The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-26

maintenance against the conyicts-more than is necessary or just to their cost. We only want 60 working days by 65 convicts to build the mile and 1 presume we can get 60 working days out of the 90 days. and note l count their cost for the full 90 days at 45 cents per capita for the 65 convicts, $2,632.50.
 l give 90 days for the free labor force and 1 will only figure them for the actual time made, which will require the 65 men by 60 days by $1 per capita for the one mile $500 less S2,632.50 for convicts, S1,- 26Io0. which would leave a clearance Of $1, ,267.50 per mile in favor of convict force which includes the cost of the superin- tendents, guards and total management, also the extra 90 days to make the 90 days, or to compensate for lost time and wet.
 Listen again. Your free labor cost is for actual work days requiring 60 days by 65 men at s1 to build the mile. Listen again to the free labor estimate. You will now add the cost of your superintendence and make it what you like. It will cost as much or more than convict superinten- dence.
 Superintendence Costs Same.
 Now the proposition is practically this: The counties will have to provide for the quarters, your shops, your mules, wagons, commissaries and equipment, and will be practically the same cost in either event, . convicts or free labor, for the equipment and management. The cost of conVicts can not exceed 45 cents per day The free laborer will cost $1, perhaps $1.25. Now take your choice.
 I will submit you a proposition as fol- lows, which I think fair and will give the advocates of either contention the same chance to be eonvinced When you are ready to commence work employ me for one year. Let me organize one force of convicts. Let me organize one of free labor on as near the same basis as is practical, and let me have charge of the engineering, the superntendence and the total management of both forces. You have a committee of three men or off- cials, who will have charge of your finances and approve my bills, and let me build you five or six miles of good road and get your people started right. l shall expect 10 per cent. of the cost of each mile for my services and it will be up to your people to know just what they are doing, and they will know where every cent went in the construction and will know that it did go into the construction except the 10 per cent. for my services and supervision. And at the end of one year you will be in a position to decide intelligently and satisfactory for your future work whether you wish to prose- cue uIlueT cOuNlCC system UT lIlt Tree labor system.
 I note the remarks made by Mir. Going, member of the board of revenue. I will state right here it is not my mission to criticize your financial methods or sources Of revenue; that is not my business; that belongs to the intelligence and officialism of your county to regulate your resources and revenues, as your local conditions and judgment may dictate. Now, in con- clusion let me state don't claim to know it all nor do I claim Macklenburg county is building everything beyond criticism. We are improving and learning yet.
 Urges Visit To MeckIenburg.
 However. I do claim your people will their moneys worth to make us a visit and inspect our methods and work, and I assure you we will take pleasure in showing you in detail our methods for a week and let you be your own judge as to what we are doing. A week here will be worth more to get general basis of ideas and understandings to formulate your policies and methods then all the news paper controversies, letter correspondence and hearsay arguments that you could digest in 12 months. Wishing you success I am Very respectwully,
 SAMUEL T. STOWE.
 Charlotte, N. C., Mecklenburg County, February 24 1908.