USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
"Fourth-Contractors were not required to pay promptly for convict labor ; nor was ample se- curity, in many cases, required of them.
"Fifth-Property belonging to the State has been sold on credit to irresponsible persons, without security.
"Sixth-Purchases for the prisons have been made at large and even exorbitant prices.
"Seventh-Extravagant prices have been paid for work done at the prison and for materials furnished, in and about the manufacture of lime, iron, &c.
"Eighth-Too many employés have been re- ceiving pay for services which were unnecessary and could have been dispensed with.
"Ninth-A general want of economy in nearly everything connected with the prison.
"Tenth-Prison officials have received and ap- propriated State property to their own use with- out making compensation therefor.
"Eleventh-Extra services and traveling ex- penses, unauthorized by law and unnecessary, swell the indebtedness."
These several specifications were fully sustain- ed by the testimony, and so strong a case was presented in the general facts of the deficiencies
157
THE AUBURN PRISON.
and in the preliminary report of the commission, that the proposal to so change the Constitution of the State as to confide the care of the prisons to one superintendent was triumphantly endorsed and Louis D. Pilsbury was appointed Superin- tendent of the prisons of the State. Mr. Pils- bury had long been connected with the manage. ment of the Albany penitentiary, of which his father had been the founder, and which had won and held the reputation of being one of the best managed penal institutions of the country.
The superintendent appointed the wardens, physicians and chaplains who were removable at his pleasure; the comptroller appointed the clerk, and the several wardens appointed their subordinates in their respective prisons and were held responsible for their internal administration.
Thoroughly informed of the previous mal- administration of the prisons by months of the closest scrutiny into their affairs as a member of the committee of investigation, and prepared by education and experience to correct existing defects and abuses, Mr. Pilsbury entered vigor- ously upon the work. He had no untested ex- periments to make ; he was an expert, a thorough professional in prison management and discipline, which was quickly manifest in the improved regularity and order with which the prisons were in all respects managed. There were no divided councils. He alone was umpire, and he assumed and, so far, has judiciously discharged the great responsibility. In the two years of his adminis- tration he has reduced the annual prison deficit nearly $500,000, made the Sing Sing Prison, which had been the greatest leech upon the treasury, self-supporting, and Auburn Prison, it is believed will, during the ensuing year, show a balance in favor of the State.
The tax levied upon the people of the State to meet the deficiencies in the several prisons for the last ten years, has been as follows :
In 1869
$595,774.45
1870
461,304.99
1871
470,309. 23
1872
405,881.84
1873
597,289.01
1874
588,537.42
1875
545,549.69
1876
704,379.85
1877.
369,688.08
1878
229,971.83
Thus reaching in 1876 the enormous aggre- gate of $704,379.85.
The two months of December and January indicate that, under the administration of Hon. William J. Moses, the present Agent and War- den, Auburn Prison will yield a revenue instead of showing a deficit, as the receipts for those two months exceed the disbursements by over $1,700. The average cost of every description per convict in the Auburn Prison for the month of December, as compared with the prisons at Sing Sing and Clinton, was as follows :
State Prison Expenditures :
Auburn $ 10,429.63
Average per convict 8.94
Sing Sing 15,888.19
Average per convict 9.49
Clinton 10,643.02
Average per convict 17.14
For Ordinary Support :-
Auburn $5,527.07
Average per convict 4.75
Sing Sing. 9,301.00
Average per convict 5.56
Clinton
7,339.37
Average per convict 11.85
The prison at Sing Sing offers, in its superior facilities for cheap transportation, advantages to the contractor not possessed by the Auburn Prison, and for that reason, with equal economy and efficiency of internal administration, should make the better exhibit, but instead, the foregoing figures indicate the reverse, and show that the cost of maintaining a convict in Sing Sing during December, was $14,85, in Au- burn, $ 13,69, a difference in favor of the Auburn Prison, $1,16 per convict. " Reform" in prison administration is thus clearly shown to have been inaugurated and the efforts of officials in our penal institutions are directed earnestly to secure both their economical and efficient management, enforcing discipline and order and as a concomi- tant, securing profitable industry, profitable to the contractor and the State. The great need and the real progress of prison " reforms " are shown by the following expressive figures, which need no comment :
STATEMENT of Earnings, Expenditures and Deficiencies of the Auburn Prison for the years 1875-'76-'77 and '78, together with a statement
27
1
1 1
I I
158
CITY OF AUBURN.
of the Earnings, Expenditures, Deficiencies and Surplus for January 1876-'77-'78 and '79 :
Years.
