New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-17
FUSION'S RECORD.


sor and made many reforms. The prisons are
no longer dismantled structures out OF repair.
with prisoners huddled together in dirty cells.
and poorly paid. badly treated keepers. While
there is no mawkish sentiment. trying to fit
halos on the prisoners. to-day they have habit
able quarters. clean food and bedding, with
treatment which gives them some encourage
ment 10 live decent lives after they have served
out their sentences The workhou.e. instead Of
being made a training school for vice, has been
converted into a prison for adults only Every
penal institution has been repaired. cleaned and
reorganized. Besides this. the Department Of
Correction is almost making money for the city.
Practically the only money spent is for material
and supplies. The prisoners turn out vast guam
titles OF marketable merchandise and about all
the repairing has heen done by the convict
labor. Although there were many more pris-
oners in 1902 than 10 1901. the net cost Of the
Department Of Correction increased only $1,000
In view 81 the many improvements. this is a re
msrkabe showing.
As to the improvements in the treatment or
prisoners and the renovation OF the buildings
visitors speak highly Mrs. Sarah II. Emerson
: director or the Womeu's Prison Association
wrote an open letter last winter. after visit
10 Harris Island and Rlackwells Island COM
mendinE the Reformatory School for boys and
the conditions in the womens pavilion. She
heartily approved the changes a. the work
house. Alice L. Woodbridge. OF the Women's
Prison Association. who last summer made lB
visits 20 the prisons and stations. declared that
rot in ten years had the institutions been in so
good condition. The food was excellent and the
places perfectly clean.
PRAISE FROM EXPERTS.
Professor Delaheld. Of Columbia. after an in
spection. wrote TO the Commissioner praising
the conditions heartily In a report 10 the State
Commission on Prisons by its president. John
T. JaeckeI. last August. the excellent state Of
the Kings County Penitentiary was described.
Il was perfectly sanitary with plenty of air,
light and sunshine. he said. The kitchen, bsk-
ing shop. laundry. hospital and womens depart
ment were all models. He commended the new
blacksmith shop. the storehouse and the work.
shop where was done work likely TO cause
danger from fire. The one change necessary.
he said. was 10 substitute an electric plant for
oil lamps The city's employees. too appreciate
the great changes under fusion. Only a week
ago the keepers in the penitentiary sent a
testimonial TO Commissioner Hynes thanking
him for the interest he had taken in their well
fare and the improvements IN that Institution,
the result Of progressive action" on his part.
one Of Commissioner Hynes's first good deeds
for the Tombs At d meeting which he called
he had them thrash out their differences, then
told them he wanted the prison. and wanted it
quickly. Work was resumed a. once and last
December the new Tombs was opened. The ad
ministration building on Blackwelrs Island.
which was also much behind, hurried TO
completion.
The district prisons were cleaned thoroughly
and repaired The interiors we're painted, the
plumbing was repaired and the steam plants
we're overhauIed. In four OF the six shower
baths we're installed. The quarters OF the
prison helpers were repaired. The diet was
changed and instructions we're given that the
food be properly Saryed-no more potato skins
in the steus Many improvements were made
~ the ronitentisry 4 complete electric plant
was installed. doing away with the dangerous
unsani,arv oil lamps. The interior Of the prison
vas reraiuted. and by change IN the bucket
system and the building Of conduit. the san-
-a-,- arrangements were greatly improved. New
ra--rs we're laid out. and new walks built, all by
rho "a boy of the prisoners.
THE wORKHOTSE RENOVATED.
The v.orkhouse YVES renovated. Some seven
hundred nep pindows were put in. and also
-hirty-tv-o ventilators and six new toilet rooms.
In the -,oInau-s bathroom there were built
"a hich hal attended hs thing in the old times
To remedy the overcrowdins vacant building
ON Hsr-'s Island vas used womans pa
,-iIiou This building uss renovated. and some
t7rea hundred female prisoners we're transferred
-bere They have better care than they could
receive - RIackwell's Island. Instead Of cells,
ne, sleep IN dornitories with iron bedsteads.
There arc recreation looms and sewing rooms.
To remove the boys from the vicious infiu-
e7r.s Of tho -vorkhouse = Reforn2tory School
Was established on Harris Island There are
= bout seventy boys there ne ouii1lhs mas d
largo dorn7ifo-y. schcolrooms and severa' bath
- ,-acbe- is in charge. and regular
- eresi.r,s are maintained outside the
t,o--s Ia lic7. gardening. and have their sports
They have their own meSsr,''rn NoeIe me 5rE
taught 20 use knives ana iorhs Plope.t t. -
go &c GOOD and tho boys frequently gain
v-aig,t there 4 steam laundry plant. not in use
for several years. has oeen reopened on Hart
5-I.,d Tho work ~ the CITY Prison, the cen
+-.i on and tho steamboats, is done there
hospital for male patients has been estah
lf=t-d there too. IN charge = resident ply
stefan The building is painted white. and the
,I4au curtains and pictures bout the walls give
II cheerful appearance.
source of much revenue 10 tho city under this
adrninistrat ion. n has much valuable machin-
erv and shoes. slippers. brooms ana brushes,
,,,5s md mattresses stockings. clothing and
,,,,der,,esr are turned out in large quantities
Besides printing IS done there The long term
,,-ieorars arc put to work in the manufacturing
deE,a rtnenf while the snort term men % ,"1
ing work on the streets ana wslH. for !i'I-
~ expenditure for the Kings County feniteh-
49,, vas SI5G 30 49, including salaries. sup
plies repairs and var'ous minor eApen s,, "a
rereints from the manufacturing account HIu
me hoard and maintenance 81 prisoneiIs 80 -
sio4 al 20 making deficit OF only S-op"' -
go ',,;,,,,,o~ vas almost self-supporting ana
- car n is expected that IL viii more 'hah
pay Iot aim in % Riker's Island was resumed
ne hiIl1.~ 4'i S...t,ts,ration Commissioner
II,,,es has some two hundred men down IIere
~ - -. -. ,.,rl of grading and unlOadlng