Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-03
PRAISE FOR
SCENIC HIGHWAY
Special Good Roads Agent Jas.
w. Abbott Tells Walla
walla People Of New
Mexico Way.
SOLUTION OF The PROBLEM

division Of the good roads bureau, at
ter hts "Trip over the Scenic Highway
told The Optic that he would SOUND
the praises of the picturesque road
wherever he went as the finest In the
United states, He has kept his prom
ise. Several times word has come
from him Of The good work he Is 90
ing. Another example Of his belief
IN the New Mexico policy has Just
come to ,hand. The Walla wana
Daily Union Of recent date. In De
scribing an illustrated lecture by Mr.
Abbott speaks as follows OF his ref
erence 10 the Las Vegas project;
The remainder Of Mr. Abbott's adj
dress was devoted "a the question OF
employing ~tonvicts on roads. He re-
ferred TO the experiments In this di.
rcction in various parts OF the coun-
try.
In Che SOUTH said the speaker,
"the convicts are largely negroes. and
they are.controlled by what may seem
to be excessive brutality and by fear.
The convict is subjected TO severe
punishment for any offense. lie is
chained to a post soon after supper
and remains there all night Guards
with guns are posted along the road,
and n anyone attempts to escape he
Ii shot down instantly have talked
with many people Of the south. and
the majority OF those who had given
the question their consideration seem
ed TO think that this was the only way
70 maintain control Of the negro, and
to get a satisfactory amount Of work
out OF him. The conditions there re.
produced are largely those OF the old
slave driving states
The New Mexican plan.
Pictures were shown OF convicts In
New Mexico. making the highest
grade Of mountain road In the United
States. The law regulating the build.
Ing Of the forty miles OF road from
Santa Re 10 Las Vegas. from which
the views were taken. was published
ia Tuesday mornings Union.
.The work done there" commented
the speaker. lis satisfactory. The
correct theory OF handling the convict
In To make 1t to his interest 10 dc
good work. The board Of p~enitentiary
commissioners n New Mexico has
formulated rules for the reward Of
good performance OF the labor, and
the ~consicts are DESTROYS or earning
the rewards allowed them.
There Is no trouble with the pris.
oners. Al a rule. where this plan has
been tried: and the percentage OF es-
cape Ia not greater than from the
penitentisry itself. The convicts are
allowed . degree OF freedom unknown
In the previous treatment az the ron.
vict In the history Of the world. And
Al q rule they do not abuse the free
dom thus allowed.
Competition With Free Labor Evil.
The time has rot 20 come when
convicts will cease to compete with
free labor: that Ii. will cease ( o par.
ticipate In the manufacture Of articles
which would otherwise be manufac.
tured by free labor and sold al a prof.
II. The convIcts OF the state of Ore
gon are farmed out TO a firm which
manufactures stoves. at the rate ~
80 cents for q days work OF ten hours
The result has been that the mann
facture OF stoves Of tina, character has
been almost crushed out Of Oregon.
"Conyicts should he used In The
construction of roads which are uf
general value 10 the people Of the
state. For example. whenever there
Is a new mining region discovered
which Is not served by q railroad, The
first necessity Is a good wagon road
Tor the introduction OF machinery and
supplies Such a highway makes cost
of living reasonable. adds 10 the com
forts Of life. and al along thn route
OF the road opens up new venues 81
effori for the free men 10 ogn IN ana
do things which he could nor do II the.
road were not built.
Benefit OF Convict Labor.
The beneficial effect of that kInd
OF activity to The convict himself is
most striking The lesson borne To
the people Of walla waila by Jacob
A. Riis in his recent lecture was the
evidence he gives that 9hen you az
ford healthy occupation for activity.
you TO that extent diminish crime
There is nothing In the world which
would make respectable citizens of
the inmates % the peniteatiary like
employing them In building roads. It
keeps the body In a healthy state. aud
tends 20 make the condition 81 the
mind healthy also.
Thus the results obtained are in
line with the proper solution Of the
problem