The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-10
EMPLOYMENT OF CONVICT LABOR

ed for in an act passed by the last
Legislature We're questions of import
ance members of the Commercial GO
discussed at a meeting at the city
hall last night. In the matter Of EN-
plOying convict labor Senator Reser
author of the bill was invited to ad-
dress the club and stated that he had
at various times during the session Of
the last legislature talked with mem
bers Of the state boar of audit and
control relative to the bill passed,
which provides that.
All cOnvicts confined in the state
penitentiary at WalIa Walla may be
employed under authority Of the state
board Of control. under charge of the
superintendent OF the penitentiary or
such other persons in the employ of
the state as the state board of CON
troll shall direct. in the crushing or
preparation of rock or other materials
fer roads or streets. Such labor shall
be performed at such place or places
in this state as the said state board
Of control shall direct
The board of control shall also
have power and authority to purchase
out of the revolving fund of the state
penitentiary all necessary materials
tools and implements. and to do all
things necessary to carry out the
spirit and intent OF the act.
1t shall also have authority 10 sell
and dispose of such crushed rock or
other materials for roads and streets
in such manner and for such price
as it shall be deemed most advantage
eOus for the state All moneys de-
rived from the sale Of such crushed
rock or other road materials shall be
paid into the revolving fund of the
state penitentiary"
In employing convict labor in the
crushing and preparing of rock for
road Or other purposes Senator Reser
said his plan advocated before the
state board would be TO purchase a
suitable rock quarry elevated suffi-
GENTLY that the finished product could
be easily loaded into wagons or cars.
Establish a stOckade and suitable
quarters for cOnvicts and install a
modern rock crushing plant capabIe
OF crushing large amount of rock
daily. In constructing county roads
anywhere within a reasonable dis
lance, such as Is to 80 miles from the
quarry monster traction engine CAP
of 40
transport the crushed rock from the
quarry to any point desired. He fav-
ored wagons carrying small CAPACITY
IN preference to those of larger in
that the cost of distributing the rock
would be greatly reduced by the use
of smaller wagons.
In modern rock road construction
the senator said that the usual man
ner employed was to excavate the road
IN the center to a width of seven ~
eight feet and fill in with crushed
rock. This could be used as winter
road while fall and spring roads Of
dlrt could be constructed on either
SIDE. The traction engine could make
one trip day easily, doing a distance
OF 80 miles. Three men would be all
that would be required to handle if
ana train of wagons. In this manner
ne thought that crushed rock c1ul1
be furnished any county very chaaplv
ana anyway cheaper than free labo,
would be able to furnish it.
City Attorneys Views.
City Attorney Blandford was of the
opinion that rock roads as construct
ed under present methods are not q
success for the simple reason that
they ravel. Teams driving on either
side OF the road in attempting to
mount the rock portion would escaDe
or ravel Off the edges to such an ey
tent that the road would be practically
destroyed in time.
After SIX years of close study in
road making the attorney advanced
the opinion that the sprinkling of
roads with crude petroleum such az i,
employed in California solved the
problem The cost of petroleum laii
down IN Walla Walla would be 81
barrel and the first year a total of
$40 barrels might be used per milo.
the second year 200 barrels and the
thlrd year 100 barrels, making a tota,
or too barrels on a single mile at
cost OF $500, or 500 less than the as
tlmated cost of constructing a rocl
road