STATE PRISON AT AUBURN. 247 



The rations for each man per day are, 10 oz. pork, or 16 02. 

 beef; 10 oz. wheat flour, the wheat to be ground fine, and not 

 bolted; 12 oz. Indian meal; ^ gill molasses, — a ration : and 2 

 qts. rye; 4 qts. salt; 4 qts. vinegar; 1^ oz. pepper; 2^ bushels 

 potatoes, — each 100 rations. 



From these provisions the convicts are supplied in the morning 

 with cold meat, bread, a slice of cold hominy (a preparation of 

 Indian corn,) hot potatoes, and a pint of hot rye coffee, sweetened 

 with molasses. For dinner, they have meat soup made from broth, 

 thickened with Indian meal, bread, hot potatoes, and cold water 

 for drink. And for supper a portion of mush, (porridge made of 

 k Indian meal,) and cold water. This quantity of food for each 

 ' man is considered to be indispensably necessary when the labour 

 is hard and constant, and not more than sufficient to enable the 

 convicts to perform it, and to remain in the enjoyment of health. 

 Labour, only interrupted by the time necessary for meals, is re- 

 quired from the convicts for eleven hours per day, when there is 

 enough of daylight. 



The agent makes contracts for the labour of the convicts, with 

 persons furnishing materials, so that all risk of loss is avoided, 

 and much private capital and enterprise are brought into action. 

 Strict rules are enforced, preventing a contractor from speaking 

 to a convict. His wishes must be expressed to one of the keepers. 

 There must be at least one assistant keeper in each. mechanical 

 department, who is master of the business pursued in it, to 

 instruct new convicts, and see that the whole make first-rate 

 work. The instruction is chiefly given by showing, and not by 

 verbal direction. 



The convicts are so arranged in the shops as not to face each 

 other, and have their work entirely separate. A shop, and the 

 business of a hundred -convicts, are so managed, that hours 

 frequently pass without a word being spoken. Spectators are 

 taken through the inspection avenues in the rear, which surround 

 all the shops, where they have a full view of the convicts without 

 being seen. They are not allowed to speak so loud as to be 

 heard by them. There are separate shops for carpenters, masons, 

 coopers, tool-makers, shoemakers, tailors, weavers, blacksmiths, 

 machinists, gunsmiths, chair-makers, cabinet-makers, and basket- 

 makers. We saw some cabinet work beautifully finished. In- 

 deed, all the work seemed to us well arranged, and systematically 

 carried on. Carriage-making, polishing stone, and comb-making 

 have been begun during the year 1828. 



