Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-22

require little or DO guarding, y one
guard being ample for squad of twenty
to fifty OF this olaes OF workers.
This system Of working petty Of
fenderB, it is claimed, not only assures.
good roads, but it has the effect of
Kidding North Carolina towns OF the
vast army of Northern tramps who
make their way South every year with
the beginning OF cold weather. Whom
ever n tramp is arrested bere, under the
general vagrant laws or municipal ordi-
nances, he 10 invariably given thirty
days on the roads as an initial dose,
at the end of which period he is ordered
to leave town. II ho docs not comply
with this order within twanty.four
hours he is sentenued 10 sixty days
term, but it is seldom that second
dose is necessary. The tramps leave as
soon as opportunity presents itself, and
warn all of their stripe to beware OF
the State. These convict road. makers
do not come in contact with FREQ labor,
for the reason that they are not en-
ployod on the roads or streets inside the
corporate limits, but on the country
roads leading into towns which hereto.
fore have received little attention.
or the results In the immediate
vicinity Of Raleigh thu correspondent
writes that for miles in every direction
the roads leading into the city arc now
macadamized. and present beautiful
appearance. Some of the country roads
are better than the roadways of some Of
the streets within the corporation, al
though the convict system has been in
operation only year or two The work
Is now being extended farther into the
country aud it will not be long before
the country roads throughout tho coun-
ties whore the system ia in force will
bo in splendid condition. Tho best
roads in the State aro to he seen in
Mecklenhurg county, OF which the cot.
ton manufacturing city OF Charlotte is
the county eoat. There tho system has
boen in operation longer than else
where. Even before the rrespnt general
law was enacted Mecklenburg hired the
couvicts from tho commissioners of
neighboring counties to work its public
roads. The result is that for twenty
miles or more in every direction around
Charlotte there arc fine macadam and
she'll roads, ride over which is a treat.
One great point 10 that practically the
only cost of tho improved roads is the
material, as it costa no more 10 feod the
conyicts when they are employed than
when they were idle. With the good
roads comes an agitation for wide tires,
to the end that what has been gained
may be retained.
With respect to the question OF profits
arising from good roads, it is related
that the towns and cities which have
made entrance easy lind that trade
thereby comes to them. Farmers desert
old markets for the new ones, although
the old markets may be nearer home
being influenced by the knowledge OF
how much cheaper large loads may he
hauled over well made roads. Of course
they buy where they sell, and one con
sequent gratifying result is Compe-
titlon between business ceutres in the
matter of good roads. The system,
however. has demonstrated it's practical
worth and should be adopted by other
States. Every Evening has frequently
urged ITS introduction in Delaware, and
We believe that tho results would DO as
practical here as they have been in
North Carolina.