The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-04
EDNyICTS WHO
)Rk ON ROAD
ENJOY VACATION
10y From Prison, They Live in
Splendid Camp in Catskill
Mountains
Ian MARKS NEW ERA
FOR PRISONERS. ONE SAYS
My Two Keepers, and They
Without Guns. to Watch 20
Sing Sing Inmates

PALENvILLE GLOVE, N. Y, Aug.
4.-Half way up the wild gorge
through which the road from Palen-
& vile TO Haines Falls teeters over the
Z notsiest Of mountain streams In the
fCatskiils 20 Sing Sing prisoners are
camped. preparing TO build new
state road II is the first trip many
I OF them have had outside the walls of
; the state prison in years One OF
4 them has been In Sing Sing nearly
20 years. There are only two guards
IN the camp to watch them, and there
IL never a gun handy TO stop any one
: that might try to escape.
No one visiting the camp would
guess that 1t was convict camp UNI
less he knew or recognized the gray
prison trousers the convicts wear.
That It Is the greatest lark in the
history OF the dreary annals of prison
life In this state is the firm belief of
the men who are there.
There is hard work ahead OF them,
and they are doing hard work now
but there Is broad silver lining to
the cloud. The prisoners are treated
Ike men, they are splendidly housed
B III what experts say is the finest con-
etruction camp ever built in New
York. well fed. and in their hours OF
leisure they swim in the turbulent
little river, go fishing, berry-picking,
walking and thoroughly enjoy them
selves.
The camp Is far from any house or
human habitation, close by the tink-
( Ing stream. hidden In . the tangled
forest. with the mountain sides rising
oharply In front and behind The
rocky. heartbreaking old country road
: Hes between II and the water, and
urge sign reads, Don't Stop Here;
Keep Moving
* The country people who OCCASION
ally pass up and down the mountain
40 keep moving. They are not al
lowed to-stop and stare. While they
look a little askance at the building
E ~ this road by convict labor, they are
70 pleased to have 1t built that they
would doubtless show their good will
sby being hospitable to the newcomers
Il e they had the chance.
Years ago this narrow gorge be-
tween the great folds of Kaaterskill
ard Overlook held the original hamlet
&0f Palenville. The roadway was lined
here and there with houses and the
lind somewhat cleared, but the vii
lRge gradually moved down the stream
3 10 its present location, and the forest
4rept In and covered everything. SO
( that now there are only the OCCASION
II corners OF an old masonry founda-
{10n cropping out from the tangled
nurel and sweet fern under the big
trees.
The large tract OF country on the
3 Vlatean top OF Kaaterskill. 2.400 feet
shove sea level, and including Tan
3nerSville. Haines Falls and numerous
hotels, has only this crooked old road
- connect It with the lowlands back
"a Catskill, except that In summer
time the Otis inclined railroad train
+ goes up and down the steep side of
fthe mountain.
A good road was badly needed, and
; The state appropriated $4,000 to
build the four-mile stretch, with the
Understanding that It should be done
ny convict labor. There are not
<n0ugh laborers In the immediate
peighborhood to build II anyway. The
kold rpad Is 30 dangerous that every
Qay since the camp has been pitched
Here. the prisoners say, wrecked
9utomobiles are towed past down the
70 the prisoners from Sing Sing
ne Job Of building the road was hail
I'd with JOY. The first batch OF 20
.Who came up we're selected as a re-
word Tor good conduct and were given
me choice Of going or remaining in
Hing Sing. Strange to say several
Mo had the chance declined. The
16ce highways department built the
o13ps, and the finishing touches are