The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-03-27
PROF. HoLWBS ON coNVICTRoAD
WORKING AND THR
BROAD TIRE.

WUCA AOE bu0 BOO0 EO6O D movement as
Prof. J. A. Holmes, of Chapel Hill. This
being true, he ia, of course, an earnest
advocate Of wide tires for vehicles. Tn
q recent issue of the Columbia (S o.
State, we fad O commune Ation from
him in which he sets forth his views as
follows:
had not intended to take any part
in the present newspaper discussion
concerning the introduction of wide
tires in South Carolina, but have re-
Gently received a number Of inquiries
concerning both this subject and the
use Of convicts on our public highways,
which I beg to answer through the
columns of the State. mention these
IWo subjects in the same connection
for the reason that the obi jsctions
which are now being urged to tne use
of wide tires on the public roads re
semble very closely those which in
some other States are Being urged
against the Uss Of convicGs in the i'm
provement Of our highways.
Some Of my recent correspondents in
other States have urged as arguments
against this method of employ ing con
vict labor, among other sugg gsstions,
the following: That convicts so en-
ploy would die from exposure; that
this convict labor on the public high =
ways could never be efficient for the
reason that the convicts would take no
interest in the work; that this labor
would be too expensive on account of
the extra cost of providing guards,
movable quarters, etc certainly that
only short term convicts could be used
for this work for the reason that the
long term convicts would generally
escape; and that these escaping coD =
victs would prove to be exceedingly
dangerous in the communities where
they were being employ ed; that this
sort Of employment on the public high
Weys would prove exceedingly humtli
ating to the convicts ON account OF
their being exposed to the public e. zs
and losing whatever pride and self re-
spect they might possess, etc, etc.
OF course have said in answer to
such Inquiries just as any thinking
man in North Carolina or South Caro-
lima would say, who has watched The
experier C, Of the past few years. that
these objections are based on theory
instead of practice; that the result OF
our best experiments ia North Caro-
Ina shows:
ID That instead Of dying from ex-
posure these convicts who are thus
kept out in the open air, and given
proper exercise, generally improve in
neslEh.
(9) That instead of the labor proving
too expensive, the employ ment of this
convict labor on the public roaGs
usually costs not exceeding 25 cents
per day per convict, including the
food, clothing, washing and pay OF the
guards, medicines, medical fees, etc.
~ That instead of this labor being
inc ficient it has proved really more
efficient than the ordinary hired labor,
for the reason that the convicts are
more easily controlled and more easily
trained to do we'll a certain class of
work; and that convicts whose terms
of sentence range from 8 to 10 years
prove to be more efficient than short
term convicts, for the reason that their
training and experience has pxtended
over q longer period Of time.
~ That instead of escaping in large
numbers when extended along the pub
lie roads, such escapes are rare, and
are more common among short term
than long term conviCts Usually if
convict expects to escape he will en-
deavor to do 80 within the first week
after being placed on the road. After
that time he becomes accustomed TO
the discipline and accepts the situR-
tion; so that In all OF our counties in
North Carolina where convicts are now
being employed on the public roads,
the supervisors prefer those convicts
whose terms Of sentence range between
8 and 10 years.
(5) And instead of the exposure Of
these convicts to public gazs having an
undesirable effect our experience goes
to show hat rather the reverse is the
case; that this makes the convict all
the more anxious TO behave himself
properly and get back into the good
will Of the public. I know OF several
cases in which these Convicts have
profited by their experience TO euch an
extent as to be given lucrative and
honorable positions after the expira
tion of their terms on the public high
ways.