New-York tribune., 1899-02-10
THE STATE REFORMATORy
INSPECTION OF THE PARTIALLY COW
PLETED BUILDINGS
THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE on Apppo.
PRIATIoNs LIKELY TO FAVOR THE Ex.
PENDITURE OF ENOUGH MONEY TO


OPEN THE INSTITUTION.
The Railway Reformatory is not In Rahvsv
Its exact location is in what used 10 be knou,r
the Edgar farm. in Woodbridge Township
Mddesex County, about mile from the CITY
Of Railway. To see what there is ~ the pa
formatory you go 10 Railway and then trav.
by trolley or carriage the rest OF the Journey
Some years ago the State Of Nev-JersAv a.
cided 70 build a Reformatory. and az the Stat.
owned the Edgar Farm that was chosen a, N.
site. Some enthusiastic person told the Iev,s
lature that magnificent structure could he mn,
up for $4,000 OF course that was all mn,
sense. because there hasn't been building a,
the kind put up in this county for twice ,hs
sum. In those days there we're 80 MANY insu
tutions demanding appropriations that the Lay
slature couldn't rive the Reformatory NOR.
than S1sOOOO
"Whatll do with this?" asked the Comma
sioners
do the best you can" Governor Werts. Con.
troller Hancock and Treasurer Swain said
So the Commissioners had a centre buildin,
and one Of the wings built. and that exhausted
their funds
Then the Legislature awoke n the fact th,,
II would really cost much money 10 finish IN.
building and there was much surprise aston.
shment and indignation In corseauence Tn.
lawmakers discovered other places on which
the money could be spent to good ADVANTAGE
and the RefOrmatory had TO take back sea,
The partly finished building might have rA
mained as curious monument 10 the Legislative.
wisdom Of the State ha not Governor Voor.
hees taken special pains TO call attention to The
subject. This action on the Governors par,
prompted the Joint Legislative Committee a,
Appropriations 10 decide on an INSPECTION OF the
existing buildings. with the view Of acting in.
tegently Yesterday they travelled by train
to Railway, and from there drove IN carriages
into an unpeopled desert. where the dome q,
what is 10 be the Reformatory serves as land.
mark The Reformatory Commissioners were IN
hand 10 make the necessary explanation. and
the legislators had with them as an exuert adj
wiser Henry Dickson, the Newark builder
The centre section and one wing are in svL
dence TO account for the SiSoo0p already spent
Mr. Dickson looked over these with critical
eye and said that while there mad been. per.
haps more elaboration than was necessary. Vet
the work done was perfect in All respects and
there was value for every penny spent
The complete plan contemplates four wings
with workshops superintendents house etc a,
a net cost Of SSS6Wo including the money al.
ready spent. In making this estimate the archi.
tects assumed that much Of the work would he
done by convict labor To open the building
that is 10 complete the section Of it now stand.
ing-and care for 26O prisoners and provide a
power house. heating and lighting apparatus and
a domestic building. with temporary quarters for
the officers. will require an immediate expend-
ture OF S2Zo.OUO. To build chapel admlnlstra-
ton building. permanent quarters for the guards
and home for the superintendent means an ap-
preparation Of S23Oo'O.
Senator's Johnson. Hutchinson and Braun. and
Assemblymen Mckee. Dexhemer. Wells and
Eckert examined the plan carefully. discussed
the whole subject in free and informal man.
ner and requested Mr. Dickson to study th.
plans and figures and report 10 them. Il is
reasonably certain that at least the minimum
sum asked for will be favored by the legislative
committee
Governor Voorhees, in his inaugural sddre-,
made these references TO the Reformatory;
wish TO call your attention TO the uncempletef
buildings Of the State Reformatory at Railway;
From time to time there have been appropHated
and expended on this account various sums, aggre;;
has been practically for more than b5g yeaT al no8
partly erected stands as monument 10 me loIH
with which the undertaking was conceived OK 70
nor pmsSing the work 70 completion There may
be room for honest difference OF opinion as % ns
wisdom OF finishing the buildings IN accoIda1rSe ne
with the extensive plans originally authorized me
sum estimated to be necessary Tor tnis purpcss - %
%arranted IN accompshing the objects Of
formatory There is a need however Tor soI'
new buildings in which to conhne our erlTnlhss rlTlIs
Increased accommodations must he proWiel sl'ns'
here or elsewhere. From the annua. report m.s Il az
pears that the State Prison Is agaln o.. rbe,
Notwithstanding the recent addition 10 the nam0s,
of its cells. Increased accommodat ton however -
not all that is demanded Il is ot tne sEesssS' % .s
portance that ne should begin at the earliest pos'
sble moment system Of prison trea,nei' ~ " re
wherever tried. has proved 80 henei 10 ~
r. formation OF criminals Motives OF hlrt1S st t1ne
and selfish interest alike prompt ms u4ort
II will be within the province ot ne .,m
to determine whether the Work snaL - Pe ,Ss
pleted as originally designed. or "ne'.e' e.aG
present plan shall be modified as 70 'oocsv Ts
for the expenditure Of a less sum OF mai mat
without interfering with the metnod 81 . o.
nent Of prisoners which II e. proposed 20 n,. sw
low These statements are nor intended "a a. ,F aors
reckless extraVagance n th' work a IedN! 80 80,
believe that the strictes' hon ana. aas sys mod
els in simplicity OF design and there j. an aose, ~
cf elaborate and exterior ornament ,sgsstnrs
useless expenditure. hope that the Lesls'oss rssr
Will give earnest attention 20 the matter ~, nd
that the interests Of the state may 9e s' ,rk no
me inauguration Of great and oenehela' "0'N "
longer delayed