New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
CALLS NEW JAIL A STEAL
SuIzer Commissioner UnearthS
Great Meadow Graft.
s5OO,O00 LOSS TO STATE
Ouicksand Site Chosen SO That
Ring" Could Keep on Enrich
ing Itself, He Suspects.

Albany. April l3.-Chargcs that New
York state has lost $4,000 through care
lessncss or graft in the construction OF
buildings at the new Great Meadow
prison. at Comstock. arc made in re-
port submitted to Governor Sulzer ~
George W. Blake, of New York. After the
Governor had removed Colonel Joseph
Z. Scott. Of Elmira. as superintendent OF
State Prisons he appointed Mr.. Blake n
special commissioner to investigate state
prisons and rcformatorics.
Mr.. Blake recommends that future con-
struction work al the prison be stopped,
If possible: that no more money be paid
TO the contractors; that the contractor
all sub-contractors and all other persons
concerned. directly or indirectly. in this
work he thoroughly examined, TO the end
that it might be- discovered whether
criminal prosecution against some Of
these should not be instituted
~ peculiar feature OF this situation
says the report. is that no attempt has
been made TO conceal the wrong. II is
so brazen and conspicuous that even the
most unobserying visitor must observe IT.
For more than two years this prison
building job has been used TO rob the
state
ct has been frequently said that there
is a prison ring forged for the purpose
of stealing the peoples money J be-
lieye this statement 10 he true. because
the dishonesty OF this particular job has
so many ramihcauons. The bills for IN
ferior work and for work not done AT al
passed through the hands OF inc state
Architect. his representatives at the
prison. the Controller and the Superlh-
tendent of Prisons. All OF these persons
with the exception Of the Controller, must
have known that the bills were dishonest
and should not have been paid.
This project was conceived in graft.
The state paid $4,000 for property worth
not more than $4,000. The first appropria-
ton was made in 1909 and was for s5So'-
900. The bill providing for this appropria-
ton made It appear that this sum would
be sufficient to complete the work. pu'
up TO the present dime more than N'~c'"V'
has been appropriated, and $4,000 more
is still demanded despite the fact that
$40 O1O remains available of the previous
appropriations.
zone wing and dormitory have been
completed The site chosen for these
buildings is in hollow In the land much
Of which is quicksand. The great prison
building has settled so that cracks appear
I'm the walls The dormitory, where the
guards sleep. is fortified with heavy iron
bars at the windows and heavy doors.
but the interior walls are fragile and
combustible II Is possible TO kick holes
in them. II a fire should start in the
night when the guards are sleeping there
would lie no chance for their escape.
This alone makes the work crime
AS matter Of fact, one end of the
dormitory building began settling 10 an
alarming extent, and the state had TO
spend $1,000 10 level the building. The
foundation here is quicksand, so 1t is GER
tain that this expenditure will have 10 be
frequently and indefinitely repeated.
1T is difficult to find any explanation
for the selection OF this site when II is
surrounded by circle Of upland where
solid foundations could have been found.
knowledge of the dishonesty Of the men
who permitted this work 10 continue
makes it appear likely that their object
was TO place the buildings in location
where thew could not possibly last ~
order to graft from the money that would
be constantly needed for repairs ana then
finally 10 enrich themselves anew by do
ing the work over
Accompanying the report are afidavits
Of two experts, who examined the work
and materials furnished. They support
IN detail Mr.. Blake's criticisms.