The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-05

ings bridges, IL will pay equally well to
work them on our roads, tor honestly
believe that no country can develop all
of its material wealth which keeps its
roads, ''-idgcs and ferries in such a con.
dition ~ we do in South Carolina, not
only at this time, but during this entire
generation for it would be unjust TO say
II ID only since the war that we have had
bad roads. Every farmer in the up
country knows to the contrary.
If all the roads, all the bridges, and all
the ferries in South Carolina we're in
good order, do you not believe it would
enhance the value o. all our lands ut
least ten per cent? 10 illustrate the iui.
pOrtance of this matter, | will take the
County Of Edgcticld. We have in round
numbers G8O,O0O acres of land this at
81 per acre tIcss than its value will ag-
gregate Il ,3G0, 900; 10 per cent. increase,
will make $i3G,OOO. Ihi. amount may
appear very large TO some, yet believe
the calculation II reasonable one. Take
half the amount, $G8.000 NJ q per cent.
per annum, and it will make double the
$4,000 annually paid for the support of
the Penitcntiary ns now conducted. This
is not cash in hand, it is true, but evil
cally amount, to the same thing. This
material Improvement would not be very
pcrceptible for the first year or two, but
it prn 'ently managed for ten years, the
real ptncfit aud substantial Improvement
to The whole county would be 50 marked,
even to the casual observer, that il
would be recognized as very important
institution in which the whole State is
interested.
In addition to all this, the damage sus-
taincd by three OF four thousand vehicles
of various kinds for the want of good
Of dollars.
The above il no fancy theory that is diff
ficult to understand, but something, it
strikes me. that every farmer in the State
will not fail to comprehend at glance
fie can sec it will make him money in
the end and in addition to all this the
farmer and all cnn understand, within Il
few years, that this convict labor, man
aged as above Indicated, will save ut
least one half the time and labor now ex-
pended in working tho roads Of the
county. This, at reasonable wages,
would amount to very large sum every
year. think it unnecessary to urge this
argument further. as all who wish to save
money AMI mt the saine time punish all clns.
OF c0nvlcts by snfe confinement at hard
labor must see some advantages to be
derived from the suggestions above. Nor
is this all the labor nor all the subs,an-
tial good that This change in our pcni-
tentiary system would give the counties.
You know that all of our counties
pay large amount yearly to feed petty
hi t,,, e.
Tho Legislature would, under the plan
proposed, turn all such violators Of law
over to the County Superintendent Of
convicts, to work out their 80 days, for
tho general good Of the county. 1t would
not cost ths county one cent more thnn
now and, in addition, it would amount
to at least some punishment for theft.
For this class Of law breakers, fines in
money are mockcry; and confinement
in Jail (if we'll fedD is no better But la
bor they very much dread, particularly
when competed to do it.
As | before said, take principally Il
mOneyed view of this matter, because
feel 1t necessity. on the same principle
that M prudent lnrmcr, while largely in
deb.. having no cash and but little or no
credit, would think for one moment of
u"ucitahi"S w iuH u iaTBc experimental
farm. Common sense, common prudence
and common preservation would say !:
work the safe plan, save all the money
possible until we are at least able 10 pay
our honest debts.
When the State was rich and out Of
debt, it wns not thought prudent to COM
mence such n "huge operation :" and
think it would be prudent to give the
old legislators of South Carolina credit
for. at least, common sense.
have the honor to be your obcdient
servant, ii. a. SHAW.