THE CALIFORNIA PENAL SYSTEM. 649 



small part of these, lie says, could be utilized in making goods for 

 State institutions, nor would there be any profit unless manufacturing 

 was on a large scale for the outside markets as well. The experiment 

 that New York is making will be watched with much interest here. 



The California labor unions recently adopted resolutions favor- 

 ing " the quarrying of stone by convict labor, and the placing it upon 

 market undressed at a low figure, in order to give employment to 

 stone-cutters, stone-masons, and others employed on buildings." 

 The State rock-crushing plant, if kept running, will utilize the labor 

 of about two hundred and fifty convicts. Any advance beyond this 

 point means open war with all the labor unions. 



Evidently the time when the prisons of California are to be en- 

 tirely self-supporting is still remote, and the public as well as the 

 union need much more education upon the subject. Some reduction 

 of expenses, together with any utilization of convict labor that indi- 

 rectly benefits a few classes, is all that can be hoped for at present, 

 but ultimately the reformation of the criminal by making him capa- 

 ble of self-support as well as anxious to live in peace with society, will 

 be recognized as the aim of wise penal legislation. 



There is no doubt but that many profitable industries can be 

 found, as yet unnaturalized in California, and therefore coming only 

 incidentally into competition with existing industries, but well 

 adapted to prison labor. One of these industries is the growth and 

 preparation of osier willows of many species, and their manufacture 

 into many useful forms, especially into baskets for fruit pickers and 

 for wine makers. Another possible industry is the growth and prepa- 

 ration of various semitropic species of grasses and fiber plants, from 

 which hat materials, mattings, the baskets used in olive-oil manu- 

 facture and a multitude of other articles can be made. The sale of 

 crushed rock at Folsom should, of course, be at a price which at least 

 pays for the sustenance of the convicts employed. The enormous 

 water power of the prison should ultimately be fully utilized for 

 manufacturing purposes. 



Let us now turn to a consideration more in detail of the separate 

 prisons, and to a brighter side — that which concerns the men who 

 are doing the best they can with a bad system. San Quentin, the 

 oldest of the two, has been for six years under the wardenship of 

 an able and attractive man, William E. Hale, formerly Sheriff of 

 Alameda County. Those who have read the wonderfully interest- 

 ing reports of the National Prison Convention are familiar with his 

 methods and views. The report for 1895 (Denver meeting) shows 

 that Warden Hale, in the breadth and sanity of his views, easily takes 

 rank among the best wardens of the country. He thoroughly under- 

 stands California and the Californians, and while progressive has 



VOL. LIV. 49 



