The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-17
THE FIELDER BILL.

There has developed in this state
and pretty nearly every other state OF
the Union within the last few years a
strong sentiment in favor of good
roads. This sentiment is going tc
make itself felt in the settlement oil
the convict question now pending in
the Legislature. MI Folders bill pro-
vides that a county may have control
of its felony convicts for the purpose
of working them on its public roads.
It also provides that convicts that
are not desired by their respective
counties shall be leased out for short
terms by the Prison Commission. OF
course the counties working conVicts
ON their public roads must bear all of
the expense of guarding, feeding and
clothing them.
II the Legislature wants an object
lesson as to what has been accomplish
ed by the labor of misdemeanor con-
victs in the way Of road building it
should take a day off and visit this
county. 1t would see 80 miles of as fine
roadway as there is to be found any
where in the United States, and this
mileage is being added to every day. It
is doubtful if there is another county
in Georgia that has done so much in
the way of improving its highways in
so short a time as Chatham.
Two results are following the build
ing of good roads. The first and most
important is that the lands bordering
them are being improved more rapidly
than ever before in the countys his
tory. and the other is that there are
more automobiles in Savannah than in
any other Southern city. and more car
riages intended for pleasure driving
than in any other Southern city of it's
size and importance.
The question which presents itself in
connection with this bill is this: VIII
the state be the gamer or the loser
by deprivlng the school fund of the
hire of the convicts and putting the
to work on the public roads
under the supervision and at the ex-
pense of the counties which furnish
them? At the compensation now re-
ceived from the convicts the school
fund would be deprived of about $4,000
a year 1t is stated that If new lease
is made the state win receive $3.50 900
a year But would not the advantages
that would accrue to the state in the
way of taxable improvements, if the
public highways were to be made into
hrst-class hardened roads be worth
more than $250,000 a year? OF course,
we have to estimate the value of the
advantages of good roads, but judging
from the experiences of states where
the policy of hardening the highways
has been in force for a number of years,
It is a safe assertion that the policy
in the Fielder bill would ac-
wonders in Georgia.
There is no occasion for enumerat-
ing the benefits that would accrue TO
farmers from good roads. We have
done that often. But it is not out Of
place to say that by the time good
'oads were constructed in most parts
IF the state the automobile would be
offered at half the price that is now
asked for it, and it would be a much
better machine-so much better and
cheaper that a farmer of limited
means would be able to own one
With it he would haul his crops to
even though the market were
fifty miles distant, and he would have
| pleasure carriage superior to any he
low has.
The Fielder bill should be given care
-. consideration. Good roads. like
good schools, make in the direction
If a better civilization.