Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1892-10-31
THE ROAD QUESTION.

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Much interest is being manifested
in the subject of good dirt roads, all
over Arkansas. A splendid paper on
the subject Is embodied in the report
of the Hampstead county Grand Jury,
which we reproduce in part below;
'In the brief discussion which We
have given this matter, but three ways
have been suggested by which this
may be done, and we here present
them, with brief comments on each
plan. We do not pretend to offer a
a solution of this yeXed question, for
the consideration of which congresses,
both state and Interstate have convok-
ed. What we do say, is said merely
to excite thought upon this question,
especially upon the part of our men,
bers elect to the next legislature, who,
we doubt not, with the corporation
of their co-legislators, win be able to
giveus something in lieu of our pres
ent worthless road laws, that win tend
to develop the great natural wealth
of our peerless state and will command
the respect of an intelligent and en-
tcrprising people.
The three plans to which we have
referred are these: t..aa
LIST. To so amend our road law as
to require those now subject to road
duty such an amount of labor as il
necessary to make the roads good.
End. To amend the road law by
authorizing and requiring such tax
levy upon property as will procure
that amount of labor which is neces-
sary to make the roads good.
Srd. TO enact law authorizing
the employment Of such convicts,
both county and state as are fitted for
the duty, upon road work."
First two plans are iinpracticable,
on account of the extra labor and mon
ey It would require from those who
already do most of the road work,
and have little means. aa...
The third plan, we think, is not only
practical, but the wisest solution of
the convict lease system, now agitat-
ing che state. tits true, to adopt this
plan, will necessitate considerable ex-
pense. The maintenance Of guards,
the providing for suitable quarters for
cQnvicts when not at work, sometimes
the employment of civil engineers, the
purchase OF teams aud other things
necessary, will make an aggregate Of
expenditure not small; but as heavy if
not heavier expense has to be met
under any other than the lease system,
which IL now seems certain Is to be
abolished. Ifthis is done the convicts
must be confined within walls, or plac-
ed upon public works of some charac-
ter TO confine them within walls en-
tails heavy expense, without any re-
munerative labor on, the part of the
convicts to meet il; for only skilled
labor so confined can be made self
sustaining, and large majority of the
convicts are untaught in any of the
mechanic arts. Even If they were SO
taught TO employ them would bring
the products Of their labor IN competi-
ticn with the products of free labor, q
warming result ofwhich has been re-
Gently given in Tennessee, where a
large force of militia was necessarily
called out at great eIpenseto the state
to quiet lawlessness. We think that
the best possible use which can be
made Of convict labor is to employ it
upon the public roads. Here it will
come in conflict with no other labor,
and the expense attendant upon its
employment Will be more than return
ed to the people, in the decreased
wear and tear of. teams and vehicles,
in the reduced cost OF marketing the
products Of their fields and forests, of
manufactures and mines, and in the
enhanced value of oil real estate, re-
suits always and everywhere exactly
commensurate with the improvement
of public roads. We urge our
members Of the legislature TO- give
this matter their best though, be-
cause 1t is over our thoroughfarcs
that population and wealth and civil
cation must come. We must improve
tho bridal party-ways Of our ancestors
II we would keep step with our sister
States in the march ofprogress."
Assassination Of J. G. Dollarhide.
The p following from the Sewer