Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-09-12

M IN should appropriate anhual-
IL a half million dollars
a for the next Eve years. TO
Isl ll5l1 be expended In the estab-
ss1----A lishment OF an improved
public road system IN the State. the
expenditure would not be extrayaeant.
on the other hand. the State could
make 10 better Investment. such an
anpropriation is. OF course. out OF t1e /
question. The legislature Is preclnd- !
ed from making such appropriations.
both by reason OF the financial coudi- /
ton or the state and the laws govern !
ing such matters. II Is however. with !
in the power Of the Legislature TO ac-
complish I'm another way result
which. measured in actual dollars AMI
cents. IS equal to such an appropyia-
ton. We refer TO the bill now pend
ing before the legislature 10 employ
the felony convicts OF the State upon
the public roads
An opportunity IS now presented 20
utilize the state criminals by working
/ them upon the public roads throughout
/ the state. systematically and scicn-
tihcalIy. so that I'm few years Georgia.
/ instead Of being FAR behind other
/ States. will he equal TO. III not ira ad-
vance Of any other section OF the
/ country. Good roads are the arteries
/ Of trade. the avenues Of wealth. Noth-
/ inr save education contributes SO much
to the prosperity. happiness and COM
/ fort of the citizens There are rev
things that add rs much 90 she value
OF property What good reason Is
there for refusing 90 work the GRIMM
ais Of tho state upon the public roads.
SO that the people may receive the
benefit Of their lahorg Absolutely
none. II X Doe urged that the state
will receive a revenue OF $50 or $500
per head from each convict 10y leasing
them. the reply is that it Will receive
many times that amount I'm increased
values. increased taxes. extended bust
ness. improved citizenship. and en-
largcd prosperity hy employing these
convicts on the public roads.
Public roads. neSt 20 railroads are
the greatest developers we have. Who
can estimate the value az the turn
pixies OF Kentucky. Tennessee and Nir-
ciniae Convenience to market. 90 post
offices. schools and churches is what
is necessary 90 make useful ana per-
manent citizens. Good roads furnish
al OF these things The tendency 81
, late years has been for people I'm the
country 20 flock towards the towns
, and cities. The reason FOR this is oh
, / vious. ON account OF the present pub
. Ec road system of the State. or rathci
E / lack of system. they are unable often
. I times 10 market their products. the,
! have no educational facilities. they ar.
Q removed from churches and otherwise
r subjected 10 Inconvenience that PEG
= pie In the cities and towns 90 no
E feel. 4 good system OF public road
D will 10 more 20 remove these trouble
(, and satisfy the farming element
= which. at last "a the backbone OF th
G country. than all other Influences com
g hlncd. III the State OF Georgia W.
: employ her criminals in the improv,
= ment OF the public roads OF The STATE
instead OF receiving $500 per head 10
P, their services. she will receive man
n times that amount I'm actual increase
IS values. TO say nothing OF the benefit
Is conferred upon her citizens. which car
a not be estimated in dollars and cents
n Georgia is a reasonably prosperou
~ State. but she would be teRfold NOR
ie prosperous If by reason Of perfe'
y. system OF public roads every foot q
~ her territory was accessible 10 park'
be and thereby rendered available IL
homes. The criminals or the State
g. those who violate the law-can DO III
u. work that is necessary 10 establs
he such a system. The Fielder bill no
Is pending before the Legislature.
8, seems 20 Us, is mer.tOrious in the higl
~ est degree. The idea or leasing q
"a convicts should be entirely eliminate
ln from consideration. unless made nece
80 sary by reason OF inability 10 utili
SIS. them all on the public roads. If the
IS should not be demand at once for q
~ of the cOnvicts. it might be that th'
nj should be temporarily leased I'M
or other provision can be made, but, 4
ro the sake OF humanity. for the sake
~ civilization. for the benefit OF the 81
er liens OF Georgia and for the goo
at name Of this good old State, or whi'
On we are all proud. let us just as quick
,al and as completely as possible blot o
ny the lease system. which for SO maj
AL years has been a burning shame al
"a disgrace 10 the good name OF Georgi