The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-03-19


ne Coevsntion Of Am<sie<n Road !
x>kers. which met in Detroit, February I
18th and ,ssh. was remarkable in this re-
spess. that Mr.. George Burns. the great !
labor leader and President OF the Nichi- /.
SAa Labor Orion. advocated the use Of !
prison labor. either IN building roads or |
In preparing material TO be ased for
hardening their surfaces. He is the srst
great lahos leader 10 advocate this course.
although Il has been suggested by many
speakers and writer's on this question
durisg the pas, ten years Nr. Burns
sees that IL would be clearly in the
interest Of such prison labor aud also
in the interest OF free labor TO have the
great army OF prisoners. nov in the jails
IN the various States. who are doing no
good for themselves aud adding nothing
70 the common wealth. applied to the road
proposition in some form or other. Many
people object 20 suggestion Of this kind
because they say that the use Of such
labor for such a purpose would have a
con amipating influence in,the communit,
where the work il done But to avoid
such result Mr.. Burns showed how this
labor could be applied in the preparation
Of material, either brick or broken stone,
where prisoners could be worked in in
closures as they are now. The products
so produced would not come in contact
With free labor as the articles generally
produced by such labor DO; consequently
]
the manufacturer who offers for sale the
manufactured article, or competition with
the free laHorer who works 20 produce
these articles, and at the same time the
prisoner II receiving more useful instfuc-
tiov, having more heaithful exercise and
adding greatly In the course OF years 4,
the common .ealth. IL Mr.. Barns' idea
~hich is undoubtedly sound aud whole
some one, should be adopted by the laioi
unions OF this country generally, it would
bring TO the road cause great and mucl
needed aid.
The great meeting OF the Automonil'
Manufacturers of America. held in Chi
cage soon after this Dctroi, convention
i, February 10th and 2lst, developed M
I, fact that all of the Automobile Mauufac
h, turcrs Of America are heartily in favor %
some general plan of road building tina
A., shall Ice applicable 10 al the States b
the Union. Being unanimous in thi
view they adopted q resolution indorsiu
the passage OF the Brownlow bin vhic
F, provides for system Of National, state
n and local cooperation in the improve
J ment Of the public highways. IL Is yer
y evident from the logic OF events that IN
= time is rapidly approaching when a
~ friends Of the good roads cause viii y
81 able TO ante many forces in favor OF tn
general plan II road Improvement tbs
have heretofore been either Indifferent ,
hostile The labor leaders generally has
been hostile 60 the idea of applying Oh
+, prison labor 20 this work, but nov Que
the most progressive leaders Of organize
g labor has come forward and indorsed
=, the most hearty and Intelligent uav a
o., idea Of applying this labor 90 the gcuer
a. welfare Of the community 10y bulldog q
H. the public roads. Ia order. however. fhl
or this shall DE made possible the road huiii
b- ing authorities, in the various states af
d counties, must be provided with funds
IT, money iu order 90 obtain she proper m|
a chinery, engineering sknl and expert O.
OF hor, so as 90 make use Of thc army
prisoners who would he put az their dc
~ posal under the new plan. lr order
ot secure this necessary fund O. is more ai
be mote evident that the aid % thc Nation
90 Government rNuAlu Nt Nalftu fN TO rNN D.
OF portion OF the moucy. This Is 90 %
ed yided for hy the hrowulow hiii which 81
u. not only indor-ed hy the Chicago couvc
IT, iion but also hy the Detroit convention
cd American Road Makers
nd Every convention met 20 consider N
liy question since the Brovnlow bill was /
.er trodaced in Congress have given an !
Tor dorsement to the bin and urged lie pa
10y sage IL Dr., also, encouraging 90 note
"a, this connection that many members
Ice Conrress favor this biu. possi.,ly a m.
Is iorii,. and fhat he last session Of 60
gress. just adjourned. Increased tho a
preparation for the work OF the Oihce
Public Road Inquiries although the a "a
cultural Committee, having the bill
charge h. the House OF Represensaiisi
reported it back DENYING the iucrca