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

River scenery by the erection OF a costly and
artistic home. and the number OF these is in
creasing with every passing year has an In
terest in it, The Hudson River is one Of the
resorts OF the Nation. 1t is the great highway
whether by railway or by steamer from the
metropolis TO the capital OF the State, and Its
banks should be made a continuous park, and
there IS no reason why Sing Sing Prison should
not be made attractive. This is the argument
advanced by the people who have suffered
under confusion of terms. for which they
nave been in no responsible, and the
method is one which the constitutional pro-
VISION placed within the power OF the Legis-
lature OF the State 10 employ and at minimum
Oh COST In fact, ii is the application Of the
principle evolved by Florence Nightingale. Let
me prisoner pay for his detention and for
the detention of those who are to come after
nm. Contract labor has never been as prohta-
Die 10 the State as 1t has been to the contractor
LOT mat labor and in laboring for the State
the contention of those most interested is that
the prisoner will be able to restore 10 society
IN some measure that which he has taken from
H. nrst In the loss OF his own legitimate &C
tivlly as CITIZEN second. in the product Of his
crime third, in the EXPENSE of his arrest.
prosecution and convictions and, fourth in the
experse Of his maintenance.
expert reformers assert that il a convict could
De mace 10 feel that he paying TO he locked
up every night he would be more chary Of get
ing himself involved in such a dsagreeabe
SITUATION He would no longer be able To- resort
To the much heard argument that society owed
him living, either in or out OF Jail The pres
ent condition Of the prison needs only t. he
studied 10 make the necessity and the expedi-
ency for improvement clear.
THE PRISON BUILDINGS.
1t is pleasant drive from the station to the
prison entrance and the Front gives an indica-
ton Of what is possible 20 he done in the way Of
artistic surroundings 1t is to be borne in mind
that the decorative portion is not so much for
the inmates as for those who are compelled to
suffer by outward neglect of II. prison is none
the less prison because it wears a gilded ex-
terror. The New-York Central Railroad runs
along the landward side of the buildings, part OF
the time between high retaining walls and part
ly underneath two short tunnels. Coming al
most to the side Of the track and extending for
800 feet along its line runs the main cell build
ing. built seventy years ago, and now containing
cells for POO prisoners At the southern end Of
this the main office stands. and connects with
the warden's mansion. which is impressive
building in appearance and which is made more
handsome and inviting by wide verandas. which
look out beautifully terraced lawn shaded
with trees and an extensive greenhouse. The
mansion has wide, deep windows, a number Of
great airy rooms. and plenty OF sunshine Be-
forming the inner boundary Of the corner Is the
high wall Of brick. which nclOses the prison
ground proper, and it is not pleasant 10 remem-
Der that from the rear windows Of the mansion
one can look over into the yard and gaze upon
the death room where the electric chair holds
the place Of prominence. and there is a vast
amount Of space in this yard which might be
made available for building purposes Passing
through the main entrance into the general re-
ceptiOn Office the visitor reaches the stairway
which leads down TO the interior Of the walled-in
prison yard. which contains twelve acres. The
prison property in its entirety embraces seventy
five acres, in q portion Of which IS contained the
stone quarries, from which all the stone used in
building has thus far been drawn, and the sup
ply is still apparently inexhaustibe. In the
argument for and improved buildings there
is no necessity Of considering any 81 the space
outside the walls they stand to-day. The
grounds extend In an irregular line from the
railroad tracks to the edge Of the river. The
corners OF the walls reach to the water. but be-
tween there is a pier space Of some width, and
within the high iron fence that lines the water
front IL a spur of track from the Central rail-
road for the convenience Of the shippers Of
goods from the ShOVs