Earnings.
Expenditures.
Deficiency.
1875
$76,557.20
$192,944.50
$116,387.30
1876
78,025.99
194,505.28
1 16,479 29
1877
80,615.22
179,865.13
99,249.91
1878
116,641.18
1 50,820.42
34,179.24
Years.
Earnings.
Expenditures.
Deficiency.
Surplus.
1876
$6,568.74 $17, 189.31 $10,620.57
1877
6,730.86
16,038.16
9,307-30
1878
9,170.87
13,298.95
4,128.08
1879|
11,411.47
9,749.53
$1,661,94
CONVICT LABOR .- When the Auburn Prison was erected the village contained only about one thousand inhabitants, of whom a sufficient num- ber were mechanics and artisans to meet the de- mands of the business which centered in the place. The convicts, who exceeded them in number, were mainly employed upon the same kinds of work, and were, so to speak, employés of the State, gathered from the entire prison district, and their labor put in direct competition with that of a small village. That competition took the bread from the artisan class, and was too serious to be patiently borne. It drove many of them to other localities, or employments, as a means of livelihood.
At first these complaints were local only, for the effects of the competition were local; but with the increase in the number of convicts and the introduction of the contract system a greater amount and variety of goods were manufactured, which were sold in the general wholesale markets, when a broader and more general complaint arose, and efforts were made to employ the con- victs upon such work as would not compete with the general industry of the country. The manu- facture of silk, it was believed, would meet the case and prove advantageous to those employed in it directly, and indirectly to the country and State in the production of cocoons.
In 1841, under the agency of Henry Polhemus. the test was made and continued for several years. It was entered upon with much hopeful- ness and enthusiasm. The measure had been urged upon the Legislature by Governor Seward as one calculated to relieve the embarrassments attending the question of convict labor, and the experiment was fully authorized by law. The results of the limited tests which had been made
in the production of silk in this country had been satisfactory. The quality of the article and the profits of its production were alike encour- aging. John Morrison, an expert in silk pro- duction, was, at this time, in partnership with Josiah Barber in the carpet business in Auburn Prison. He strongly favored the enterprise and his knowledge and experience had much influence in settling the question of silk production in the prison. He could intelligently direct the several necessary processes from the culture of the mul- berry on which to feed the worms co the final preparation of the article for market. The pro- duction of the mulberry was, of course, the first step to be taken ; buds of the trees were procured and their culture at once commenced, and as rapid- ly extended as the shrubs could be procured. Cocooneries were erected and the feeding of the worms began. The first results were entirely satisfactory, the operations being directed by the intelligent advice of Mr. Morrison. The silk produced was of good quality, met a ready sale and gave a good profit to the producers. The experiments so far made were on a small scale only ; but the first successes stimulated en- terprise. Bounties on cocoons were offered by the Legislature and agricultural societies and their production extended with marvelous rapidi- ty. In 1841 a sufficient supply of cocoons had been produced to justify the authorities of the prison in beginning their enterprise. The prices first paid for cocoons were from three to four dollars per bushel. The product per acre of the trees was estimated at one hundred bushels, and the pecuniary promise of the new industry was very flattering. The facilities for the manufac- ture of silk at the prison were from time to time increased and the vacant prison grounds devoted to mulberry trees. So far everything promised the most complete success and the liveliest hopes were excited. All the cocoons offered were promptly taken, and their cultivation was rapidly and largely extended. Cocooneries were multiplied. Breeding and feeding silk worms be- came a general occupation-a real mania, and speculation in the eggs and plants ran wild. Single buds were said at one time to have been sold at a dollar. ; The furor extended from coun- ty to county and from State to State, and the sup- ply of cocoons offered was very large.
The silk produced at Auburn was at first of
159
THE AUBURN PRISON.
excellent quality and found a ready market at seven dollars per pound, yielding a profit of twenty-five per cent. to the manufacturers. But with an increase in the business difficulties were encountered in the peculiar character of prison labor. The convicts were continually changing and it was difficult to secure a sufficient number of faithful and skillful men. The quality of the product of such labor could not fully be main- tained, and from that cause and for other reasons not explained, the Auburn silk lost favor and was reduced in price from seven to five dollars per pound. At the latter price it could not be produced except at a loss, and the experiment of silk manufacture in the prisons of the State, from which so much had been expected, was reluc- tantly abandoned. The inflated bubble of specu- lation in the mulberry was thus suddenly burst and very heavy losses were sustained by those who had engaged in it.
