The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-07
BEDFORD'S ROADWAYS.
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS MADE
WITH CONVICT LABOR.
The County Expects to Have the Best Rnod.
In tho state-Eeduction OF Criminal
Expenses Accomplished Too.

BEDFORD CITY, VA, Oct. c. 1884,
Spec!al.-The crying need OF good roads
has been discussed and is still d topic
OF debate from one end Of the country
to the other, but because the theorists
cannot get all they want 1t is too univer-
sal q custom to neglect such opportuni-
ties as are presented. some OF Bedford
countys officials are among those inter-
ested and while others have been en-
gagcd in discussing the subject they have
been using the most practicable means
at their disposal for giving this county
s Prior no TO- HuglIst 1892 the only work done
on our roaG" had been the periunctory
raking over which all virginia roads
received under the system then in vogue
OF recurring two days work OF edCh c!t-
In the month mentioned fifteen convicts
were procured from the peni,cnuary ana
with the addition Of such petty cIlih!hdls
as were confined in the county ana lo"n
tails work was begun. Last year nItCtH
cJnvicts were added TO the force. me
work has been going on without inter
mission since it was first begun. ,-,
Difficulties have been experienced
which arr unknown I'm many sections
Of the state. Nearly every road M ne
county is up ana down hlll. II VIII be
easily understood that no g09d beus eNG.
having been made the roads all badly
washed out In some places large
one month the bill for dynamite amounted
10 so. ON account Of the almost nm
passable condition OF some sections OF
the roads the plan has been 70 jump from
place TO place in order to give Dement'S
Much Of the soil to be worked was
red clay which it is difficult 10 make into
good roads.
MACADOMu2ED ROADS.
Wherever feasible the roads have been
maCadamzed, but except in few sec
tions, the rock Is Of flnty character.
The cost Of hauling the necessary stone
being too great most OF the improve
ment has been in making dirt roads.
The work done IS lasting very well in
deed. and It IS such that with small
amount Of work the Improvement VIII
be permanent
The cost Of keeping the conyicts IS
about thirty to thirty-iye cents cach
day, or less than half the price Of lay
labor. The total cost of the improve
ment is estimated at between 500 ana
$l2j a mile. In all the work costs ABOUT
81 600 year and, at the present rate, IN
a few years the county Will nave rodde
which compare favordbIy with those or
any other section OF the state. Alter
the work is completed, II Is estimated
that Sl,gp1 expended annually Win Il d'H-
mite plan Of work will maintain the I'M
prOvements
STRICT or ovrRsTERs.
The authorities are very strict upon
the OVersccrs requiring the best OF at
tentiOn for the knights Of the stripe ana
the latter appear always TO De uhIS"alli
contented and in good Hum"r' count
less much more so than they Wouid De
if coopod up in the penitentary. a jan
on wheels has been provided ana is car
ried about wherever tho force IS AZ work.
This enables them to do flhl day $ WORK
H
necessary 10 delay operations Whlle u
Is falling.
Hon. J. Galloway Brown. Judge Of
Bedford County Court has devoted much
Of his time 10 supervision OF the Work
and takes a great deal or IIigI--t IN H.
In conversation with The Ilm's cor
respondent ne expressed the OPINION I'M
the convict system was the only IrdgI-
cable way TO get ne Io" o ~ q IrnnerIy
condition, and that once l.'rJ.ly
fxed 1t would Doe great m
provemcnt and one that would last 10
years. He said that the ohStaclt7 en-
countercd would not allow the improve
nent of over about three miles a month.
In accordance with the ORIGINAL ulan an
equal amount of work viii nave, peeh
done in all the districts by ApiH'
OPPOSITION TO THE sYs1EN.
There was considerable opposition 10
the system OF convict LABOR AT HS'' nv
as the work goes on the farmers VINO
are benefited almost invariably become
its most enthusiastic alN.' a'e-.
one direct benefit which mas resulted
from working a chain gang Las I',H
marked reduction In ciln.hal oA.tI''S:
Ae an offenders over sixteen years OF
age are made 10 work me f"d"@, w.,
number Of petty OF 'lcr7 ms I.'I fI''tN
raduca1 The annual expense OF running
~ county court was a. few years ago
between three and FOUR Thousand COL
lars whereas 1t now S'It"H Ie4D4g9
a. -06 10 The deterrent effect of chain
4l Ia