REPORT 



On the Corporation Farm on Randall's Is'and, worked 

 by pauper labor, under the charge of M. G. Leonard, 

 Esq. 



The undersigned, from the Farmers' Club, on the invitation of 

 Moses G. Leonard, Esq., commissioner of the Alms House depart- 

 ment, having visited Randall's Island, on the 5th inst., in company 

 with his honor, the Mayor, several of the Aldermen, and other citi- 

 zens, ask leave to report: 



That ]\Ir. Leonard's object was to present to the citizens some 

 knowledge of the success which has thus far attended his endeavors 

 to cultivate this farm by pauper labor. It affords us much pleasure 

 to bear testimony to the excellence of his arrangements, and the 

 great promise which is thus far afforded of signal success. Since the 

 failure of an experiment, attempted some years ago on the Long Is- 

 land Farms, it has been deemed impracticable by many to cultivate 

 the soil advantageously by pauper labor. But, after witnessing the 

 progress made under the direction of Mr. Leonard, we are far from 

 adopting any such conclusion; on the contrary, we feel much encour- 

 agement to believe, that by steady perseverance in a well devised 

 plan, the paupers of the city may be made to contribute largely to 

 their own support, without exacting from them a greater amount of 

 labor than will be found essential for their own comfort and well be- 

 ing. But it cannot be expected that any plan, however well devised 

 for the accomplishment of an object so desirable, will prosper, if the 

 supervision of its details is doomed to continual change from one to 

 another. Once under the supervision of those having the requisite 

 qualifications, it should not upon slight cause be changed. 



