The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-28

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Itdoes seem that the people Of this country
are at last awakening TO a recognition Of
their needs in the way of improved public
roads. Every paper in the country is having
something to say about it, and surely some
thing will come out Of such wide discus
sion of the subject. While some parts of
this state are much better off in respect to
their public roads than others, still there is
not county in the state that would not be
greatly benefited by the judicious expendi-
ture of the reasonable amount of money that
would be required to make bad roads good
ones and keep the good ones in a steady con-
dition OF repair. A couple Of millions
of dollars even expended In the next five
years on the public roads Of Georgia would
probably bring more good to a larger num-
Der than several times that amount ex-
pended on new railroads. There is no
urgent demand. apparently, for any increase
of the latter at this time in Georgia. At
any rate, there is no promise of profit to
those who might build new railroads. how
ever much new territory they would bring
closer to market and however much benefit
might accrue to the inhabitants of that
territory. Except only in occasional in
stances. is it not true, nowadays, that fools
build railroads and wise men ride on themi
Builders OF railroads in the south just now
should be regarded somewhat of the
harsher term than adventuresome investors
shoald be applied to them even by those
who are accustomed to apply the terms
''soulless and grasping" to all corporations
The projectors. or rather builders, of new
railroads in the south must be regarded
either as lacking in good Judgment, as bold
spectators or as patriots.
Now if in the roll of the latter, they
would shine, let road builders iorego rail-
roads for awhile end come together and
give their aid and influence to the improve
ment and building up OF our highways.
The general prosperity will unduestionaby
be enhanced by it. AS far as possible let
these improved roads be as free as air.
Wherever it may be found necessary In
order that the roads in certain districts may
be speedily put in perfect condition let
turnpikes with reasonable rates of toll take
the place Of the poor apologies for roadways
that now exist.
Tho trend OF pablo sentiment is, we be-
Eeve, Enthusiastically in the direction OF do
ing away with the present convict system
IN Georgia. Modern civilization and
humanity-humanity in its fullest and
broadest sense seems to demand that the
: present Georgia systen of disposing of her
vioators OF the law, her criminals,
should DO replaced by some other sys-
the humane instincts Of higher
civilization. 1t is for our local statesmen
to devise the best substitute possible. II it
is not practicable to send the worst class of
criminals entirely out of the borders of the
srats las might be the case il the several
states possessed a penal island or a penal
nook in Alsska) it seems that society will
ultimately demand that they be sequestered
within walls Of brick or stone as far away
from eye and ear as possible.
For the other class of criminals, lesser
violo,ors of the Law, committors of acts
that per Sc are not altogether degrading,
society seems to demand q system moro hu-
name aud reformatory IN its status
end tendencies, yet effective In its
purposes of punishment ard as nearly self
supporting of its pecuniary cost as it is
possible to have it; but free and honest labor
demands, and justly, perhaps, that this
convict labor shall not be brought in direct
competition with it in the effort to make
that labor either profitable or simply self
supporting.
Many thoughtful men are agreed that no
better disposition eau be made of this con-
vict labor than to use 1t for the improve
lnent OF state and county property the
building and maintenance OF these high
ways and 6yways that our civilization re-
CARDS as Indispensable 10 a still higher devel-
opmenu.
The questions involved in the discussion
OF the subject demand at this time the most
thoughtful consideration by our legislators
and all others " no feel proper interest in
the we'll being and advancement Of puolic
affairs.
A system can be devised-it may not be
perfected at once-in which contiguous
counties or sections cooperating together
can solve two of the most important prob
lens that confront our people, and 70 the
twentieth century we will be able to tender
the most abundant proof that our civilsa-
tion is not only not sham, but that we will
not be content to stop short of the fullest
development possible. In testimony where
of We will urge our almost-Roman highways
and a prison system freed from it's objeo-
tionable features. s. A. C.
poa..4,.,, g.. 49, u.a