New-York tribune., 1913-11-17
FARM PRISON URGED AS
SING SING SUBSTITUTE
0. F. Lewis Advises Governor
GIynn Not to Rebuild the
Old Cell Block.
OTHER STATES AS MODELS
Sponsors for the New Plan Say
1t Would Offer Opportunity
for Development of
Honor System.

-. +. Lewis, General Secretary OF the
Prison Association. has written to Gov
ernor Glynn urging that instead OF
rebuilding the cell block of Sing Sing
prison farm Industrial prison be erected.
Secretary Lewis points out that the
state since 1905 has stood committed to
the building OF "A new prison in place of
Sing Sing. Had the state not surren-
dered the first site chosen for the new
prison at Bear Mountain 10 the move
ment for natural park on the west
side Of the Hudson, and had the state
not been obliged to abandon the subse-
quently chosen site at WIngdale on the
ground that the site was unsuited for a
state prison. the new prison would have
been well along toward completion.
II il pointed out by Secretary Lewis
that In the last half dozen years a most
remarkable nationwide development has
occurred for the establishment OF pris-
on industrial farms. New Jersey has pur-
chased approximately 1000 acres for a
prison farm and Pennsylvania 800 acres
for a central prison TO replace two present
prisons on limited areas. The District
OF Columbia is building a House Of Cor
rection OF approximately 100 acres
Ohio Is abandoning the old state peni-
tentiaIy at Columbus and has appointed a
commission 10 secure a farm site with
wide acreage. Indiana State Reformatory
will be abandoned within a few wears
and be supplanted by farm Industrial
reformatory. Illinois is about 10 build
a new state prison on wide acreage
The State Of Washington is shortly tc
buy more than 1Co0 acres for a prison
farm. Colorado. oregon and other West
ern states are working their prisoners OF
the roads many miles from the prison
In short, the general tendency in tbs
building Of new prisons is away from the
prison with restricted area, with high
prison walls and one great cell block.
Health an Important Factor.
There are fundamental reasons for the
prison farm movement" said Secretary
Lewis yesterday. In the first place
there IS no comparison between the health
Of prisoners on prison industrial farm
and place like Sing Sing. The State
Of New York has one prison farm al
Great Meadow which furnished most
conclusive proof that prisons should. from
the standpoint OF health. be farm indus
trial prisons. Secondly, the honor sys'
TEN can be we'll developed only under
prison farm and industrial conditions.
Whereas. at sing Sing prison, even
with rebuilt cell block. prisoners would
be locked I'm their cells for one-half OF
the twenty-four hours or more, at Great
Meadow they are locked In their cells
practically only during sleeping hours
The honor system which develops a
mans seif-respect and makes him more
fitted for leaving prison. is a direct prod
net Of the farm industrial prison. where
the prisoners can be given varied occu-
patlons. trusted at a distance from the
prison. and where. according to the Grea,
Meadow records. escapes are compara-
lively rare.
The farm prison also continued Mr..
Lewis. gives an opportunity for classih-
cation. which Is OF fundamental inn
portance. The great cell block with
twelve hundred cells. prohibits an ade-
quate classification. which Is the basis OF
the best reformatory treatment. The farm
prison gives very diversified occupations.
Industries can be carried on as extensive
ly as at Sing Sing. but. I'm addition, all
~ the agricultural pursuits can be fol-
lowed thus giving an opportunity TO en-
ploy during the day all Of the able-bodled
men Of the prison. thing which has not
occurred at Sing Sing"