The Forrest City times., 1894-07-13
THE CONVICT QUESTION.
The Subject Ably Handled by Col. c. w.
 Sappington, of Chicot County.

The Subject Ably Handled by Col. c. w.
 Sappington, of Chicot County.
 The following article from the pen of Col G. w. Sappington, on the convict question, is worthy of serious and thoughtful consideration:
 The convicts like the poor. we have always with us and steadily increasing-yes. as an offi- cial of the pen says at the rate of go in the last ten months. What is to be done with themf For century or more it has been mooted question and does not seem much nearer a sat isfactory solution. I would suggest that the commissioners be authorized by our next gen. eral assembly to take enough of them to make a support for the others and let the rest be put to building one or two railroads through the state We have now 900 convicts and assume 800 could, by hiring and otherwise, raise means to sustain, clothe and guard the other 400 while engaged in grading and tieing the roadbed. It would be easy matter to bond the roadbed for equipment upon the completion of each ten or twenty niles Indeed, one of our most pro gressive bankers has assured me he could place them at a premium. Rights of way could be obtained through the state and United States lands, with privilege for bridge and tie timbers, without cost. What system could build roads so cheaply !? Roads have been built success fully in North Carolina with convict labor, which see by railroad commissioners report yield aooat s4oo 600 net rental per annum to the state. Georgia taxed her property S6 QUO, 00O to build what is now known as the Western At lantic, and sec by the Governors recent mes sage yields net rental of S420 900. 1 learn from prominent citizens of Georgia that other sys. tems have tried to purchase and control it. but an attempt to surrender it to any other system could provoke civil war. l am advised upon good authority that the great illinois Central pays the state per cent of it's gross earnings. In a recent interview with exGov. Hubbard of our sister state of Texas, learn they are now building railroad with convict labor to be owned by the state.
 Now, with these living examples before us, with our great natural resources undeveloped, with convicts to be cared for and worked by the state. why should we not arouse ourselves from this Rip Van Wrinkle slumber and utilize them this way The Lord is said to aid those who try to help themselves. Then why should we go out of the state-to the Goulds, Wander. bilts, Huntingtons and others--to build our roads while We have these facilities at hand and when the benefits would accrue to the state-and we would amass some of the wealth that other systems make When a main line north and south and east and west shall have been built through the state we could employ the same force to build turnpikes as feeders to these main lines. In a few short years we could have facilities affoI ded for an outlet from every part of the state and every product of the state; and as to the perishable in which we abound this rapid transit would enable them to be shipped all over the continent in good condition. Again, we overcome that serious friction, as this labor would not come Tn com petition with any skilled labor in the state Would it not be well for every newspaper, the great educators of the state 10 take up this subject and let their people understand that these advantages could be enjoyed by them without one dollars expense or taxation It might well be made an issue in this state cam to work for measure that would bring rail road facilities to every county in the state
 Pursue this course and in few years the immense resources of the state would be in a fair way of full development From our tow. ering forests. fertile soils and genial cline on our southern border throughout our mineral zone to Pomona's paradise on the north, and from our rich alluvials of the Mississippi on the east, through our coal fields and forests to the Indian Territory in the west-what luxu. ry it would be to deniZens of these localities and what temptation to home seekers Of every cline
 The construction of road north and south and east and west, through the state, would yield a net rental of from $500 900 to S600 600 year-enough to pay the running expenses of the state government which h round num- bers, is about S470 000 and perhaps realize enough over these expenses to create a sinking fund to meet the interest the bonded debt for equipment of the roads.
 These suggestions are submitted for what they are worth believing, however, they are practical and worthy the consideration of our people.