The times., 1899-08-07
conxicts and Public Roads.

writer in the New York Tribune"
argues that the State could do no better
than use its convict labor in road-making.
II IS conceded on all sides that the State oi
New York IL woefully deficient in good roads
With its wealth and its enormous urban popu-
lation its position inviting constant Iravel INTO
and across 1t, and the nearby examples Oh
New York should be the leading State in this
regard Instead, it displays little or no pubic
interest in the subject. Apparently the lob OF
improvement is looked upon as SO stupendous as
10 tye impossibie OF achievement at any reason
able cost The same idea prevailed IN New
Jersey and in the early DAYS Of State aid the
State Road Commissioner turned back into the
treasury $4,000 Of appropriations unappied tor.
This year the appropriation was Sl50,V5o, aao II
was applied tor many times over. One county
in that State has ninety miles Of improved roaeS
built with State aid.
New York, then has this vast work awaiting
her criminal classes If the people have not YET
demanded its execution it IS certain that when
they begin 10 see the results OF road work they
will be enthusiastic for its continuance IL we
NAV accept the fact that hitherto no system OF
iniprIversent by free labor has been consented 10
when proposed as an indication that no such
system IS likely TO be adopted IN the near futuTe
we NAV safely conclude that in putting CONVICT
labor at work the roads we are IN no way
infringing upon the domain Ct free labor. Inc
fed IS unoccupied; il cries aloud for the work
ers ard here is vast body OF sturdy men,
whose labor is fortified TO the State; men who
would be benefited in every way by this whole
some outdoor work.
II has beer shown that conviets are numerously
ma successfully employed similar work IN
England Austria-Hungary, Japan, and other
countries and that the supposed objections TO
such employment not found to exist The
prisoners are often encamped far from the prisons.
and escapes neither frequent nor Is large
number Of guards necessary. In some countries
szch use Of convictS has been customary for
fs.r Cr4f- all
but impossible with free labor, have thus been
As to the e.leticr OF security at night, it seems
to me that each gang could be lodged In large
steel van. provided with hunks and properly ven
tslsted The objection that seeing the conyicts
at work would be dsSt2stefa appears 10 me super
sentimental and hardly worth considering as
against the great practical advantage sure TO ac-
I crue to both the conyicts and the people. As
q matter of fact the great bulk of the work would
be done in the country and be comparatively free
from observation. In consideration for the bene-
fts received the counties visited might be re-
quired TO provide for the sustenance 0; the state
workers and their guards.
1t is probable that the utilization OF
prisoners in the way proposed would prove
a blessing to the community. 1t would not
involve convict competition with honest
Industrial labor and the American people
are slowly beginning to learn the value o.
decent roads. They are by no means a.
common as they should be and New Yorl
has plenty Of company in its general in
diference on tie subject. But the time ap
pears to be coming when the demand fo
respectable highways will be stroni
enough to secure them in one way or an
other, and as far as it will serve, the con
Wet plan is entitled to consideration and |
trial