New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-13
STATE PRISONERS AT WORK
WARDEN SAGES METHODS AT SING
SING TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED
NhsS-1TiE NEW ORGANS AND THE CLASSES
IN CARVING AND SPANISH


VISION OF the new Constitution the prison au-
'horities were at a loss as to what disposition
10 make or the convcts and how to divide the
prison day. All sorts Of plans had been suggest
ed and much time had been spent by prison au-
thorities and humanitarans in discussing the
question; What shall be done with the idle
prisoners? but nothing had been determined
upon when the new era began. on January l.
therefore. about twelve hundred men were de-
pr1Ved Of work and had be locked in their c. lis
twenty hours every day for several weeks The
consequence was demoralizinS. Within a short
time decided change for the worse was noticed
in the physical and mental condition of the con-
Nc'S ihey ate and slept poorly. and the pun
iShrnent reports grew larger every day. The lorg
embroidered corridors o: the prison gloomy
and forodding places At all times and even the
empty cells. with their whitewashed walls mar
row cots and pioked-up ornaments are grewsoma
10 the visitor who is accustomed to fresh air
ana freedom But when the doors are closed and
enc sees behind the bars in each cell the prison.
oiahohed face Of u hopeless man the form of
d convict Vainly trying TO sleep and forget his
hapless condition the picture has new horrors
The cessation OF work in the prison sent the
men to their cells. and thence many found their
way 10 the punishment department. the hospital
ana the insane asylum. The SUPERINTENDENT
OF state Prisons. the state Prison Commission
cis ard Warden Sage did all in their power to
proFlce work for the mon. and through their
effort the enforced ideness has been brought =,
an end work has been found for a large major
NY OF the cenvicts. and the condition of Sing
"ihS irison Is better now than Il when the
new rules went into operation. There are NOW
1.>6 conviCts in the prison of whom $50 ors
employed OF these. BOZ in the rloss-haU on
The grounds. in the jobbing department and in
various places in the capacity of helpers: about
100 are employed in tearing down the old buiI,.
'nss' ~ are at work in the quarry and hauling
stone. 40 have work on the new buildings l5@
II tn ellfo Il i,
stoneyards 2' are in the State shops where
me clothing and shoes for the inmates of Sing
sing PRISON and other State institutions are
oeihS made. 80 work in the cabinet and car
oenter shop. 30 are in the drawing and carving
Glass. and the rest make brushes and mattresses
ana DO the printing in the State printing shop
THE MEN IDLE NOW
When it is taken into consideration tb,, ~,
have a number of inmates who are phvsic,llv
unable II work who are blind manned. imbecile
and otherwise incapacitated.'' said Mr. Sage 81,
VIII be found that less than seventy-fve atI.-
bodied men idle. The consequence is that
me moral tone Of the place has been improved
the punishment lists have been reducsa IN Ioss
IMAM they have beer previously at any time in
me history OF the prison. and the physical con-
oition has been improved"
ot the inmates. 6S2 are serving their first /
terms; $50 belong to Class T. in which such
prisoners are placed 5 have served one term in
some prison and 81 are N Glass C. and have
served TWO or more terms in Sing Sing or some
other prison. II is the object of the prison an
thofltes 10 have only OF Glass 4 in Sinp
sing eventually. and to send confirmed and in
corrsio!e criminals tn Auburn and Clinton With
that end IN view many transfers have already
been made
Ihere are noticeable changes in the exterior ar
the institution also. Chief among these is m.
aooi'ion or the new wing. which was bepun in !
1881 and Is now drawing near completion 1bi,
VIII probably be ore of the best cd6ces or tho
hihi IN the world. and will provide accommoda-
tiohs on scale never before attempted in
penal institution. The building will con,ai, an
''e hrst moor great mess hall. ~: feet lonp
ana - Feet wide. furnished with slate ,ab,as
'es'ii's on IRON frames, at which fifteen hundred
Soh'ic'S may be served a time The ooor 10
oi concrete, with a dressing OF broken rn,rbIa
ana cement. and the light comes from LARGO Win
vows on both sides Of the hall. on the nax, ;
moor which is reached by broad staircase and
oy elevators. are the pris IN chapels uebted h,.
cathedral glass windows. The west end is being -,
"''eu as the Protestant chapel and the other 4
room. OF the same size but lighter and mora
cheerfui. because one side looks out unon III.
river VII! DE used by the Catholic inmates =,
me organs FOR these chapels are being built in =
tsr ne MIA md