The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1876-01-15
Levces ana Penitcntiary.


kot tux stthsuulS ItcItluI
Possibly no portion of the State
administration more illustrates its
vicious infrmities than the peni-
tentiary. The convicts, able bodied
and capable of large earnings, have
been a cost to the State, aud their
punishment increases by being
used by private individuals. We
would propose that they at once
be placed ON the levces, board of
control being so organized as MT
only to induce efficient and ccono-
mical use Of their labor, but hu-
manity to the convicts. BY means
Of boats adapted for that purpose,
the convicts securely guarded,
could be moved from point to point
with the celebrity and precision Of
military organization. 1t is csti-
mated that 500 able bodied men
will build 5000 cubic yards per day.
Experienced contractors rate con-
vict labor higher than other labor;
800 convicts working but 200 days
in the year can build at least H.
10000 cubic yards Of levee. Sew
cnty cents is believed to be very
liberal estimate for the cost Of
guards, rations and clothing per
day per man. Ii contracts were
made for these items with the low
est bidder, the State would dOnbt-
less be enabled to secure them at q
less rate of cost. AS the State in
taking charge of tho conyicts,
would be compelled to snbsist them
the entire year, the cost for S65
days should be considered which
would amount to s;l27,7 $50; add for
cSstoftransportation S25, 900 (Which
woMd be probably less II the State
were 70 provide two steanl-tugs
and coAvict bargcs are TO be used
above altl one below the mouth of
the Arkdpsas river. Thcrcsult is
nm OUTLAY of $152,750 per annum !;
add the support Of all the convicts
not able todie,', say 100, at5o cents
per day/tach, making sls,250 per
annulx and by this calculation H.
OOO) ~ cubic yards oflcvccs can be
bin ~ the State ut a total cost Of
lsi7 40 per cubic sard. Should a
policy of this kind be adopted by
the State it seems to us that its
practical operation gould be best
carried into effect by board Of
public works, who should be au-
thorizcd to take charge of the en-
tire lcvec system Of the State.
A shicf engineer an1 assistants
to be appointed whose duty it
should be to survey and locate the
lcyees required under the direction
of the board Of public works, this
board to have absolute control Of
all convict labor of the State, the
work on the lcyces to be prosccut-
ed during the entire year; the
revenues derived from taxation for
levec purposes to be disbursed for
work performed in the same man
ner as other claims against the
|Statc IRE audited and paid. The
boartl.accounting to the Lcgisla-
turc annually for The proper per-
formanco sof their duties. This is
q most propitlous time to secure
the appointment Of competent
men, not political partizans, whose
high character and unquostioncd
capacity, will give a guarantee that
the money collected for leyce pur-
poses will be wisely and properly
expended. y
BY the plan have sketchcd out,
the laborcrs being mainly conyicis,
deprived of all political rights, aud
the controlling boards being com.
posed, as we trust it would be, Of
citizens Of the highest character,
not prominently identified with
any political party, we believe a
greater degree OF efficiency and
economy would be secured, and
greater satisfaction given 10 the
taxpayers than by any Other
method.
AQpakertown man has solved
Mrs. .Eiveyln0re's query: What