The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-13
PRISONERS
RUN MACHINES.

The first pair Of pants to be made
at the New Castle County WOrkhouse
fell TO the lot of John DOugherty. He
was the first man TO become proficient
on the machine and during the after
noon was allowed to make pair of
boys pants.
So far sevent y-tive sewing machine
have been placed in and connected up
They are in six long rows, running
nearly the entire length of the build
ing, The light comes from the win
dows over the Shoulders of each man
at machine, therefore the workmen
get the best kind of light There is
yet to be connected up fifteen special
machines which will be used for max
ing button holes, sewing on bottoms,
doing double rows Of binding and
other special work. These will be
placed in next week.
The prisoners are being taught in
squads of ten each The first ten men
were put at work yesterday under the
instruction of two expert operators
from the Office of Oppcnheimer & Co.,
The ten men were given pieces of
cloth and taught how to run straight
seams, thread needles how to wind
bobbins, and the other points neces-
sary for simple operation and plain
sewing.
All the men took hold of the work
eagerly and showed the utmost de-
sire TO learn They male rapid pro-
ticicncy and their skill became SO evi.
dent that before night they had
mastered the intricaces Of handling
cloth on a machine. John Dougher-
ty, who is serving a life sentence
was the most rapid learner and he
did so well that during the afternoon
lie was allowed to sew together a
pair Of boys trousers. They were of
course not as neatly made as they
will be when the men have more
practice but for the time occupied in
instruction, tho Instructors thought
the man had done remarkably well.
Workmen are busy putting in the
rest Of the machinery for the work.
shop. Along one wall is a cutting
table, the cutters OF which will be
operated by electricity.
There Is a trolley arrangement by
which the electrical cutter can be
moved from one end Of the building
to the other. At one end of the
building are the pressing tables and
everything connected with pressing
the trousers will be done by electric
ity, even to tie heating OF the irons.
These have lut yet been installed,
but will probably lie ready for opera
ton next week.
The sewing machines in use are of
the most improved pattern. They
he operated so they will make 2SOO
stitches minute. They are all run
by electricity, the machines being
started and stopped by a simple
pressure of the foot OH the pedal.
They are of u type that will allow
the workhouse to make an increase
of thirty per cent. in the output over
that done in the New Jersey State
Icnltcntiary at Trenton.
The power to drive the ma chimes
ane other apraratrs comes from
motor located in one corne. OF the
room, which drives thee shafts To-
Gated along the floor and which run
nearly the entire length OF the shop.
In connection with this motor an ;lu.
tomato device has been employed
which prevents alIaccidenls Should
a prisoner get ugly or unruly at any
time, throw a piece of cloth into the
fly wheel or On the belt of his ma
chine the automatic arrangement
connecie with the motor will i'm
mediatcly stop the motor, putting an
end to the work until the trouble is
loca ted and remedied
The prisoners are apparently inter-
cstcd in the work. Those who were
in the shop yesterday were delighted
with the prospects Of having some
thing to do, other than to sit in their
cells and brood over what they call
their misfortune. The shops will also
give the prisoners an opportunity to
make something for themselves. The
Instructors say that it is a very poor
operator who cannot make at least
twenty-five cents day in extra work
after they have completed their tasks.
Some men are known to have made
as high as $40 4 month, but an ordi-
nary man with apparent ease make
from SO to SO Il month in extra
work