With the abandonment of silk culture the au- thorities settled upon the old and varied indus- tries, in which the convicts of the State have since been employed. Complaints against it are still heard in the resolutions of political conven- tions; but the necessity for its continuance is so imperious and the difficulties of employing the thousands of convicts, except in the usual me- chanical industries, are so great, that the discon- tinuance of the present system can only take place when some practical substitute for it shall have been tested and its success fully estab- lished.
PRISON DISCIPLINE .- As the Superintendent of Prisons is at full liberty to employ any method of discipline which he may deem best, this fact of itself operates as a check upon insubordina- tion, and, with the other judicious changes which have been introduced, have reduced the cases of discipline to one-tenth their former number, while better order and greater industry and fidelity have also been obtained. The rules as to com- mutation of the time of service in the prison for good conduct, or the forfeiture of that favor for misdemeanors, are rigidly enforced, and consti- tute the strongest incentive to good conduct. Insubordination or mischievous behavior, is sure to lengthen their confinement which, being well understood, insures general obedience. The " hard cases " are confined for short periods on short rations of bread and water in dark cells.
The cell in which the murderer Barr hung him- self, is an especial terror to such, and confine- ment in it twenty-four hours humbles them more than severe physical chastisement. The average period of confinement in such cells before full penitence, is less than two days, and in very obdurate cases it is extended to eight or ten days. The "cap," not a source of pain, or physical discomfort, but a badge of dishonor, is also, for certain offenses, effectually used. Severe physic- al discipline is very seldom required. The pre- vailing sentiment among the convicts is strongly in favor of good order as the best means of se- curing their own comfort and lessening their terms of confinement.
The spirit of riot and mischief, so prevalent a few years ago, has been checked by the strict yet just and humane rules now in force, and by the regular employments to which the convicts are now subjected. The chaplain, Rev. William Searls, who holds toward the convicts more inti- mate and confidential relations than any of the other officers, expresses his decided conviction that the work furnished the prisoners " has done more to produce the good order we now see in this prison than anything else that can be named." He adds that " labor is as much an auxiliary to virtue as it is a means of support," and that "work is the cure for the unrest and disorder in the prisons of the land."
The following will show that the panacea of labor is thoroughly applied.
EMPLOYMENT OF CONVICTS .- There were few idle convicts of the 1,146 confined in Auburn Prison on the first day of January, 1879 ; 876 were on contract, 231 on State work, 22 sick, or infirm, and 31 unemployed. At that date 562 convicts were employed at fifty cents per day, 113 at forty-two cents, and 184 at forty cents.
PRISON OFFICIALS AND SALARIES. - The num- ber of officers now (January, 1879,) in charge of the Auburn Prison is 61 ; in October, 1876, it was 80. There are now
I Agent and Warden, salary, $3,500
I Physician, 2,000
I Chaplain, 2,000
I Clerk, 2,000
I Principal Keeper,
1
1,500
I Store Keeper, 1,200
I Kitchen Keeper, 1,200
I Hall Keeper, 1,200
160
CITY OF AUBURN.
I Yard Master and
Engineer, 1,200
32 Keepers, each,
Oc6
I Sergeant of Guard,
900
19 Guards, each, .
780
THE EDUCATIONAL CONDITION OF CONVICTS. -Academical, 38 ; collegiate, 13 ; high school, 32; common school, 531; no education, 149 ; read and write, 270 ; read only, 160.
HABITS .- Intemperate, 416 ; moderate drink- ers, 342 ; temperate, 435. The number less than 35 years of age is 803. In the present prison family Cayuga has twelve representatives. Of the inmates 309 are of foreign birth ; En- gland supplying 48 ; Germany, 58; and Ireland, 95.
PRISON BUILDING .- This is situated on the west side of State street, bordering the Owasco Outlet on the south and Wall street on the north. It is in the form of a parallelogram, one thousand feet from east to west, with a breadth of five hun- dred feet. The central building fronting State street is three hundred and eighty-seven feet wide. The walls on State street are fourteen feet eight inches high. On Wall street they vary from twenty to twenty-six feet ; west wall twenty- eight to thirty-one feet ; south wall, inside, thirty feet six inches, outside, thirty-five to fifty-one feet. The thickness of the walls varies from four to five feet. The offices of the agent and war- den, the clerk and the superintendent, the dwell- ing for the warden, and the main and keepers' hall are in the main building. The walls are sur- mounted by a wide stone coping, bordered by an iron hand-rail. On this coping during the day the guards patrol over designated sections, bear- ing loaded rifles.
