New-York tribune., 1900-12-08
FARMING FOR CONHICTS.

The Monroe County experiment for diversity
Ing industries of convicts, an account of which
has just been given 20 the State Prison Com
mission, promises an addition TO the resources
of the authorities in solving their difficult prob
lem OF keeping prisoners at work. Foolish laws
enacted at the demand of selfish and narrow
minded persons have made the organization of
suitable industrial system in the prisons al
most impossible. Attempts are constantly
made to stop even such production as the law
allows for the consumption of the State and
its subdivisions and for public institutions.
Soap cannot be made in a prison for an insane
hospital but that somebody concerned for the
self-respect of free lunatics and the profits of
free soapmakers files protest. proposition
cannot be made TO have convicts save the State
a few thousand dollars by building a con-
sumptives' hospital but that somebody discov-
ers that the flavor of convict labor once about
the place would be depressing to the future
inmates. public school cannot be fitted with
prison made desks and chairs without some
blatherskite being aroused to keep innocent
childhood from contamination and promote the
school furniture business Even the CITY buys
broOms from the State only because it cannot
avoid it, and the city officials have lodged this
way and that for excuse TO purchase from
their friends supplies which could be obtained
from the prisons.
Thus embarrassed, the Prison Commission is
always obliged TO be on the lookout for chances
Of convict employment Road making is GEN
orally and justly regarded as one of the best
activities for prisoners. We do not sympathize
with the notion that convicts should produce
nothing which honest labor might be employed
upon. The interest of the whole State is
greater than that of any trade, and the general
welfare calls for the employment of convicts
so as TO relieve the community of as much ex-
pense as possible. Moreover, the object of the
prison system is partly to fit the men to be
self-supporting workers their release. and
they must be trained to capacity for some
marketable labor. Nevertheless II is doubtless
wise, the interests of the general community
being equally served TO set the conyicts nj
work which completes little with free labor
rather than that which completes much Road
building meets the requirement The roads are
needed. and there is small prospect Of free
labor building enough of them. If the conyicts
DO not do the work for the most part it will
not be DONE Therefore we think the success
ful experiments at convict road building made
at Auburn Dannemora and several of our
penitentiaries should be followed bv systematic
employment of the prisoners on a series Of
State roads.
II is not probable however that rad brrd
ing or any one activity could keep all the CON
victs actively employed, and there Is no reason
why farming might not be carried on in con-
nection with the prisons elsewhere than IN
Monroe County. There thirty men ON one bun-
dred and ten acres have raised large crons of
potatoes, tomatoes, oats cabbages and onions
The work is physically and morally heaItbfrI
The public institutions can easily consume tba
produce. either fresh or canned. and the s,o
gesuon that the State establish cannino fac-
tory mas much to commend it Rochester is =
centre OF large canning industries. and tho
country there is evidently wen adapted to tho
growth OF fruits and vegetables which ora
needed IN our asylums, hospitals and prisons
/ Al the Utica State Hospital there are now
ovens for browning the coffee which iS con
snmed In other institutions Likewise at Pooh
ester the canned food for the use Of tho S+o+.
might be economically put up No amb,tio,s
outlay FOR large plant should be attemn+od
DHt The beginnings Of convict farming at poot,
ester are promising enough for the worI, - -.
continued and encouraged, and II might ,ro5,'
any be extended by the patronage Of tho o,ho.
state institutions without embart,no On -
large scheme Of contracts for builders or -. 80
ronage for politicians pat