New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-06
CONVICT LABOR On ROADS.
ARGUMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF CRIMi-
NAILS AT NEEDFUL WORK.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on Convict Labor" In to-days
issue Is highly commendable. From an eXtehded
acquaintance and many conversations WIN people
"up State" ! sure there exists a largely held
opinion that convicts should be employed on pub
uc works especially highways whether there Is
other work possible for them or not This sub
tect WAS well sifted In The Tribune two or three
wears ago but as no action followed, 1t VIII proba-
bly, be useful 10 repeat little
II Is not surprising that the penal institutions can
nroduce more goods Of certain classes than their
lawful customers consume. That Is natural ana
inevitable Unless the prisons arc TO produce more
classes of goods In fact everything needed by man.
they are sure or later TO run out OF "ofh
by an excess Of production The present system
is therefore clearly inadequate and only tenn
porary expedent. That imprisoned persons should
he kent from idleness is truth that cannot be too
strongly insisted upon and no feasible means need
full to that emf should be neglected
II Is conceded on all sides that the State OF New
York IS wofully deficient In good ROADS WIN l'S
wealth and It's urban population It's posi-
ton inviting constant travel into and across It, and
the nearby examples OF New-Jersey and Massachu-
sets I'm road building NewYork should be the lead
ing State in this regard Instead. II displays little
or no public interest in the subject. Apparently
the lob Of Improvement Is looked upon as so stu
pendous as 10 be impossible OF achievement az any
reasonable cost The game idea prevailed In New
1.roov and I'm the early days of State aid the State
Road Commissioner turned back into the treasury
SIS 900 Of appropriations unapphed for Ihis year
the appropriation was $4,000. and II was applied Tor
MANY times over One county IN that state nus
ptnetv miles of improved roads built with state AID
New York then, has this vast WORK awaiting her
criminal classes. II the people have not yet oe-
r,nded its execution 1t is certain that when they
begin to see the results OF road WORK they VIII DO
onthns,astic for its continuance. II We may ac-
cont the fact that hitherto no system OK improve
80, nv free labor has been consented TO when pro-
nosed as an indication that no such system ID hhe
" "a be adopted IN the near future we may sarey
onc,ude that in putting convict labor at work on
49,. roads we are In no way infringing upon the DO
main of free labor The field IS unoceupied' cries
iomd for the workers, and here Is vast bouy OF
Sturdy men whose labor Is forfelteo 10 inc SUI
men who would be beneiiteu i" e'et' way ~ N
wholesome outdoor work. ,,,,,,o ,,o, conv,c,s
90 numerousy and successfully employed on SIM s
ar York in England Austria Hungary Japan aild
nther countries and that the supposeu s, The
TO suen are often encamped far from the prisons
and escapes neither IrequeHS' mor conntres
numDes ~ eonyicts has been customary for many
aers and great public Improvements: an Iu' I'LL
ye a with free labor have thus been maue, o..
possoIe w question OF security at night II seems 70
AS 10 each gang could be lodged In large steel
van pr9nt,on that seeing the convicts at work
nnld be distasteful appears 20 es aesinst
nentai eat practical advantage sure to accrue 70
the B,ba convicts and the people. AS matter OF
fact. the E,ea and be Comparatively free from OBJ
theetion In consideration LOT inc ,1rd re e.
seyed the counties Slsea Of the state workers
provide for the suS''
pnd their guards 49, ,a,ro over some OF the
have r esedi Interior roads In the State. and IT Is
much traVe aee a road all but impossible with bowl
aers movable stones ana bs f r,a Itself are the very
ast materials for making , be. stons hammer and
2, DeS really needed is man Win ''-'