Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02
GOOD ROADS OR BAD.
One Solution Of q Problem Of Great
Interest to the Public.
WHERE THE BEST HIGHWAYS ARE.
No Better Public Roads Anywhere Than
Are Found in the South.
CONVICT LABOR EMPLOYED THERE
WHERE THE BEST HIGHWAYS ARE.
CONVICT LABOR EMPLOYED THERE
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.I

4
In Pennsylvan one of the earliest laws
passed after the Revolutionary War was in
the direction of reforming the penal code
An act of 1876 provided that certain crimes,
which, until then, had been eapitally pun
ished, should thereafter be pushed by labor,
publicly and disgracefully imposed"
Under this law the convicts were en-
| ployed in cleaning streets, repairing roads,
etc., their heads were shaved, and they were
clothed in coarse uniform. The concurrent
testimony Of all, however, is to the effect
that the result Of this movement was to in
crease crime and to degrade the criminal,
whose shame at the public exposure soon
hardened into sullen resentment and impo-
tent rage. The Legislature, upon witness
ing the disastrous effects of this system upon
the criminal and upon society, attempted its
reform with great vigor. The acts of the
years 1789-90-1.4-5 prove the anxiety to cor
rect mistakes and establish system of pun
ishments which should combine severity
and certainty with humanity, and, "by re-
moving public disgrace and the temptation
to excess, leave room for the possible en-
trance OF reformation"
STILL IN FORCE.
A portion of the law of April 8. 1890,
about Jail prisoners is still in force in the
State. The system of solitary confinement
and indoors labor, formulated in that era is
still the basis of the present arrangement,
though modified by modern legislation.
The commission for the improvement Of
country roads in Pennsylvania, appointed
recently by Governor Beaver, is now con-
sidering. in connection with the character Of
improvements, the question of labor. That
OF convict labor is advocated by several of
the members, thus coming back to the exact
state OF things that ruled in Pennsylvania
more than a century ago. OF course con-
ditions have changed since then, and what
may then have seemed a good reason for
abolishing convict labor on the roads at
that time IS no reason at all now..
There are vastly more criminals. The
very system of indoor labor then originated
has resulted in evils which the lawmakers
of pioneer days were not shrewd enough to
foresee. Chief among these is the competi-
tion offered free labor in the trades Of manu-
featuring. Our criminal laws are even
more stringent, and "the sulIen resentment
and impOtent rage" of convicts because
publicly exhibited, would avail nothing
nowadays. Public opinion demands any
prisoners so as to check crime; and public
opinion in this State is anxious for any
available system by which better highways
may be built for indispensable overland
traffic. Thus, two good purposes are COM
bined in one, Notwithstanding failure of
such an experiment 100 years ago in our own
State.
CONVICT LABOR ON THE ROADS. &
While in Washington City a few days
ago talked with Congressman from various
States about their systems of road making.
In Missouri. New Jersey, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Texas, conVicts work on
public ways by State direction directly. In
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missis-
sippi the convict labor is leased out to diff
ferent townships or counties for road and
street improvements In the State of Vir-
ginia the contract system prevails in letting |
out prisoners for work on public ways. In |
Alabama the latest laws give the courts dis
erection to sentence prisoners to labor on
county roads and empower the County Com
missioners to let them to private contractors
for that work also. A particular act ex
empts females from the prisons from labor
of this class. When the male prisoners are
so assigned thev are shackled while at work,
and if night finds them some distance from
the prison they 'must be confined in q sub
stantial building or stockade and carefully |
guarded"
METHODS OF THE WORK.
In Georgia when any county, city, town |
or village determines to organize a cham |
gang of misdemeanored convicts to work on |
the roads they must file with the clerk of |
any court throughout the State their de- |
mand. When any person shall be convicted |
of misdemeanor and sentenced to work on |
the public roads, such convict shall be [
turned over to the county or town having |
the Oldest untitled demand on the books |
Convict labor on public works in North |
Carolina is developed to high degree. In |
addition to repairing and making roads,
prisoners are made to do whatever offers.
The beautiful mansion for the Governor of /
the State which stands in Burke Square,
Raleigh, was entirely created by conVicts,
the materials all being manufactured in the /
penitentiaries and the construction carried
on by the men, even to the hod carrying, |
The result of this system is that the country !
roads generally in the South-at least in the |
agricultural regions-are kept in the very
best order. The eonv1ets work slowly and
under careful supervision. The work is
therefore of the frmest character.
GOOD ROADS A NECESSITY.
Macadamized roads are popular, and IN /
the tide-water sections of Virginia, North
Carolina and Louisiana shell roads make
driving rare enjoyment. Then, the search
ty of railroads, or rather the backwardness
Of the interior South in developing railroad
made good overland roads an abb
solute necessity, just as there was neeessi-
ty Tor the old national turnpike before the
days of railroads in the North and West.
The spectacle of a chain gang, or even q
prisoner with ball and chain attached, on
the public thoroughfares, will always be
more or less repugnant to the people Of
much as they do want the
labor of the prisoners. It is barely possible
that neither chains nor shackles will be
necessary. That is for the opinions
Of prison keepers to decide. In Kansas
there is sort of compromise system. Their
laws out there provide for the work on high
ways without the revolving features. County
are empowered to establish a
county stone-yard where prisoners may be
worked at breaking up stones for the roads
about to be macadamized. This lessons the
chances of escape. When a prisoner shall
10 desire he may give sufficient surety and
be allowed to enter upon an engagement for
outside work on the highways. This will
be taken as the payment of his fine and costs,
i per day, exclusive of board, being allowed