The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-26

state about $35O,OOO. It is built entirely
of Sing Sing marble, quarried and cut
| within the prison walls.
The old capitol being inadequate to
accommodate the increasing business
Of the state, this additional building
was planned and built and is still used
for the offices Of the state comptroller,
the state engineer and surveyor and the
state banking department.
In spirit of economy it was decided
to have as much as possible Of the
work done by the prisoners from the
material found within the prison walls
at Sing Sing. fairly good material, too.
but not the best, as it is soft marble.
as evidenced by the wear which now
shows 50 plainly in the steps and by the
crumbling Of some Of the stones from
exposure to the weather. All the mate
rial was cut to completion within the
walls Of the prison under such plans
that when shipped to Albany there
would be no further work necessary
except practically to lay one stone up
on another, and so on until the whole
was assembled in the completed build.
ing.
To accomplish this detailed plan a
system OF marking the stones was nee
essary. The plans were carefully made
and system Of marking elaborately
laid out by the architect in charge, who
found in the prison at Sing Sing life
prisoner whose record showed him to
be an engineer of the highest ability
and who seemed as competent as any
man in the country to carry out the
work to be done in the prison, and nat
urally he was not unwilling to follow
his chosen profession in preference to
doing the manual labor of cutting Or
quarrying stone. So, following the
spirit Of economy referred to above, the
plans in detail and the system of mark
whole work at that end given over to
his full superintendent and absolute
control.
In due time the stones in their vari-
GUS shapes and sizes and in quantity
for the whole building were delivered
ton commenced in accordance with the
plans and system Of marking original
ly furnished. With the very first stone
there was trouble. It not only did not
fit the place. but none Of the stones
marked to adjoin it fitted it, and, fur
Their, it did not seem ever intended for
the place the number indicated. In
vestigation brought out that the stones
were not of the sizes or shapes speci-
fed and shown on the plans, and, us to
the system Of marking, it was quite
evident that the stones brought togeth-
er by it had no relation whatever to
each other.
The bewildered architect hardly knew
whether he was a candidate for the
asylum or possibly for Sing Sing. How
over, a careful verification Of his plans
and his marking system proved their
~ upon the civil engineer, the life pris
oner. He was questioned, taken severe
~ to task and roundly rated for his in
competence and threatened and abused.
He met it all calmly. 1T looks to me
like mighty good joke on you fellows.
Anyway it is the best joke have heard
since l came to Sing Sing"
AS to their continued threats he said:
"What can you do to life prison
er?'
Finally, in answer to the abuse and
slurs as to his capabilities as an en-
gineer, he said he had changed the
plans both in dimension and shape
where they had diverged from purity
Of style, and the system Of marking
he had changed altogether, but if they
could find some one who understood
his system the building would go up
complete and perfect, excelling the
original plan. But" he added, with
grin, you can probably get out new
stone good deal quicker than you
can work out my system"
Then the state officials said, 1--WE will
take you to Albany and force you to
put up the building"
He said, NO"
They pointed out the advantage Of
life in Albany for time in preference
to Sing Sing.
He said, Mo-
They tried to bargain with him.
He said, Secure my pardon and 1
will stand by you until the building is
complete"
They offered to have him pardoned
after he had proved what he said by
finishing the building.
He said, mo"
Then they said they would compel
him to do it anyway.
He said ne could be compelled to
work In prison, but not in Albany, and
that even in prison they could compel
him to do unfy manual labor unless he
chose and that the price Of his genius
in grasping the opportunity that had
come his way was full pardon
What else was there to do?
He was pardoned, and the old state
house stands today In testimony OF
the fact that he kept his word and a