Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-23
AS TO USE OF C0NvICTS
ON THE PUBLIC ROADS

Editor of The Journal:
In a recent issue of The Journal there
appeared an article by Mr. Thos. w.
Loyless, in which he strongly advocated
the employment Of the convicts of the
state for the purpose of improving the
public roads of Georgia. Mr.. Loyless'
idea was that the desperate criminals
sent up from the various counties should
be confined within walls and used to man
ufacture clothing and tools for others
who would do the actual construction of
roads, and that women, young and physi-
cally weak convicts should be worked on
state farms to produce food supplies for
the road builders.
Mr.. Loyless rightfully takes high view
as to the Importance of good roads to the
state, and very properly suggests that the
matter be made an issue before the next
legislature. 1t is doubtful, however, If the
question can be satisfactorily settled in
the manner which he proposes. Cobb
county is about an average one so far as
its aggregate of public road mileage is
concerned. This county has an area of
about 400 square miles and system OF
public highways whose aggregate length
is about GOO miles. The total number of
conyicts in the Georgia penitentiary will
average year by year fewer than 5000. of
whom perhaps one-third are such danger
Gus felons that 1t would be unwise to
trust them upon the public roads in work
OF this kind. Perhaps another third are
women, boys and sickly or incapable men,
none of whom could be placed upon the
roads Counting the time lost by reason
of bad weather and illness out Of year
of 300 working days, there would not,
probably be more than enough convicts
available for this purpose than would
equal 1900 convicts working 300 days. If
these 1900 convicts should be divided
equally among the 1S7 counties Of Geor-
gia, Cobb county's portion would be elev-
en- men. That eleven men could grade,
macadamize and maintain in good condi-
ton 600 miles of road is physically impos-
sible.
The cost Of supporting and guarding the
convicts divided as they would be in such
small squads. would amount to more than
would the employment of free labor for
this object. Permanent quarters for the
convicts would have to be built in every
section of the county, physician for the
eleven would have to be employed; also
three or four guards and a cook, and the
cost Of bringing the supplies from the
penitentiary and from the state farms,
and transporting them by wagon to points
not reached by railroads would be such
as not to give them a great advantage
over the articles purchased upon the
spot.
It is assumed that all the public roads
of the state would receive equal attention.
The roads are principally for the benefit
of those whose residences are contiguous
to them. 1t would be unjust to provide a
good highway for one taxpayer and deny
Ii to another equally deserving.
Another important item connected with
the employment of convicts in this man
ner is that each county would lose the
hire of its convicts which 1t at present
receives from the lessees, through the
state, and consequently a higher tax rate
would have to be fixed in order to meet
the cost of the conviction of criminals.
In my opinion, better method to OBJ
tain the desired results would be to pass
a local option good roads law, operating
in the same manner as the present stock
or fence and prohibition laws. 1t would
be better to adopt the plan of the stock
law. which gives each militia district. in
dependent of the county. the right to vote
upon the question of fence" or mo
fence" Let the ordinary of each county,
If the people of the county or militia dis
trict so decide, provide tax rate for the
purchase of machinery, the employment
of engineers and other skilled men, the
purchase of materials and the payment Of
wages of Iaborers employed in the work.
If a county adopts the law, bonds might
be issued for the purpose, and II a militia
district the people themselves, with the
exception of the skilled laboreTs, might
perform the construction, or the alt"rna-
tive road law which is already upon the
statute books. might be invoked.
The advantage of allowing militia dis
tricts to vote upon the question would be
that communities near cities and large
towns would adopt the measure which
would serve as an inducement for the
whole county to do likewise.
RICHARD H. EARLE.
Marietta, Ca. Dec. IL, 1901.