Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-14

the expense of culverts, etc, we 90 not
know; but at any rate. 1t would seem
that they spend more money there LOT
street-cleaning than we do.
The Richmond public was never more
deeply interested in any municipal ques-
ton than in this OF retrenchment our
businessmen and taxpayers, having
themselves felt the pinch OF haro-tlmes'
and ordered their business accordingly
know the necessity for the practice OF
economy in every direction. SO the work
OF the Committee on Retrenchment ana
Reform is being watched with eager IN
terest. And. as we have said, the COM
uittee and the majority of the City Coun-
Oh have the unmistakable backing Of the
community.
LET NEW YORK EXPERIMENT.
There are thousands OF idle conviets IN
tie penitentiaries OF the state OF New
York. The new Constitution OF New YORK
prohibits the employment OF convicts eA-
cept in work for the state, or the poiticai
divisions thereof. The consequence is lna'
the prisoners are now living in enforced
idleness. and this idleness has proved
very injurious to their health, bodily anu
mental. SO much so. indeed, that there
is a general demand, in the name OF hu-
manity and sound public policy that 'he
LEGISLATURE shall find some employment
for them.
The prevailing idea is that the prisoners
ought TO be employed in road-maKlhg' u
if well understood, however, that Gun
siderable appropriations would have TO DC
voted for this purpose, but New forh
State is rich. and probably would not
mind spending a few hundred thousahoS
Der annum to test theory which mus so
much popular favor. At any rale' !"
seems not unlikely that some experiment
Of this character will be MADE.
For our own part, we wish that Ne"
York would try the experiment. II can
do so upon large scale and WIN au-
vantages that few other States possess
Here in Virginia convlcts have been EN-
ployed in road-making to some extent anu
IN a desultory way. Though the state
has given the labor to the counties Tree
OF charge, not many of the counties nave
found il to their advantage to try the eA-
rerlment. And now so many conV'cts
have been hired to contractors Tor terms
If wears the counties could not be tur-
nisbed with gangs of men if they wished
So far as Virginia's experience goes, the
difference between working the convlcts
within the prison walls and putting them
upon public works is in favor OF the WoiA
within the walls-certainly so far as the
health of the men is concerned. And this
too. notwithstanding the crowded cohdi-
ton of our penitentary.
But, as we have said, the demand tha'
conyicts shall be employed upon the pup
lie roads is so general and insistent' we
shall be glad to see the experiment tried
In New York. and under the best condi-
tions. If the experiment is to be tried
no doubt the Legislature Will make II
upon a suitable scale.
First portable huts ought to be pro-
vided. These could be moved along the
road as the road-making progresses, and
could always be located in easy distance
for the men 10 reach at the close or the
davis work. There should also be an
emergency hospital building Of like cha
racter. Then there ought 10 be porta-
HE "stockade." but this "stockade" might
well be of barbed-wire meshes fixed upon
posts firmly set into the ground.
A stockade of this character is now IN
use at the Virginia convict farm, and has
served its purpose well At each corner
of the square enclosed there Is sentinel
and a sentry-box, and the prisoners would
as soon think OF making rush" TO
scale a brlck-wall as to make rush 10
burst through this well-guarded fence.
With portable huts ana a wire-work
stockade, or fence, and a proper COM
missariat, the convicts might be mace
fairly comfortable during the summer ana
autumn months, but they would not be
comfortable in the spring and winter; nor
could they find many days In those sea-
sons in viii h to work. unless. indeed. that
work should be the breaking of stone.
BY the time New York State properly
eauips itself for road building II will una
that il has spent large sum Of money;
but, as we have said, 1t can afford to
make the experiment. And by doing SO
Il will perform an educational service.
The sincere desire OF the masses OF the
people Of this country is to remove con-
Wet labor from competition with honest
labor as far as possible. There Is no
diminution, but rather growth in that
sentiment; but the practical obstacles IN
the way are very great indeed. And no
where are they greater than In virginia
where the State has to depend upon the
hires to maintain the penitentiary. one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars per
annum IN hires would be nothing TO the
rich state of New York. but 1t is great
sum to Virginia But II New YORK VIII
conduct the experiment In question, ana
will demonstrate that road building by
convIcts is all that Its friends claim for
It. II may DO than after the expiration OF
the present contracts Virginia may De
able 10 take advantage Of the system. ana
thus at one stroke remove the competition
complained Of. and do a good turn to the
agricultural community also.
= -. -
The present cut In the price OF ice Is
certainly not at the right season Of the