The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-12-14
CONVICT LABOR.

CONVICT LABOR.
SENATOR GIRBs, in his recent inter
view with the News, in speaking Of
penitentiary matters, says that "the
state will be able to keep that institu-
ton ON a selfsustaining basis" He
further states that "thero are two things
certain, viz: that the lease system will
not be resorted to again, md that public
opinion favOrs putting the conyicts in
me walls as fast as possible" Admit
the truth OF these propositions, and then
the question presents itselrhow can this
convict labor be utilized. This is prac-
ticai and very important question, for
we have nearly 1000 convicts in the
penitentiary and on the plantations, and
tho number is RAPIDLY Increasing. 20
put these cunvicts n Che walls nil at
once, mt tho lowest calculation. would
entail an annual expense on the state
Tor several years Of nearly a million dol
lars. This would fix on the people an
Increased rate Of taxation which would
not be patiently borne.
The problem is how to utilize this
labor so as TO compete as lit
Ito as possible with honest Ia
Dor. or course there is certain
class OF conVicts who can he worked tn
advantage on sugar aud cotton plsnta-
ions, which character OF emplo. ment
they prefer, but the majority OF the con.
vlcts are nos used to tho climate OF
southern Texas or plantation labor.
II tho state hires this labor to estab.
iish railroads, to keep them in repair. IL
is competition with honest labor. for
mat IS work that mus be done. While
The state is gradually building peni
tentiaiies and putting I'm extensive
machinery, and training oonvicts tn
manufacturing and mechanical mr.
suits, all of which takes time. it will
have to find employment for the largo
surplus convict l0bgn
20 deal justly with honest labor the
Stnte must create employment for these
'onNi'tsi in other worGs, must set on
foot some enterprise that would no,
otherwise be developed. Two years ago
SDHNroU GGBBs, when he attacked the
penItcntiary lease system in his can.
vass, admitted this difficulty, and TO
romedy IL proposed to use thus surplus
labor In building a pier out TO deep wa
ter, the state TO own tho recovered lots
and control the WHARFAGE. lie also pro.
posed to hire the e1uyicts to counties I.
work the roads, which are now worked
without compensation. The HLRAL1
has mover beloved that either of thes,
plans were feasible, aud don't know that
tho suggestions it now makes will be
considered more so.
1t is said that the state has good con
mines ON portions Of the school Ian,
and, If this be true, they might, by tn,
use OF convict labor, bo made to yiel,
good revenue, and cheaper fuel {,
numbers OF poor people on tho prairiey
who have a scarcity OF this necssar,
article. Again, the school fund own
some valuable pine lands, which are no
IN demand at very goog prices, AN,
which are too far on OF the railroads l.
sell, except to Spectators at low prices
These lands lie mostly on prot,
direct line from here TO Sabine Pas,
This section IL not likely to be devel
oped 10y private enterprise and hones
labor for years 10 come and the stat
might covelopc !, In the interest O
tue school fond and gener,
revenue fund, aud cheapon lumbe
for tho improvemt OF tho west. Tn
state could probably build railroa
into that section cheaper ut this TINT
D than ~ any others, Tor railroad materia
is very low.
r While money IL scarce and con
4, mands higher rate to individuals, iii
q plentiful at a per cent rate tn the stat
= It's rumored that the Illinois Centrq
o has purchased the narrow guage roa
4 with a view 10 changing it TO n broa
4 guage road, This will place a good del
- OF material and rolling stock on III
A market AZ low price aud this the stat
+ could purchase aud use IN building
marrow grage from Athens to 81
bino Pass, and by huying the Tran
o road they could st a small cost run IA
a state road into Dallas.
1 BY this urrang mout they woul
6 get the bonodt Of competition on ever
d railroad line il Texas and leading o,
Il OF II. They would loeatolthoir new pei
: itentiaiies on this limo and lay the
a manufactured articles down at sma
r cost, at a distributing aud conpetir
4 point, where they would command q
4 highest prices. All this could he doi
y without Increasing taxation one cen
= and would lay The foundation for pc
a manenl peniientiary system, whic
must be devised sooner or later sue