The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-13
Convicts for the Mines.

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Convicts for the Mines.
Editor of The Tmes-Dispatch:
Sir,--I have followed with much inter-
est the discussions which have been going
on in the columns Of your paper in re-
public roads.
In theory, the advocates of this princi-
pie are right: but In practice It would
be found dsappont Ih, The PRINCIPLE
where 1t VIII compete as little with other
labor working for wages as may be. is
right There are two objections how
ever. to employing. convict labor upon
ed - '''S N' ""' W. - ~" i0N
First There are few counties that
would make the provision for their em-
ployment In any considerable number at
any one time. and the cost of shclterlng.
feeding. guarding and working them Vim
small numbers, would be largely incres-
ed. rendering the saving over ordinary
labor comparatively small.
Second. The great number of days
they could not be employed, at all. on
account of Indictment weather. would
of the ledger. In fact. 50 far as am
informed they are rarely ever worked in
the winter, but are returned to the peni-
Tertiary. where they become charge
The only way that the eonvicts can be
successfully and profltaby employed upon
the public roads. even during the sea
employ them in large numbers. which
would require large appropriations by the
counties at one time, and this could only
be done BY issuing bonds. which most
counties would be unwilling to do.
Assuming that the General Assembly is
willing to appropriate the convict labor
TO the making OF good roads In the
in regard to their employment, which. In
my opinion, IL adopted. will eventually
result In the construction of good roads
throughout the State. and. at the same
ployed at profitable work. that will great
~ improve their health, their morals. and
enhance their chances for reformation.
and, at the same time, render the people
of the State more secure in their per-
sons and property.
l, suggest that the state should acquire
a large tract of coal land. and employ
the .convicts in mining coal. This has
the convicts have been employed in min
ing coal In Alabama for great many
years. The employment OF convicts in
the. mining OF coal will greatly improve
convicts In the penitentiary, previous
to their conviction. lead an active out
door life. and their confinement within
doors. where they, have little muscular
in1pairs their health, and is fruitful
cause. Of their sickness and mortality.
Again, they are employed in the penten-
tiary at'an OCCUPATION which gives them,
no trade they can utilize, and no oppor-
Ftunity4 for employment III the business
they have pursued during their confine-
reformation; the brand Of cx-convict IS
upon their brows, when they return
home, and they are stunned. by great
majority Of the people. 1t is not Won
no employment. no means OF support,
they. in Il great many instances, begin,
at once 10 depredate upon their neigh,
hors property, and are often sent back
1 have an instance In mind, tinsa this
county, where u convict was released In;
December, and in January was in jail
return. Numerous other instances could
be cited throughout the State When
the term OF convict working in the
mines expires. he, has q trade; and, as
wages. without the necessity OF stealing
and robbing for livelihood In this
way ~ large per cent OF the eonvsts
this desirable end was obtained would
the security of the citizen in person and
property be safeguarded.
H. The net earning capacity of all of the,
able-bodied convicts in the penitentiary
employed in coal mining upon u well
managed property owned by the State
fiftyst thousand dollars per annum. In the
mines there would be no days lost on
account Of bad weather, and the high
est earning capacity would he attained.
There Is no healthier occupation a la
boring man can pursue than coal mining;
they are robust and healthy have pIen-
i,tyi of9eXercise. are rarely sick, and, prop
erly cared for, are always contented and
happy, a
| IN the present condition OF the State
Treasury, the first inquiry will naturally
lbe: How is the State to purchase such
| a boundary of coal land and erect a pris-
ON necessary to care for the convicts
| employed in mining? In answer to that,
will say that i know of q syndicate
| Of gentlemen who own n tract OF coal
| land embracing several thousand acres,
now developed, upon which there are
contains; over one hundred and twenty
| five millions tons of coal, who are will
\ ing to sell the land to the State at a
| fair price, ana arc willing to employ from
\ five hundred to seven hundred and fifty
/ convicts at q price which will net tho
| State approximately double as much as
\ She now gets from the eonyicts employ
| Cd in the prison. This syndicate is will
\ ing to erect Il prison upon modern lines
fsuff,clent to securely keep in healthy COLI
'ldition tho convicts so employed They
4 viii nay into tho State Treasury Mt stated
\ Intervals the cost of feeding, clothing and
| guarding the cdnycts SO employed at d
/ Fate not to exceed fifty per cent, In eX-