Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1904-07-31
ROAD MAKING BY cONVicTs.
The Reno Gazette Urges the Adoption
Of the Mexican Plan.

The following suggestion on improv
ing the bad roads in Nevada is advan-
ced by the Reno Gazette:
The Territory of New Mexico ha )
solved the problem of utilizing the lab
or of convicts and has achieved re-
suits more successful and practical
than that of the prison system of any
other state or country since the or
CARNATIONS of prisons. 1t is original
and based upon a principle entirely
different from that hitherto put in
force James w. Abbott, United
States agent of the Division of Good
Roads of the Agricultural Department
who visited Reno a shart time since,
first called attention to it and sine
| then the Gazette has made some care
full inquiries into the working of the
New Mexico plan with tie result that
| we believe that it can be INTRODUCED
convicts and the public.
The plan adopted two years ago b.
New Mexico and which is in success
full practice as follows:
| A commission OF three persons was
appointed by the Governor of the Ter
ritOry, who were designated as the
commission On Prison Labor. They
were clothed by certain powers by the
legislature; namely: That they hal
the charge of the employment and COZ
troll OF the convicts engaged in such
work independent Of the prison man.
agement, and they might recommend
Ito the State Pardoning Board such con-
lets as they chose for clemency. Nor
over it was provided that for every day
a convict gave good and faithful work
under the direction of the commission
there should be certain amount Of
time deducted given for good Gehav-
ior and that any attempt to escape
forfeited all deductions and returned
him to prison with no further hope
Of ever being permitted to work ou,-
side the prison Whether a convict
chose to take advantage of this high
way work was optional with himself
subject to selection by the commits
sion
The practice Of this plan is as fol
lows:
The commission interviews all con
victs and from among those who des
, ire to engage in outside work it sci
ects those who appear to be most
likely to conform to the conditions
, and requirements of the work and will
= be most amenable to control. The la "
| in it's benificence did not bar life
termers but held out to them the hope
, that faithful work and scrupulous ~
, tention to the regulation OF the syS
tenn might result ultimately in the NIT
, igation of their sentence and perhaps
pardon
, Contrary tC all other plans of work
ing conyicts the New Mexico system
, discarded the proposition Of armed
, guards patroling the convict camp. A
small guard was supplied for the geu
eral preservation Of order, but every.
thing tending to produce the effect Of
active coersion and brutality was keo,
strictly in allegiance.
II the convict showed the least
signs Of discomfort or appeared to be
promoting discord or discomfort he was
at once called before the commission
, and unless presenting satisfactory
. iexplanation, was summarily returned
/ to prison. This watchfullness ana
wedding out Of the disturbers has
RESULTED in one Of the most wonderful
) convict camps in New Mexico, in pol
I of control that has ever been seen. IL
+ two wears BIT one convict has attempt
2 ed to escape and he was speedily re
n captured.
4 The men live under a certain MIL
tary discipline and the camps are a
# WAYS a reasonable distance from town
{. and centers uf population; nor az
If visitors allowed except with termi:
I. They are fed better food than
prison and work ten hours. In the ~
" nening they are given certain leng'
a of time for :ndulging in any recreatr'
- they may choose. They are neVs
n shackled and at night sleep in tent
guarded only by the night patro
We They ore dressed in Kakai UNIFORM
" the prison stripes being discarded.
IN Mr.. Abbott stated that few mont
or ago, when ne visited the convict can
st at Los Vegas, he never saw nc
cheerful body OF men working u
these con, lets, and that the super
tendent in charge told him that I
fear of being returned to prison
gether with the healthfullness OF I
he work its GOOD effect upon the Splr