Year: 1875

CITY OF NEW CAsTRI,


1Au,r i NAV Oct. 29th, 1875.


The unusual and unexpected increase Of
crime for the past few years has filled the


prison to its utmost capacity, 20 that It has
become absolutely necessary to put as


many in each cell as would be well to do, and
atone time some half dozen we're put in one
which was originally intended to contain
not more than two. Particularly has this
been the case during the tramp season, and
during one night last summer 90 many
principally tramps or peach plucks as they
are called, were placed in one cell, that but
for the presence of the night warden, it
would have been second Black Hole of
Calcutta, though on smaller scale. This
of course 10 no fault of the Sheriff-they do
the best they can, but the authorities ought
to provide more space, or the State ought to
build state prison. The County prison
when it was built, was, am told, consider
ed perfectly secure; but in these days of ad-
vancement in the art of breaking jail, it has
been discovered to have been nothing more
than straw prison, so frequent have the es-
capes become. Lately however, measures
have been taken to render it more secure
and prevent, if that it is possible the escape
of prisoners. To this end the walls of the
cells in the second story have been covered
with boiler iron, and new bars have been
placed in the windows. An additional
night watchman has also been employed,
and it is thought now the prisoners can be
kept their term out.


Up to some six or eight years ago the
prisoners were not required to perform any
labor beyond that necessary for keeping the
prison and yard in clean and healthy con-
dition. But at that time the then Jail Com
missioners conceived the idea that it wonld
be good thing to introduce some kind of
employment into the prison in orderto make
it, so far as possible, selfsupporting. In
other words, to make it not Only county
prison, but county work house. To this
end carpenters were engaged, and looms for
weaving rag carpet were constructed in
nearly all the cells. Rags were purchased
in Philadelphia or wherever they could BE-
obtained by the pound or bale, the female
prisoners put to work cutting and sewing,
and the males to weaving the carpet, which
was then sent to Philadelphia and sold, the
profits going to the credit of the county.
The prisoners, l believe, were allowed
small compensation for their labors. This
plan worked well for a time, and a large
workshop was added to the prison, to which
all tn: looms were removed the second story
serving as general cutting and serving
Dom. A boss weaver was also EMPLOYED,
whose duty it was to superintend the man.
lfactur. Of the carpet, and every day the
prisoners were marshalled to the work
ooms, wheIe they cut, sewed and wove
ags from morning till night. BY this bust
less profit was realized for time, but
oon the carpet began to accumulate, more
vas manufactured than could be disposed
# at fair profit, till finally the Jail Com
nissioners reported to the Levy Court that
he comfy was losing money by the expert
nent, and recommended its discontinuarce.
his the Court declined to do entirely, but
rdered the Commissioners to advertise for
reposals for the use of the machiney and
he labor of the prisoners, and to let them
ut to the highest bidder. This was done
nd the business of manufacturing carpet :
| the prison, by the prisoners, was given !
gentleman by the nams of Jones, fer
ow much l am not prepared to say.


MORE ANON.