The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-19

%"I-TF the State of Georgia
IG @I should appropriate annual.
ly a half million dollars
l. IL for the next five years. to
Iloll lSlII be expended in the estab'
lishment of an improved
public road system in the State. the
expenditure would not be extravagant.
On the other hand, the State could
make no better investment Such aD
appropriation is, of course out of the
question. The Legislature is preclud'
ed from making such appropriations,
both by reason of the financial coudi
ton of the State and the laws govern
ing such matters. 1t is. however, with
in the power of the Legislature to ac'
compish in another way result
which. measured in actual dollars and
cents, is equal to such an appropria'
ton. We refer to the bill now pend
ing before the Legislature to employ
the felony convicts of the State upon
the public roads.
An opportunity is now presented to
utilize the State criminals by working
them upon the public roads. throughout
the State Systematically and scien'
tiically, so that in few years Georgia
instead of being far behind other
States. will be equal to, If not in ad
vance of, any other section of the
country. Good roads are the arteries
of trade, the avenues of wealth. Moth
ing save education contributes so much
to the prosperity, happiness and com
fort of the citizens. There are few
things that add as much TO the value
of property. What good reason Is
there for refusing TO work the crimin
ais OF the State upon the public roads
so that the people may receive the
benefit Of their labor? Absolutely
none. Ii X he urged that the State
will receive n revenue Of S130 or S3Ol
per head from each convict by leasing
them, the reply is that it will receive
many times that amount in increased
values. increased taxes. extended bust
ness, improved citizenship, and en-
larged prosperity by employing these
convicts on the public roads.
Public roads, next to railroads. arr
the greatest developers we have. Who
can estimate the value of the turn
pixies of Kentucky, Tennessee and Nir
gnia: Convenience to market, to post
offices. schools and churches is what
is necessary to make useful and per
manert citizens. Good roads furnisl
all of these things. The tendency OF
late years has been for people in the
country to flock towards the towns
and cities. The reason for this is oh
vious. On account of the present pub
lie road system Of the State, or rather
lack of system. they are unable often
times to market their products, they
have no educational facilities. they are
removed from churches and otherwise
subjected to Inconvenience that peo
pie in the cities and towns do no.
feel. A good system of public road;
will do more to remove these troubles
and satisfy the farming element
which. at last. is the backbone of thu
country. than all other influences com
bined. If the State of Georgia will
employ her criminals i'll the improve
ment of the public roads of the State
instead of receiving $500 per head fo'
their services, she will receive many
times that amount in actual increased
values, TO say nothing of the benefits
conferred upon her citizens, which can
not he estimated in dollars and cents
Georgia is reasonably prosperous
State. but she would be tenfold moro
prosperous il by reason of perfec'
system of public roads every foot O
her territory was accessible to marke'
and thereby rendered available fo'
homes. The criminals of the Slater
those vino violate the law-can do thu
work that Is necessary to establish
such a system. The Fielder bill now
pending before the Legislature. u
seems to us, Is meritorious in the high
est degree. The idea of leasing the
conyicts should be entirely eliminated
from consideration, unless made neces
sary by reason of inability to utilizi
them all on the public roads. II ther.
should not be demand at once for al
of the coavicts, it might be that the, |
should be temporarily leased unit |
other provision can be made; but, fol |
the sake OF humanity. for the sake o.
civilization. for the benefit of the cit !
liens of Georgia and for the Goof
name of this good old State, of whici
we are all proud, let us just rs quickl!
and as completely as possible blot on
the lease system, which for so man!
years has been burning shame ane
disgrace to the good name of Georgia
Atlanta Journal. .s-i: :eprsf s'sss.