The labor world., 1903-08-22
CONVICT LABOR.

A Massachusetts, paper outlines a
plan which it says Is in progress in that
state to utilize the convict labor Of that
state In the reforesting of thousands
Of acres of land. The report says:
"Under the general direction Of Gov-
ernor Bates, plans are in progress for
restoring the forests of Massachus-
etts by the work Of convict camps.
"This will be the first experiment
Of the kind in the United States. The
work will be done on a. large scale,
and practically every section Of this
state where forests are needed will
eventually benefit by the policy.
LAS for the state, there is good
reason for saying that the profits
Of the undertaking will in time be big
enough to wipe out the present state
debt.
1.-The state will take lands by the
right Of eminent domain. Only land
now considered as worthless, but
good enough to plant ~trees on, will
be taken.
"Outside Of the large cities Of Mas
sachusetts such land exists almost
everywhere. The owners of this land
long ago refused to pay taxes on it.
when the land is taken, the work
of carrying out the reforesteration of
the state will be carried out by Chair
man Pettigrove, the head Of the state
department of prisons.
"The plan finally approved by Gov
ern0r Bates has several distinct ad-
vantages over any other plan for con-
vict camps in this state.
1T will be carried out at a distance
from the thickly settled parts of each
town, and the convicts will be entirely
by themselves, where their presence
cannot worry anybody.
"The plan, 1T is thought will have
the Endorsement Of labor unions, who
are sworn foes to most schemes for
convict labor. 1t will serve as sub
stitute for making shoes, brooms etc.,
to which labor leaders object, because
they fell that voncicts in any estab-
lished industry must hurt organized la
Dor in that industry. If the work is
not done by convicts, it will never be
done in this generation.
"As between shoemakng, harness.
making, etc., and going off into noun
tains to plant trees, the labor leaders
prefer Governor Bates plan, very en-
phatically.
1T is calculated that If the right
kind Of trees can be made to grow.
on the inevtsment of small sum. the
state in 80 years will get something
like $20,0O0,00o from the sale of
standing timber and that thereafter,
the income of the state will amount to
millions Of dollars every year.
This estimate is based on the fig
ures OF a forestry expert who is ia
miliar with the trees Of this state and
the tendency of values of lumber in this
~ Wy YORK, August 19.-Marguerite
:en. daughter of the late William 1
ayden, who for years managed the int
Of Thomas w. Keene. the trage- JaI
and afterwards took charge OF ing
AFFAIRS of the late Stuart Robson, dis
made her debut as Ella seaford IN BET
Earl of Pawtucket," at the Man Of
N theatre, Ru
ere was no pecuniary need Of Miss be
den becoming an actress. Her ad
er died a wealthy man, and "Hay- in>
Heiglts,' on the highlands OF Nave vii
k is one Of the show places OF the
3 Jersey coast. Her youthful tall
L. were at once recognized, and she
|. tall "Gibson girl" type of young m
|man, with ripping brown hair, blue as
ks and marvellously sweet voice. re
thu moment 9ho an. ! tn