The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-28

layer OF sand. gravel. or stone. THIS
latter item is If course, the most I'M
portant ard ct the same time the most
costly. feature q bodybuilding. A ROAD
simply bedded with soft. loose eartn. Is
made only the more impossible IN Da1
weather by reason OF this character oi
repairs.
In this connection. l may be allowed 20
make suggestion as 10 road-ouiidihs III
Virginia.
our General Assembly has, by repeated
statutes. indicated its willingness 10 as
sist the counties IN the work OF rOdu I'm
structlon and repair, by permitting lhe
use OF conyicts from the peniteh'lai1'
upon certain terms and conditions. rOI
various reasons, these statutes nave ho'
been found practicable, and llt,le' IL ans'
benefit has resulted theretroH. Aniv"s
the principal rea5ons, / take II, for TINS
failure may be mentioned the great cost
OF guarding housing, ana caring ioi
gangs of convcts where the attempt -
thus made TO use them in repairing couil-
Nv roads. The long miles OF road 70
be covered the small number or cohHlcis
who can work at any one place, ana thus
he under the oversight Of one guard; the
number OF barracks or quarters when
must be provided for them-these Items
make the cost Of their use a tax greater
than the counties can afford 70 bear.
Resides. our people are not willing that
their homes. especially I'm the remote and
unnrotected portions of our country dis
tr;cts shall be menaced By the presence
OF gangs OF convicts in their midst.
but these considerations. which have
prevented the use Of convcts by counties
i'm rcpairing roads. do not apply where
a large number can be worked continu-
ously at one place, with permanent par
racks. and under the care OF small
guard as. for instance, at a rock-quarry
or a grayel-pit.
Let the counties, by gift purchase, or
condemnation proceedings. acquire suita-
bic quarres or beds Of gravel, or the
right to use the same. on the lines OF our
railroads. and then let our cOnvcts be
used I'm 0uarrying the stone. gravel, or
sand. and I'm loading the same upon cars
for transportation. These quarries might
be owned by the State. and the cost or
preparing the material for road construc-
ton also borne by 10, the counties ohiS
providing for it's transportation. These
are matters OF detail, however WIN
which the Legislature could deal.
In the transportation OF the material
for the various counties our rallroaus
will | am sure. render an ali-important
service. Conducted. as they are. by
publlc-spirited men, alive 10 tine import
anco Of building up tine country tributary
IA rheir lines and the prosperity OF the
State at large we may safely conclude
that either free transportation or AZ nm
imum charges. will be granted our coun-
ties Certainly the railroads Wnere me ma
,,ri.l he reo1 IN construct roads leading
ont from their various dopots VIII lend
helping hand. Many Of our railroad com
panios have incurred large liabilities IN
building short local ralroads-'feedefs'
as they arc termed-and on the same
theory. their aid would DE cheerfully rem
dored I'm the great work OF providing the
counties tributary 20 their lines with
good public roads
In the same way. the cities and towns
of the state ought 10 contribute 10 con-
struct and repair important highways
leading from the country TO their gates.