The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-10
GOOD ROADS
AND A MORE VALUABLE PUB.
Lie INSTITUTION
The Result of Only a Part of Sum 4.
mer's Work by the Inmates of the
Stark County workhouse "A
Plan with Good Results.

ahc ntsutt VI ohiy u FhFt VI u sum
mer's Work by the Inmates of the
Stark County workhouse A
Plan with Good Results.
The management of the Stark county
workhouse has been able, during the
open season, to bring about such results
as accrue to the benefit of those who use
the county roads. In order that a clear
idea of the work done shoul be. .depi ,ted
to those who do not, Of necessity, traverse
certain thoroughfares, representatives Of
Canton newspapers were invited, In an
impromptu way, by Superintende mt
Pontius, In conjunction with Secretary
Loefller, to visit the sections Of road i'm
proved, that the same might be shown TO
the public If the work warranted mention.
Superintendent Pontius and TSeoretary
Loefflsr accompanied the party over the
roads that had been placed IN passable
condition. 1t was found that there is
more than a mile of the Fulton road
that more resem bles a metropolitan
thorougbfare than country driveway.
The hills, which made horses Folder and
the distance to town longer, to say moth
ing of the irate drivers proxlnity to the
off side of the Styx closer, were discovered
Co be missing, aud the ravines and low
lands filed up so as to make the ascent
gradual and less killing. :. The cutters
are paved with stone, preventing wash
outs, and the entire strip, which ooou-
pied but brief Inc, but which represents
thousands of dollars in effect, is now in
such condition that traffic Is made de-
light instead of q real hardship. A strip
Of the Louisville road was leveled off,
hills out down and such improvements
made that clearly indicate the value of at
tention In this respect. One is at once
led to the conclusion that beautiful as
Stark county Its beauty may easily and
efflcaciously be augmented by proper at
tention to the roads Prisoners at the
way and If employed In factory work,
they come in contact with legitimate
labor. If employed On the roads, they
are not competitors and the work is real
benefit to every citizen. The plan is con-
ceded to be an excellent one, the results
accruing highly beneficial to traffic and
the expense purely nominal, for the ex-
pense would exist at any rate.
The value of the workhouse property
has been heightened by many thousands
of dollars, by the work expended about
the surroundings and years time has
seen marked improvement. That the in
stitutioD is in good hands has been evil
denced since It's inception as a public
penal place and preventive Of petty
crime. In its latter capacity 1t has
worked real revolution, for this class Of
crime has been greatly diminished, to the
added peace of the citizens of the county.
The institution is kept in excellent con-
ditioD, a noteworthy feature being the
entire absence of the offensive "prison
odor." This is due to good ventilation,
cleanliness and an enforcement Of the
rules of TIE institution, which, while
humane, are none thu less stringent and
prolific of results both In behavior of the
inmates and In volume of labor. per-
formed.
The entire institution was inspected,
and while the hand of the disciplinarian
was not absent from the otherwise not
surroundings, the prisoners
were found to be in good health, oleanly,
and better oountensnced than before being
introduced to an old-time enemy, work.
Superintendent Pontius served dinner
to the visiting party in the dining room
of the living apartments, which proved a
deleotable, pslatable and all-suffio oing col
lection of edibles, all of which the guests
appreciated. Mrs. Pontius' practical
COZ Try was given real test and nothing
but storing capacity on the part of the
visitors was found wanting.