The morning news., 1897-08-18
The Convict Problem.

/ sion be called upon to take hold Of the
| convict problem. The existing leases ex-
! pire in April 1899, ana it is absolutely nee
| ossary that the state shall make arrange
| ments for the care OF the convicts in an
! uepation OF that time. The subject has
! been persistently discussed for the past
| 1--WE years. in the newspapers. in the leg
( islature and privately, and there can be
/ little doubt that public opinion is pretty
! well crystalized. at least upon the points
/ that the state should take charge Of the
convicts and tie lease system should be
/ brought to termination at once and for
ever.
The governor and the principal keeper
! Of the penitenuary have been giving the
matter some study. and the announce
ment is made that they have reached Ger
| tain conclusions with regard TO the plan
| to be adopted. Some part of those CON
| clusions, it is stated is based upon the
belief that a short term lease Of the con
| victs, pending the final solution of the
matter, could be made with advantage to
! the state. A hve-year lease is suggested,
| and the Information is given that there
are parties ready 10 make bids on the
| short lease. The Morning News is op-
! posed to an extension of the lease system.
for long or short term, after the time of
| It's expiration under the existing contracts.
and it is convinced that the majority of
the people of the state are Of the same
way of thinking. The lease system is a
scandal upon the state and should not be
tolerated for one instant longer than is
absolutely necessary. The state should
| take charge of the convicts-of every one
| of them-the moment the leases are out
There is no necessity for temporiziug To
paraphraze a well-knOwn expression, the
way TO abolish the lease system is TO
| abolish It, The state is great and strong
enough to make the change promptly II
the convicts are Of enough value to pri-
Vate parties to induce bids for hve-year
| leases, they are also of enough value to
the state to warrant her taking charge of
them at once and putting them to work
upon her public improvements.
The suggestion that it will cost a great
fortune to buy lands for a state farm. or
| farms-so much per convict-is deceptive
1t is not necessary to pay spot cash for
the lands. or all In one year, or two
| years, or three years. Indeed, it may
be stated that it Is not necessary TO buy
| lands at ali. There are hundreds of
thousands of acres of land in Georgia
which could be had upon lease, for hard
ly more than nominal rentals
What is needed to be embraced in the
| new convict system more than any other
one thing, however, is a scheme for road
building. The importance of this matter
| cannot be too strongly urged upon those
| in authority. During the next quarter
Of century the south is destined to see
the most remarkable advances and inns.
provements, and in these improvements
| good highways will play an important
part Trolley roads, bicycles and self
| propelling vehicles will revolutionize
| travel, communication and transportation.
| They will put sections which are now iso-
lated into quick communication with the
| towns and shipping points and with each
other. Good roads we regard as one of
| the most important adjuncts and aids to
the era of good times which is certain
to come to the south. The state which
first provides a complete system of good
| roads will be the leader in the march of
progress, and will be the first to achieve
great prosperity. 1t is our duty to make
Georgia that leading state.
The road building scheme should provide
for the construction of highways upon
scientific principles. To this end it would
be necessary to create board of engi-
neers, the duties of which it would be to
make surveys, plats and estimates, and
| superintend the work of construction. The
engineers should be selected upon merit
and should be held responsible for the
| quality and quantity Of the work per,
| formed under their supervision The con.
victs should be divided into squads for
the performance of certain classes OF
work; some Of them to work in quarries
or mines at getting out road material,
! some of them to work at ditching and
grading, etc. and others to work upon
| the state farms.
With a wen considered scheme for good
roads written into the new convict sys>
| TEN, within fifteen to twenty-five years
the state would be blessed with net
work of good, permanent highways. which
would prove of incaleulable benefit and
I value to the whole people. and especially
to the agricultural classes.