The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-08
A PLAN FOR MAKING GOOD ROADS.


The Norfolk Pilot prints in its editorial
column the rough draft of a bill for the
Improvement OF the public roads of the
State.
1t provides that all able bodied male
prisoners in the penitentiary having not
less than ninety days TO servo shall be
employed exclusively in making re-
highways, except that such as
are now assigned TO work on the
state farm or under contracts now in
force shall not be put to work on the
roads until their present assignments ex-
pire. 1t is further provided that all
able bodied male prisoners in jail. having
not less than thirty days 90 serve. shall
be made 10 work on the public roads or
the counties wherein they are respectively
confined.
The second clause provides that regu-
larry each year, or oftener as may be
found advisable, at q iixed date the
Board of Directors OF the penitentiary
shall consider all applications Of counties
for convicts to work on the roads and
equitably apportion such convicts mot
less than five to a county nor moro than
fifty in any case) among the applicants
for a period not longer than one year nor
less than three months, and that the
convicts thus assigned shall be guarded,
fed and clothed by the State, the coun-
ties to provide lodgings and shelter only.
Section three provides that the Board
of Supervisors of every county, with the
concurrence of the county judge. shall
organize n system OF road work and that
under this system prisoners in their re-
spective jails shall be employed in work
ing the roads in company with the peni-
tertiary convicts.
Section four provides that every coun-
ty shall levy annually q road tax not
more than rs cents nor less than Is cents
on the 500 to pay for the necessary di-
rection and inspection of its road work.
and 10 furnish, equip and extend such
system Of road work as may be deemed
best; provided that by vote OF the super
visors of any county approved by its
county Judge, and, at q special election
ordered by the latter, ratified by a ma
jority Of the qualified voters of the coun-
~, it may borrow money and issue bonds.
We are so much in favor of road i'm
provement that we dislike to offer OBJ
jections to any plan that IS proposed
and We would he only too glad 20 see
the convicts employed in this way for 1t
would accomplish q two-fold purpose,
IL practicable-it would give us good
roads and also do away with the con-
tract system in vogue at the penitentiary
which we believe to be wrong.
But we see no hope whatever OF carry
ing out the plan proposed by the Pilot
1t costs about S5i a year TO maintain
convict in the penitentiary, and we sup
pose that it would cost quito as much as
that to maintain him If he were employed
in working the public highways. we
suppose that there would be about 1000
available convicts for this purpose and
the cost OF maintenance at the lowest
calculation would be $4,000 a year. At
present the State is receiving net in
come from the penitentiary or more than
$4,000 a year. that to carry out the
Pilots plan would be the same thing as
an expenditure on the part OF the State
OF more han 100000 per annum. In The
present condition of affairs this is SIM
ply out of the question.
Again the Pilot proposes that county
tax be levied, in furtherance OF its plan,
of not less than 10 cents nor more
than % cents on the 500. We have no
idea that the counties would submit to
such tax. Some OF them would. but
the great majority OF them would not.
We have frequently remarked, and that
after ali Is the whole road question in q
nut shell. that in order TO secure sood
roads In Virginia The people must be will
Ing to tax themselves nberally and that
they are not now willing 10 do.
But we must educate public sentiment
in that direction. Whenever our people
shall be thoroughly convinced that good
roads are a necessity, then Will prsc-
ticable plan be forthcoming.
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