New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-11
CONVICTS WORK THIS ROAD
MUCH TO BUFFALO'S PROFIT AND TO
THEIR OWN RETIREMENT.

Buffalo, Aug 10 (SpecaD-Erie County has
a new source of revenue. In figures. the amount
is not considered large, but the circumstances
in which it is derived are considered COM
mendable by the greater portion of taxpayers
The income is derived from the toll of men
who have been sentenced to the penitentiarv for
short terms of Imprisonment. and who by being
forced to work have been converted from non
producers into Industrious wage earners for the
county's benefit.
They are employed in breaking stone that will
be used later in improving two of the most
important highways in the county. Originally
it intended that the men should be worked
on the actual building of roads, but the infu-
ence of the local labor organizations was
brought TO bear against that plan and the
supervisors abandoned it. Nevertheless, the de-
sire to employ the cOnvicts for actual road
building purposes was the real reason why Erie
County was successful in obtaining much lower
figures for the Improvement of the highways
in question than could have been secured other
wise
Early this spring State Engineer Bond pre-
pared estimates for the Improvement of two
sections of the Main-st. road and two sections
of the Transit Road, the total distance included
being little more than thirteen and one-half
miles. The estimated cost of the work. accord
ing 10 the State Engineers figures. was S126.5OO
When the supervisors committee good roads
learned the estimated cost Of the work the
members of the committee determined to submit
bids, believing that the county could do the
work for much less if the idle convicts in the
penitentiary were employed Accordingly.
committee OF the board was authorized to sub
NIT bids for the work in the county's behalf,
and take the contracts for the county if the
bids were accepted The total amount of the
countys bid was $3.50 less than the cost of
the work estimated by the State Engineer.
The county got the contracts. and apparently
would save the difference, or more, because the
bids had been submitted with a view to making
a profit. just as if the county's officials were
private contractors.
1t was here that the labor organizations
brought pressure 10 bear against the employ
ment Of the convicts on the roads. The super
visors also discovered that it would cost much
more than was anticipated TO employ competent
men to supervise the work of the convicts in
the building OF the roads also that skilled work
men unwilling TO work with convict labor.
This forced the supervisors 10 give up the
scheme OF using the convcts for road building
proper and the county sublet the contracts to
Henry p Burgard at his total bid Of S112,oOO
for the four sections OF the road 10 be inn
proved. In other words, the county saved $500
by subettinG the contracts. But the county also
"a ved 5000 more in another way. The next low
was $500 higher than the county's total bid
Consequently. If the county had not submitted
it's bid il would have been compelled 10 pay
81 200 more for the work than il viii cost now.
This saving is being increased daily by the
work Of the ConViCts. Although the men could
not be employed in building roads. there was
nothing TO prevent the supervisors from using
them 10 quarry stone from the COunty's quarry,
on the almshouse farm and to crush the stone
That is what the conviCts are doing, and for
every cubic yard of stone crushed by them the
county is enriched by 20 cents. The stone is
all sold TO Mr.. Burgard, under provisions of the
contracts that he made with the county.
The effect the ConviCtS has been beneficial.
number of men who entered the penitentiary
in a weakened condition from excessive drinking
before they left the institution were strong and
healthy and able TO do a hard days work. Sew
eral have reformed. and are now working stead
Ily earning good wages at other kinds of manual
labor. The enforced work required of them was
Just what they needed TO build up their Consti
buttons and develop their enfeebled will power
Another good effect of the plan is the decrease
in the number of trampS, "hobOS,' found in
Buffalo's streets The tramps have learned Of
the work and are giving Buffalo a wide berth.
In consequence most CT the prisoners actual
residents of Buffalo Because of this the super
visors required that the men should not be
forced TO work in prison garb. Each prisoner is
attired in blue overas and jumper, so that
casual observer is not aware that prisoners and
not free men are breaking the stone.