Conservation Commission 



113 



Convict Labor 



We have since 1912, when a nursery of five acres was estab- 

 lished at Great Meadow Prison, been using convict labor in grow- 

 ing planting stock. This nursery has since been increased in size. 

 It now has an area of fifteen acres and contains approximately 

 14,500,000 trees. The management of this nursery has been the 

 same as others. We have purchased all seeds, materials and 

 equipment, also employed necessary supervision. The prison has 

 furnished land and labor. The stock produced has been used the 

 same as if from other nurseries. All the proceeds from sale of 

 trees have been turned into the State treasury. The Prison De- 

 partment feels entitled to the fruits of this labor, and has asked 

 that we pay over to that department such portion of the proceeds 

 of sales as represents the convicts' work. If this request is to be 

 caried out, it can be done only by an amendment to existing law. 



Prison labor was first used for field planting in 1912, when 

 108,250 trees were planted on the Dannemora Prison lands by 

 convicts working under the supervision of one of our foresters. 

 The result of such planting was very satisfactory and there was 

 an average of fifty-one trees planted per man per hour. 



As has already been stated, two crews were assigned to us by the 

 Prison Department this fall for the purpose of reforesting State 

 lands. The question that naturally arises is the efficiency of the 

 labor and the economy resulting. The following table has been 

 prepared to show the comparison of convict and civilian labor for 

 ^ his purpose under similar conditions : 



Comparisons of Convict and Civilian Labor - 



- Tree 



s Planting 



PLANTATION 



Year 



Total 



trees 



planted 



Total 



hours 



of 



labor 



planting 



Average 

 number 



trees 

 planted 

 per hour 



Average 



per 

 two-men 



crew 

 ten hours 



Hours 



kitchen 



labor 



Hours 

 kitchen 



labor 

 per M. 



trees 



Kird 



of 

 labor 



Dannemora 



Mountain Pond 



Mountain Pond 



Aiden Lair 



Chubb Hill 



1912 

 1914 

 1914 

 1914 

 1914 

 1914 



108,250 

 100,000 

 500,000 

 89,000 

 210,000 

 100,000 



2,151 

 1,583 

 9,662 

 2,220 

 4,002 

 1,782 



51 

 63 

 52 

 40 



52 



56 



1,020 

 1,260 

 1,040 

 800 

 1,040 

 1,120 



* 

 312 



1,130 

 760 



1,410 

 t 



"*3!i2 

 2.6 

 8.5 

 5.6 



Convict 

 Civilian 

 Civilian 

 Convict 



Seveys (Childwold) . . . 



Civilian 



* Data not compiled. 



t Men boarded themselves. 



