The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-25
Convict Labor and Public Highways.

Editor Times: Seeing that the public
highways have become a question De-
fore our Legislature, due proDdniy 10
recent decree Dy the Supreme Court OF
the state, / would ask, has not TINS queS-
ton been held in allegiance long enough
to satisfy the most dilat0ry mortal anu
that measures should be adopted placlhS
the highways OF the state III sucn con
ditiOn that vehicles may pass over ulth
safely and the strangers prospective
BUYERS Of our lands) likewise. attracted
by the mildness OF our climate, ana the
record Of rearing men anu women Oh
superior qualities as well as hoises'
oysters. fruits and wines theIepy IeHu-
ering it desirable for homes.
Literally as IL appeared TO the noted
John Smith. Of Colonial days-"Ihat the
heavens and the air had conspfgu 20
make il q habtation Tor man; III az
seriousness, the heavens and air ahd sou
are the same as was seen and felt by
the renowned John Smith, and the query
arises. have our Legislatures IN the past
been unequal TO the due appreciation
of this magnificent heritage
The highways Of the state TO-DAY are
mostly wide. muddy bitches, running
all points Of the compass around every
mans cornheld or farm (relegated TO the
festive coons and snakes except wnere
It suited the original county surveyor 10
zig-Zag along the crest OF ridges, all
without method. so far as a system was
concerned, unless guided by local inter-
ests. .
The Legislature seems to be in earnest
as to the judiciary system for the state,
vet in all sObriety and earnestness, the
peOple could get along better without
Judges than roads. The absence OF good
highways has been one of the cheI
sources Of the Impeachment or STATE
and Of the people, driving out men OF
enterprise. and our young men OF VIII
and energy, who would not sit around
country grOg-shOps and discuss local ana
general politics. Farmers in many sec
lions raising less and less each year,
with diminished production, 1t cost more
TO get it TO market. and only at favorable
seasons hauling can be done to railways
or local towns.
Lands likewise shrink yearly in values
until what was sold at SO 10 SO per acre
can be purchased to-day from $l3D To
800 This is notably the case OF one
Of the largest and once most prosperous
counties OF the State. whilst similar
lands I'm that ice-bOund region Of North
ern Iowa and Southern Michigan
command from $50 10 500 per acre. o"lhs
to good highways.
The great need to-day OF the State
paramount to all Others Is good roads,
such as would be safe and lasting At the
least cost.
The State has an effective army Of able
bodied men in her penitentiary, and being
daily recruited. Why can she not, upon
common sense basis, utilize the snort
term criminals upon the highways-Vlz.'
divide the State INFO three districts, north
and south Of James river AM the valley,
each under a military engineer, grad
uate OF the Virginia Military Institute.
and If he has seen service In the Held so
much the better; and they, under the
Governor to constitute commission or
the highways OF the state. with full au-
thOrlty TO locate leading highways cen
treing through the principal towns and
cities towards the Seaboard. The valley
roads should trend downward. but full
connections should be made through the
gaps OF the Blue Ridge with the eastern
sections.
BY direct roads. with due regard to the
topography OF the country, hundreds Of
miles of road could be saved.
The cOnvicts could be utilized I'm making
roads. and confined at night within suita-
bic barracks made out OF plank, and
movable from camp to camp with per-
feet safety.
In road construction the old style in
this State OF the shovel and hoe" would
have 10 be dropped. as OF the past
out West. with suitable appliances and
some twenty-five horses a mile OF road
per day. at cost OF some $50. IS not an
uncommon thing. and that upon prairie
lands. and thoroughly dtched, raised in
the centre, and compacted By heavy
rollers.
Our clays would stand better than their
lOamy soils. besides but few sections
would be without available stone after
the highway had been properly drained
and prepared to finish with macadam
surface or some other more improved
and enduring finish.
Convict labor upon the highways occupy
a place the least Objectionable 20 honest
labor. and from the earliest times history
has recorded the fact that the economies
of all great nations has thus placed the
convict {. l..