The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-11-24

Good Roads In the south.
In an address by John Craft Of Mo-
bile it was stated that the cost to the
farmers of the South is so cents per
bale of cotton for an average haul OF
eight miles.
If there were good roads the cost
would be reduced to Is cents bale. Es-
timating a crop at a million bales this
would mean a saving Of $34O,OOO an
nually.
1t costs under present road conditions
% cents to haul a ton of fertilizer a
mile. With good roads the cost would
be cents a ton.
81 have studied for some years the
problem Of working cOnvicts on our
public roads," said Mr.. Craft, land they
have proved to be the most economical
road builders to be had. The convict
has long passed the experimental stage
for road-making.
Judge Fave of Georgia, who has had
twenty years experience in working
convicts as road builders, says: They
are the best and cheapest road builders.
While working cOnvicts, not single
overt act was committed, or a single
child, woman or man molested, or one
dollars worth of property deprecated
on
"Mecklenburg county, North Carolina,
has tine finest macadamized roads, and
it is being done with convict labor. It
costs an average of 25 cents day to
guard, feed and care for convict labor
when it is managed on business prin-
ciples.
'As for the convict himself, statistics
show that 80 per cent of those who are
worked in the open air, properly fed
and guarded, return to their families
and cease to be charge or menace to
the State, while of those who are kept
in prison or are worked in mines, saw
mills or similar places, IS per cent be-
come hardened criminals.
Nor do L think it right to put the
honest wage earners in competition
with convict labor, or the manufactur-
ing industry In competition with the
one that hires cheap convict labor.
Indiana has more than 1900 miles
Of good gravel roads. remember when
Indiana was considered one of the illit-
crate States in the Union. To-day she
is prosperous, and her people are no
longer ignorant, but the State is dotted
with the finest schools and colleges.
''Massa chusetts spends more money
than any other State on her public
roads. New York has just voted to is
sue $50,0O0.0OO for her roads to be spent
In the next ten years. New Jersey has
fine roads, which have been Of great
benefit, and are the best investment the
State has. Missouri is agitating bond
issue of $25.OOO,OOO for her public
roads. The Province of Ontario, Can
ada, has 10000 miles of good roads,
and from that phenomenal improvement
have been the results Of prosperity to
it's farmers. New York Sun.
Everybody Drag!
When the smiles of spring appear,
Drag the roads;
When the summer time is here,
Drag the roads;
When the corn is in the ear;
In the winter cold and drear:
Every season in the year;
Drag the roads!
When you've nothing else to do,
Drag the roads:
If but for an hour or two,
Drag the roads.
1t will keep them good as new.
With a purpose firm and true,
Fall in line! It's up to you:
Drag the roads!
Would you do the proper thing?
Drag the roads.
Sc. the system on the wing;
Drag the roads.
Give the drag lively swing:
Toss the laurel wreath to Kingl
Hats off! Everybody sing:
Drag the roads!