Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-03
TO GET GOOD ROADS.
This subject Attracting Grenf Inter-
est Throughout Virginia.

The subject Of good roads is attracting
widespread interest throughout Virginia
and the county authorities are giving
more attention to road-building than ever
before. The annual convention Of the
Good Roads Association viii be held here
next week. and beneficial results are ex-
pected to follow the discussions and ac-
ton of this important gathering.
Secretary II. W. Anderson, OF the
roads association. is collecting all the
information ara suggestions that he can
10 throw Eight upon the subject. re
has recently had some correspondence
with Superintendent Lynn. Of the peni-
tertiary. which touches an interesting
phase OF this question.
HAVE y CONVICT QUARRY.
In a recent letter to Major Lynn, Sec
rotary Anderson says:
"Iu my report. which IS being prepared
desire 20 recommend plan o. lteislt-
ton suited to the entire State py "hlCh
our roads may be improved. There Is
a very general sentiment In favor on
the use of convict labor on the pupiIt
roads. and while | am conVinceu t"at
tn. principle Is right. | DO not pthcEt
hat labor can be used economically IN
,ho c1nstrnc,ion Of earth roads. or in
any case where the ccnyicts will have 70
b. worked in small numbers. am tIlIiih
ING of recommending a plan similar 10
that now used In California, by "IiCn
the c0uVicts are worked in state quar- "
at various convenient points IN tne H's'iJ
preparing road material, ana tltn tnis
material is furnished to the counties a
eXactly what II costs the state 10 Lie
pare II. all things being lncIudeu; ma
plan has worked well IN Cail i9t ''' Ha o." an
i am convinced that IL Wouiu r,preeirfa
excellent arrangement Tor NIsInld;
Under il the convicts could be WOIhyi
very cheapy. because they Wouln pe
in stockaded Quarrics, and me eApcHse
of guarding would be niue NOR oa'" ncif.
the pcnitcntiary. They WV.ll "
sunrd,ting so far as the state is con
/ cerned. for all expense would be lhcIuleu
iu the cost Of the stone TO the cou',tIcn,
vnler such conditions and at very low
! cost. thus reducing the cost OF perHhdleh'
roadwavs and offering some eHcouIas'-
! rncnt for their constructions ...,,.
kindly advise me as soon as IoSsi, 80
/ vour views in regard to tins mater 9iHu,
/ Inc number of c0hyicts when "ouIu De
! available for such services
( MIGHT USE COUNTY PRISONERS
Major Lynn. upon his return from the
prison CONGRESS recently held In the west
/ reu,led 10 Mir. Anderson as follows
/ ",,v abs ,nce from the city must De
NV excuse for not replying SOONER - ~! 49,,
invitation to be present AT your , eccnr1
on the 10Th OF pttoDeI' iOi VIM"
lin your communication Of the I'm IN
etant YOU were kind enough 10 ASK IN!
views as 20 legislation sultd 10 IN nm ino-
prl.ed, ana as TO the nunueT oI IN
Yicts that would be avallabie 10Y su.n
purpose. and IN reply the Calforna pian
wh,ch YOU mention would seem 20 ne
feSsiblc' but in my humble opinion the
Iefter MAN would hc 20 50 revise ouI
criminal laws that many OF the men anu an.
bows who are sent 10 the penltehllaIy IuI
ehGrt terms could have "a jail sentence
"a nv with the Jail men. who are
Iodred there at the expense OF the Sthlt'
and tramps. W I'D make a locaI lVrc.
under the control OF cach county M
would be ample in most cases 10 Pu r,n ~,
roads i'm condition as fast a the iunus
roul1 he available for that purpose. Inc
counties would thus be benenttd' am
The state saved IN enormous expense VI
transporting prisoners to ana ITO o'e'
LAS 10 the number Of convicts ina,
,,oI,d hn available, we have at present
te,S convi@ts our contract with the
shoe company, which runs 10 INo siNcS
them the preferential right 10 etSSts ; a
hodIcd convict that comes into thiS lnst-
iutiOn with the exception OF ninety HIeH'
who are contracted for ny Inc toudCc49
COMPANY and such as may De iequIeu
hv mo Superintendent for the propsI
cIrd,ct Of the institution. The shoe com
49,. are using about go AZ present. when
leaves Ms numerically quite latsc nun
her hut after taking out the ol1 any III,
y.rv Young, the deadheans ana H'Ch, ~
yrnuld leave comparatively smaH mum
G.r whose terms would suit 10 go upon
,nn roads and are sufficiently aDIe-Doulou
r. pcrform such labor. 49,. 80,
~ will give me pleasure 10 co-OlVIdtV
win Won in 50 laudable an Undertaking