The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-02-10
A MANUFACTURER
Writes a Letter Opposing the
Abolition of
CONVICT WORK ON THE ROAD.
He Cites Some Interss ing Facts In
Conn ciion with the Institution's
Management and Offers
Some Suggestions.

Management and Offers
Some Suggestions.
Hon. George E. Baldwin and Board of
Workhouse Trustees - Gentlemen: II
noticed from the papers some time ago
there was thought on the part of the
board of workhouse trustees of selling the
stone crusher, teams, farm implements,
etc., and oonflning the labor of prisoners
to shop work. cannot think that this
course would be according to the judg-
ment of your board, but feel that the
clamor from outside parties who are not
familiar with the situation. and the ac-
quiescence Of the public in carping critic
ism may be q factor in inducing this
change. Looked at from business and
economic standpoint l. would be a great
mistake to sell off these teams and imple-
ments, and feel that a movement to sus-
tain the workhouse trustees
should be started, such movement as
would make them feel justified in contin.
uing the present course.
There is no work for which the prison
ers are so well adapted as road making.
1t is unskilled labor, such as everybody
can work at; it DIES not come in COM
petition with free labor; and it's perfor-
nance by prisoners better adapts them to
secure work after leaving the workhouse
than any sort OF shop work that could
be given them, an item which should be
considered. A man who has served WORK
house time in broom, brush or cigar
factory is no better qualified to go out
and make a living for himself at the end
of his term than when he entered nor
does he feel the burden Os much as the
man who has done time on the road The
general tendency of all legislation at pre-
sent Is to put conviCts at work upon such
labor as does not come in competition
with free labor For instance, in the
stats of New York. notice convict labor
is being alomst exclusively devoted to
supplying state institutions and public
worE. The fault, If there is any, with
our workhouse here, has not been with
the management but with the public.
The workhouse management has been
only too glad to do road work, but the
public has been slow to grant that.
There is no county in the state that has
more reason to be ashamed of it's public
roads than Stark. This IL perhaps about
the first agricultural county in the state,
and one of the first in the United States,
with progressive and thrifty people, road
material in the greatest abundance and
best quality and yet most wretched roads
If the public would take an interest in
he matter of giving these workhouse pri-
soners an opportunity to do road work,
great improvement to the roads in grad
ing down hills, ETC., would be accomplish
ed.
Mr.. Summer seems to be one of the
most outspoken opponents of the present
system, Now suggest that If Mr.. SUE
mer, instead of opposing the present sys-
tenn, would devote his energies to improv-
ing the road from his own place up the
Narrows to the city of Canton, by work
house employ ment, he would perform the
greatest service to the very worthy people
having this road to travel. There are no
more worthy or thrifty people anywhere
than those travelling the Narrows; in fact,
Pike township is one of the greatest
sources of wealth for Canton; and yet
this very public and important road is
the most neglected to be found any
where, and the hills surrounding full Of
good working material. The road dur
ing great part Of the year is left almost
| impossible. If Mr.. Summer would
take proper measures to have the
workhouse men employed on this road
instead of endeavoring to abolish the sys-
tenn, he would perform the greatest sory-
ice to the general public, and particular
ly those travelling that way,
In the present workhouse system there
is an opportunity for Stark county to
have the best roads in the state The
material is here, and If the labor of the
workhouse men be performed upon the
Stark county roads it would be the least
expensive to the county that could be pro
cured for that purpose and the most
satisfactory. Other counties pay enough
for the support of prisoners here and
with the work the prisoners have done
on the road 80 far, this county ought to
be we'll satisfied, It is matter OF profit
when the improvement receives proper
credit.
have cited the neglect in the matter
of road along the Narrows. There Il
another instance which came within my