain nearly four millions OF people
and in addition there are the cities OF New
York and BROOKLYN. Seventy -four per cent OF
all the criminals in the State are sent 10 IT'S
precincts. and they are from every class OF
society With the contract labor which now
keeps them busy abolished some substitute
must be adopted. for work is a powerful re-
forming medium. and skilled labor viii act as
better stmuant than anything else, for II
teaches the dumb man TO think. and quiets the
secret questionngs Of the man whose conscience
keeps him awake Of nights
In so far as comfort ana cleanliness are con-
cerned the living buildings are models Of neat
ness and the shops in use serve the pur-
pose admirably II nothing more was to be con-
sidered than the mere shelter OF the workmen
and Of the product OF their toll. but the number
Of those who believe that something more is
needed is increasing every day, and there is
small room to question that a recent letter or
Warden Sage asking that a committee he Hp-
pointed 70 visit Sing Sing Prison VIII meet
favorable answer before January l.