The workshops and interior buildings are ar- ranged in the form of a hollow square, inclosing a spacious court-yard, in which are walks and drives, leading to the several shops. The inte- rior shops and buildings are separated by a drive- way from the outer walls. The cells occupy the intermediate space in both wings, facing toward the outer walls, and the latter are supplied with windows, affording light and the means of ven- tilation. The cells are constructed of solid ma- sonry, are three feet eight inches by seven feet, and seven feet in height. From each cell ven- tilating tubes extend to, and connect with pipes in the roof, effecting thorough ventilation. There
are five tiers of cells, access to which is obtained by galleries. The number of cells in the north wing and its extension, is eight hundred and thirty, and in the south wing, four hundred and forty-two, a total of twelve hundred and seventy- two. The mess-room is sixty-seven by one hun- dred and ten feet, with a seating capacity for twelve hundred and forty-three. The chapel is of the same size and will seat an equal number.
Ample arrangements have been perfected within the prison for extinguishing fires by the proper distribution of twelve hydrants, a supply of hose, and the organization of a fire brigade.
The sanitary condition of the prison has re- cently been much improved and the general health of the convicts is excellent. At this writ- ing (February 8th, 1879,) there are but six inva- lids in the hospital, less than one-half the yearly average.
HOW THE PRISONERS ARE FED .- The follow- ing will show the great variety and liberal amount of food supplied to the convicts, for which we are indebted to the Hon. William J. Moses, the agent and warden of the Auburn Prison :
Gross daily consumption of meats, breadstuffs, vegetables, &c., based upon the number of in- mates, which, at present writing, is 1,140.
Sunday .- 1,900 lbs. flour, 30 lbs. coffee, 60 lbs. sugar, 30 gals. milk, 8 gals. molasses, hash, 200 lbs. corn beef, 15 bushels potatoes and 6 barrels of apples.
Monday .- 1,300 lbs. corn beef, 34 bushels po- tatoes, 5 bushels onions, 1,900 lbs. flour, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
Tuesday. - 600 lbs. pork, 22 bushels potatoes, 22 bushels turnips, 15 bushels beets, 6} bush- els beans, I bushel carrots, 1,900 lbs. flour, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
Wednesday .- 1,100 lbs. fresh beef, 28 bushels potatoes, 1,900 lbs. flour, 6 bushels onions, 3 bushels turnips, 2 bushels carrots, 40 lbs. rice, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
Thursday .- 600 lbs. pork, 39 bushels potatoes, 6} bushels beans, 1,900 lbs. flour, 25 heads cab- bage, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
Friday .- 300 lbs. codfish, 17 bushels potatoes, 5 bushels onions, 1,900lbs. flour, 15 gals. milk, 400 lbs. corn meal, 1 bushel turnips, I bushel carrots, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
Saturday .- 1,100 lbs. fresh beef, 35 bushels potatoes, 40 lbs. rice, 1,900 lbs. flour, 3 bushels
-
161
NEW YORK STATE ASYLUM FOR INSANE CONVICTS.
-
turnips, 2 bushels carrots, 12 gals. molasses, 5 gals. vinegar.
In addition to the ordinary daily rations there are also furnished for the use of the inmates the following articles :
Per month .- Pepper-sauce, 12} pepper-pods, 210 lbs. mustard, 210 lbs. pepper, 20 bbls. salt, 50 lbs. hops, 100 lbs. malt, 60 lbs. saleratus.
Per ration .- 1,000 pickles, 15 bushels pickled beets.
During the season they are also supplied with :
Per ration. - 2,800 ears green corn, 1,700 lbs. beet greens. 40 bushels tomatoes, 600 heads cab- bage, 20 bushels parsnips, 450 doz. eggs (Easter Sunday.)
Upon the three holidays during the year the following extra rations are issued :
4TH OF JULY .- 1, 100 lbs. ham, 700 lbs. hali- but, smoked, 350 lbs. cheese, 400 lbs. crackers, 40 lbs. coffee, 80 lbs. sugar, 25 gals. milk, gin- gerbread, (in the making of which is used 1,000 lbs. flour, 40 gals. N. O. molasses and 35 lbs. spices,) 10 barrels apples.
