Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-06-13
COMMUNICATED,
Good IsOadS.

Good Roads.
The condition of the roads in Mount
Vernon district, in Fairfax county, is
average. That of course means they
are never good, and for many months
of the year extremely bad.
The amount of road-tax collected in
this district is within a few cents of
$l70O, and there are about 320 persons
in the district liable for road duty. The
total length Of the roads is about go
miles. These roads are worked under
the old system of road overseers and
personal labor tax of two days work
from each person liable. Hence the
total amount Of work done upon these
60 miles equals $40 days labor of one
man in year or an average OF l05 days
per mile, per annum. This is on the
supposition that every person liable
matcrializcs when summoned. | can
not speak for this district positively,
but am sure that in other districts some
of those liable escape service.
Those who actually report for duty
are not accustomed to work of this sort,
nor have they usually proper tools.
They seldom or never have an overseer
who can teach them to overcome OBJ
stacles in any other way than by main
strength and awkwardnesss. Main
strength they are averse tousing, awk-
wardness, though prevalent, accom-
plished only harm, and when the two
DAYS "work" is over, iif there is no
fence. the teamsters turn into the field
to avoid the worked road.
Even skilled superintendent would
not be able to keep 60 miles of road in
order with $40 days labor, and such
labor! The men are not at this work
long CROUCH to learn, and the amount
of labor is too little to do anything
more than skim over the worst places
and leave the fairly good to become
bad.
Ten convicts worked daily upon these
same roads would put in 2640 days in a
year as against $40 put in under the
present system. This would be an
average of A days per mile per annum
or more than four times as much as un-
der the present system. These men
being regularly employed at this work
have an opportunity to acquire skill in
road making provided they have
proper tools ard proper S"periRte@d-
ence.
As stated in q preceding article an
engineer should be employed in each
county who should have entire charge
of road making and repair. He should
say when and how the roads should be
worked, and pass upon all road ac-
counts. subject only to the board OF su-
pervisors. He should make accurate
surveys of the roads and where work is
TO be done, indicate the work by stakes,
&c. as carefully as he would a railroad
in question and not a county road. But
now for the question ofexpense.
We have as available assets
Township levy, sl,7OO 90
Cash in lieu of personal labor
tax, 500 men, 81. 80, 4S0 90
Total, $3.50 90
Board of convicts, and two
5er dav. s949 90
month, $40 90
Total. S1,1S9 0O
Balance for tools, team hire, &c,
about one thousand dollars.
The abolition of the personal labor
tax and substitution of Il cash equiva-
lent of seventy-five cents per day is
necessity. The figures shown as cost
of board for convicts and guards is
based on actaal experience of the cost
of supplies furnished Virginia convicts
by the State when they were employed
on railroad work. Eleven convicts are
counted for-one to cook and ten to
labor For so small number the two
guards arc sufficient. Their salaries
should, as on railway work, be paid by
the State. The allowance for an engl'
neer is based upon 500 per month to
be equally shared by the five districts
There should be cabins built for the
occupanc,,, of these convicts in convent
ent localities. Land the gang at q
suitable spot in the morning with saw
and four axes and they will complete 6
fair camp by night. The only expense
necessary is for logs, few nails and
boards enough for floor and door.
know of good camp for l25 mer
nut up by contract for $50.
Convicts differ in disposition as wide
~ as other men. Only suitable one:
should be sent to work upon the roads
As many TRUSTEES" as possible shoulf
he included. I have known these
"trustv'' men to be sent from raiiroac
camps forty miles with teams for pro
visions. They made these trips regu
have had considerable experiences
with convicts on public work in thl:
and other States. l have never knowr
them to give any trouble to any com
munity in which they were located
They are good laborers and frequently
men of good intelligence.
If suitable legislation can be had
what risk will the counties run if they
try the experiment? There are sur
plus convicts at the penitentiary
enough to supply several counties
Will you who have had the patiencs
TO read this long article, try to Undue,
YOUR people to make the experiment
or will you persist in following q so
called system, which is confessedly
IU