The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-01-24
COUNTY ROADS.

COUNTY ROADS.
Our cities aud towns are becom-
ing overpopulous. because Of their
great advantages for the accGmula-
ton OF money. while the country
districts are becoming rapidly de-
populated.
For this state of affairs the roads
f the country are In "a great nlela-
ur- responsible. The country re-
1nire facilities of easy conmaalca-
ton among them selves and with he
markets Of trade.
What is the remedy: Better high
wavs.
Hov are We TO make this MUG
ueeded improvement:
On thls point Ne need hesltat" ou
it'll, as it couiTscarcely be w"fs
40 matter what system should b
4dopted. However, the making and
maintaining Of the roads, and ty
what system. The interest of tie
whole people will be best subserveG,
is the question for discussion.
The next question which present
Itself Is that of laborers and Of W hom
they should consist. In order to ar
rive at IA satisfactory solution Of this.
it viii be necessary t. discuss 1t tron
three standpoints, VIZ, the present
system, paid labor aad convict la
Dor.
At this writing will omit compu-
ding the cost OF the first and second.
rs | have carefully done SO aud find
that convict LABOR offers the greatest
advantages.
professionally there is no more
vital question before the people OF
North Carolina to day than the roa'
question and the convict problem 8
bearing upon it. The solution Of the
one implies a settlement Of the other,
because through the employm Mt Of
convicts upon the public roads is Of
fered a rational solution of the road
question; and | claim the malnten-
ance Of the roads by convict labor is
the only possible satisfactory adjust
ment of the problem of the
proper disposition to be made Of the
convicts. Recently a great tidal
wave Of public opinion in favor OF
working the convicts upon the roads
has enveloped the State, so that, II
the question r. submitted to the
suffrage OF the people. it would I'M
dou btedly receive their overwhel
ming vote and Endorsement.
On the roads they not competing
with free labor. which has been the
cause Of serious trouble in other
States.
There are now in this State 1900
male penitentlary convicts and about
400 sentenced to the roads in their
respective counties. Then it would
not be an exaggerated statement to
cay there are 1000 convlcts that
would be available for road work.
Now we will glance at the cost OF
convict labor, taking Wake county
As guide. Our road convicts for the
year 1894, cost, including guarding,
rent of quarters, boarding and med
ical attendance 20 l-2 cents per con-
rict per day; and not more than thir
ty-one and a half cents per conyict
per day, including salaries Of officers,
interest On road implements, main
romance Of horses and incidentals; a
saving Of 40 per cent. over the paid
labor. The question of distribution
would naturally arise, which should
have the most careful thought. The
might be distributed among the
counties of the State according to
road population-that is the popula
ton subject to road duty as at pres
ent, and do away with the read tax
system of personal service, which is
an absolute failure and needs 40 dis
cussion.
Lifetime convic.s can easily be ar
ranged for by employing them in
making brick, pipe, shoes etc, to
Oh Cue Todus, III ouliulDg DIluSes
culberts, draining etc, while the fe.
male convicts can be employed il
the making of convict clothing anc
laundrying. Road funds are required
and cannot be avoided; and it is no
thing but fair and just that every
citizen liable to road duty should
pay stipulated sum as road tax
in virtue of his release from all roa(
duty. 1t will also be just that an AID
vALoREM property tax should be lev
led in addition, since property own
ers receive the greater benefit from
good roads.
W, G. McMACKIN,
Sup'r. Of Roads.