THANKSGIVING .- 90 gals oysters, 30 lbs. but- ter, 400 lbs. crackers, 350 lbs. cheese, 40 lbs. coffee, 80 lbs. sugar, 25 gals milk, 10 barrels ap- ples, and gingerbread of same quality as above.
CHRISTMAS .- 1,200 lbs. chickens, 400 lbs. crackers, 350 lbs. cheese, 40 lbs. coffee, 80 lbs. sugar, 25 gals. milk, 10 barrels apples, rusks, (in the making of which is used 1,000 lbs. flour, 160 lbs. sugar and 10 gals. of milk.)
NEW YORK STATE ASYLUM FOR INSANE CONVICTS.
This institution is situated in the Fourth ward of the city of Auburn, on a tract of land contain- ing about eight acres, fronting on Wall street, and enclosed on all sides by a stone wall, twelve feet high. The original structure was commen- ced in 1857, and opened for the reception of pa- tients February 2d, 1859. It then comprised a center, or administration building, with a wing on either side for patients, accommodating about forty each. An additional wing has since been attached to the west end of the building, making the present total capacity of the asylum one hun- dred and sixty. The front of the building is of stone and the rear of brick, the whole presenting an imposing structure, consisting of a central
building, forty-four by sixty-six feet, three stories high and a basement, with wings on either side, one hundred and twenty feet in length, and ter- minating in their extremities in a transept sixty- six by twenty-five feet. The wings and transepts have each two stories and a basement.
The enlargement, commenced in 1873, is a con- tinuation of the south transept of the west wing, except that it is wider ; it is about one hundred feet long and terminates in a transept, which is about seventy-five feet in length. In its external appearance the new wing corresponds, approxi- mately, to that of the original structure, but varies somewhat from the old building in its internal arrangement. It comprises three stories, in the lower one of which are located the patients' kitchen, employés' dining-room, store-rooms, &c., and a small ward for working patients. On the first floor of the central building are located the offices, reception room and dispensary ; the sec- ond and third floors comprise the superintend- ent's apartments ; and the basement is devoted to a business office, waiting-room, kitchen, etc.
The wings and transepts are set apart entirely for the use of patients. They consist of a corri- dor, or hall, about twelve feet wide, running the entire length, with single dormitories opening therefrom, on one side in the old wings, and both sides in the new one. These dormitories are about eight by ten feet, and about thirteen feet high, having an average of about one thousand and forty cubic feet or space, and each is lighted by a large window, protected by an iron grating, and looking out upon the beautiful flower garden and grounds. The basement halls underneath the corridors of the old wings serve as passage- ways, and contain the main steam and water pipes leading to the wards and kitchens.
Immediately in the rear of the central building, and connected with it by corridor, is a two story brick structure, ninety feet in length by forty in breadth, in the lower story of which are located the bakery and dormitories for the employés who are not occupied in the wards ; the second story contains the chapel, sewing room, store- room for goods, and the officers' quarters. Vege- table cellars are located bencath a portion of this building. The out-buildings, excepting the coal shed, are of brick and comprise a laundry, boiler- house, repair shop, meat and ice-house, barn and wagon house, green-house and piggery.
.
162
CITY OF AUBURN.
This institution was created as an asylum for insane convicts and received only that class of patients up to 1869, when its corporate name was changed, by the Legislature, to that of "State Asylum for Insane Criminals ;" the object of the change being to provide for the confinement therein of an additional class, namely, the so- called " criminal insane," i. e. " Persons accused of arson, murder, or attempt at murder, who shall have escaped indictment, or who shall have been acquitted on the ground of insanity.". By the same act provision was made whereby persons of this class could be transferred to this institution from the other asylums of the State. This in- stitution was an experiment, being the first and only one of the kind then, or now, in the United States.
The first superintendent was Dr. Edward Hall, of Buskirk Bridge, Washington county, N. Y. He was appointed in November, 1858, and con- tinued until June, 1865, when he was superseded by Dr. Charles E. Van Auden, of Auburn, N. Y., who in turn was superseded by Dr. J. W. Wilkie, also of Auburn, February 17th, 1870. The latter died in office, March 13th, 1876, and the vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of the present superintendent, Dr. Carlos F. Mc Don- ald, formerly superintendent of the Kings county lunatic asylum, near Brooklyn, N. Y.
The scope and aim of the institution is, the protection of society from the violence of dan- gerous lunatics, the relieving of the inmates of ordinary asylums from contact with objectionable associates, and, at the same time, to secure kind care, and proper hospital treatment for the insane of the criminal class.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.