The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-02-14
COMMITTEE OF THE GRAND JURY AND REP
RESENTATIVES THE PRESS
JAIL ON WHEELS A DISCREDIT TO THE AUTHORIZE!
of the nhumanTh
of Unsatisfactory
Should Be Abolhd-Facts fromO Observat


hills to the poor house. The narrative |
is more serious. 1t is over the hills to |
the good roads convict camp fifteen
miles away, over the Shreveport and
Waskom road, not rocky but as rough
a road as could be travelled by sinners
bent on the righteous path, This road,
like the famous Arkansan's roof is all
right, in smooth and level spots, in fair
and pleasant weather, but it must be a
terror after downpour, on those who
musbt be a-going rain or shine. 1t is
hily and tortuous, with All average
width OF about twelve feet, when it
should be not less than thirty or forty
feet, and in the bottom, without bridges,
a vehicle is likely to 60 out O sight
As we journeyed towards the camp,
which was said to be only nine miles
from Shreveport. but is situated fully
fifteen miles, measured with coon skin
with the tail added for good measure,
our party met the road scraper being
pulled by FIVE big mules, on which stood
the driver and convict, negro trusty.
The negro, 10 whom is paid salary OF
$I.oo per day. was the head boss of this
outfit These two negroes had full sway
over the road and the machine. which
may be denominated as mule-klller.
This outfit is kin of -you-please
combination seraping the high places,
and with a sort of hop, skip and
lump will strike some low and muddy
places 1t may be of interest to say that
the trusty connected with this road ma
chine is serving a sentence of six months
for boot-legging selling whiskey
sneakingly.
The party designated TO investigate
the good roads convict camp comprised
special committee of the grand jury,
George Epple, contractor, grader and
road builder James Boisseau, business
man and planter of practical experience
and possessing full knowledge of what
constitutes good public road; and Viii
| liam Hamilton, real estate agent, thor
oughly enlightened on good roads, farm
lands and matters in general which at
feet the prosperity of the country, and
Representative of the Times, the Journal
and the Caucasian.
To the qualification of this party the
convict camp was surprised. The party
had been apprehensive that the camp
would have been forewarned and that
Everything would be in readiness for the
occasion but the camp was unprepared
| for the visitation and was found III the
/ full bloom of its natural condition. As
Eplanned by the committee of the grand
Jury and the members of the press, the
lcamp was assailed in various directions,
i each man with eyes and tongue gath
ering information which revealed facts
and which developed truths which must
be laid bare to the public.
| The surprise was complete. The con-
4 victs were three miles from the camp
| working i'll the bottoms in water and
mud from ankle to knee deep. The camp
Twas in charge of the ''color.d lady cook
| who has "colored lady for assistant
Having secured all the information OBJ
tainable, our party hurried to the bot
Itcm hoping to see the convicts at work
but when about mile away the gans
/ was moving honleward to dinner. |
was about noon In wagon were seatet
several negroes while others were OF
mule back or walking, In the rear 0
1.-THE wagon were five blood hounds ant
three bulldogs, one being half grown
The dogs are kept to pursue any prs
. Toner who would attempt to escape In
gang was headed by T: c. Jacobs. fore
Imam, with Bert Bagley, formerly OF tn
!. Ipoiice, now guard, riding on one sid
! ii the road while Superintendent Nc
. Cutchen rode in the rear. Although tn
/. foreman. the guard and the superinteno
. lent greeted the party with pleasar
i words, it was evident they were SUI
. lprised When the camp was reached n
Iparty received every attention and coul
ltesies which could be expected and tel
! dered. The representatives of the pres
had alighted from their surrey near til
highway and by a direct course reache
= the headquarters Of the 'scolored lac
cook ahead Of the superintendent II
purpose of the pres Representative
was to intercept the superinten'
: Ient before he could be advised
y the '.colored lady cook and her assis
ant that the party had already been
: the camp and had obtained all the i
formation desired Not knowing tn
that the party had already surprised i
camp. Superintendent McCutchen volu