New-York tribune., 1897-01-07
TO KEEP CONvICTS BUSY.
SUPERINTENDENT LATHROP TELLS
WHAT IS BEING DONE.
THE PRISON DEPARTMENT READY TO RECEIVE
REouIsrrIoNs FOR NUMEROUS ARTICLES
FOR PUBLIC INsrITUT1oNs-THE CON-


FOR PUBLIC INsTrTUT1oNs-THE CON-
MISSION MAY BE REDUCED
Albany Jan. s-General Austin Lathrop super
,,,endent Of State Prisons transmitted to the State
Prison Commission to-day an important letter
hearing on the prison problem. In his letter
the Superintendent says
"Replving TO yours OF the 4ih ult. assigning indus
tries TO the State PRISONS have to say tnat tn's
department is ready to receive reouisitions. ana
promptly execute them for the following articles 80
assigned viz Mems clothing, Including vests
trousers suits coats. blouses. overalls pants, uni
forms ulsters and overcoats: womens clothing. In
Guiding cloaks. dresses. skirts. womens vests wrap
pers aprons. hoods, waists and nandkercneis' un-
derwear hosiery, boots. shoes and slippers mats
and caps gloves and mttens. shirts. collars ana
cuffs baskets brooms and whisks: brushes. hair
CLOTH stove horse and scrub; busters tcounter'
peced tinware including tin pals. tin dippers. tin
pans and general line OF small p:eced ware: FUR
niturc including odd chairs. tables. STANDS, rock
ers bookcases, desk chairs. sideboards wde tapies
hat racks ward chairs for hospitals. brass and iron
bedsteads dining tables (other than extension). ana
other special articles OF furniture to be made from
pattern or design: also towels and napkins. The
matter OF canning tomatoes. corn and fruit will be
taken up when the season arrives
"ReplyInz further TO your communication OF the
18th ut have to say
"Firs. that | have ordered a sample hand loom
with convic. labor, at Auburn Prison. a sur
6cIent number OF hand looms to manufacture all
the CLOTH including both woolen and cotton. to sup
ply the several institutions as they may require
I shall also build at once looms OF SUFFICIENT capacity
to weave blankets and shall. In the course OF the
next three months. be prepared to submit samples
for next years supply for the State hospitals and
other institutions. The manufacture OF mats and
atting is being Investigated. and We expect 10 be
prepared to furnish these items by April next.
"Second-I have made provision for the continu-
ance at Auburn Prison Of the manufacture OF iron
hollow ware for the institutions and the political
divisions of the State and am prepared to sup
ply iron stove hollow very promptly. This
line Of manufacture consists Of pots. kettles.
spiders maslin kettles. and In plumbers iron ware
OF hoppers traps. boiler stands. etc
.rhIrd-The lands Dannemora Prison Will re-
ceve my attention when the season OF thing snail
| have arrived.
..,,our,h-J have already started both at Auburn
| and Sing Sing Prison the breaking Of stone for
road building expect to have at least one nun
| dred men at each prison so employed before jan
uais uMtsifthA new scheme OF classification has been
In process Of preparation Tor severa, %erhs M sra
expect soon to have 1t completed ana !" opera
Sxth-I have already formed class prIso In carvmSS
viii develop along this line fast as Is practicable
have given very careful asnton cS v 90 taG ca my
attention and agree With you y6sntY tSs1 nf bas a
o. sonv ;be Of thar
large return of profit As S 70 tine annfastnre OF
Sy hand 10 for and asyus
had in mind the time my testimony was ,. g,ye"
on neore Of the state institutions should be Included
under this designation and have no 4oro, r o the
that that If % we rcanired we shall able to employ the
number O. men 50 3ns staedi artices named in your
the See 4d 20 ssH wncf that we
assignee easiSnment i0 NM by you prepared to furnish
nrSmpy Spom receipt eqst9ns from the IN,
;t,u;NMs arcs ana psHa "s ard excel
sor cotton and hsk cuspdSSs ca n b~ckes ror
enameed election board tables voting 'Doo'hs a"o
woUd further suggest for your sid
an Investigation as the advisability OF the manu
To, Ss tS. fS0SSh SuSc WOaf:
canal and garden wheebafar,9;ws a,; stohs co1d chses
blocks iron ss oGsS ncudns
cocks etc There are plants for tine anS shai
,ad TO furnish your Commission any indorma
power r. to Drsctcabe enass sOS for the State
antan an organization for the o.
these goods have invssigate9 s Se tSe OPINION tha
Gh se srs @ q articles now
state Ts'1sions s Haa "S
'ss 9ISm Is. State
MISSION Of p Prisons any suggestions that they ma ma
from time to time choose TO send me- ahn rnIsi Snsi
| out the provisions OF the law cz.,,.s,o,
further assignment Of industries for the prison"
| was made. -. A.. o..,.. prtson
Committee sai to-day that It could d not be De pro pro
dicted just what prison legislation wour e Ia ,srSe
Upon what the Prison Comm,sSn nnsdsrins SSss wn "a
| ppresent'' said the Senator. Continuing ne saiu
Therc has been some talk OF reorsam]ns am nrssen on
| number OF members. are too many. ana .nat ,n'e e'
or five at the most are sun,cient H mumprr ,b,rv
| think very likely that this will be good tnins .
do as the present number In the Commission ap
pears to be unwieldy