The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-16
USE CONVICT LABOR.
Motor Federation Would Have State
Follow South's Example On
Highways

Convict labor on roads has recent
ly been suggested by the Pennsylva-
MIA Motor Federation in order that
the Keystone State may enjoy as
soon as possible the benefits of an
extensive system of improved high
ways, according to the Harrisburg
Patriot. There has developed in the
State a remarkable demand for road
betterment, so great in fact that un-
less such labor is utilized many
years must elapse before the desir-
ed results can be brought about
The fact that the State Highway
Department of Pennsylvania has on
file applications aggregating 1900
miles of new road, none of which
can be granted until an appropria-
tion is made by the next Legislature,
indicates that the people in that state
are waking up to the necessity for
constantly growing.
The Pennsylvania Motor Fedora
tion, which is composed of all the
automobile clubs in the state, is now
preparing to submit to the Legisla-
ture and urge the passage of bill
which will call for the expenditure OF
mated, will give the state the best
system of highways possessed by any
commonwealth in the country.
1t is proposed that the state shall
bear seventy-five per cent of the cost
of this road building. the balance
being contributed by the respective
townships, and it Is contended that
the immediate benefits which will ac-
tA nf "a ro1
sections alike will more than make
up for any increase in taxation which
may appear necessary in order to
provide the millions needed in road
building.
In the opinion of many it would
be wise and a double economy to use
some of the many convicts now being
fed and clothed at the expense of the
state in the work of road building, as
is being done in a majority of the
Southern States where good and per
manent roads are now rapidly sup
planting old mud thoroughfares.
Green county, Mo-, has a county
convict road crew under the super
vision of the county highway engi
neer. The plant consists of a con
victs' cage, crusher and screen, trac
| JlOu I6uJ anu
outfit. The county sheriff feeds tn,
prisoners in the field the same as il
the Jail, a prisoner doing the cook
ing. The force, consisting of TIVE
guards, an engineer, twelve or fifteel
prisoners and a team, has an averag,
daily output of eighty cubic yards
The cost to the county is about TWEEN
ty cents per cubic yard of rock.
The convict crew is doing only tn,
crushing, the road district, wherein
the road lines, attends to everythin.
else. This does not take into ac
count the fact that it would cost a
much to feed the prisoners as if the.
were in Jail doing nothing From
the known enhanced valuation o
property along these roads built b,
the crew and the increased taxes de
rived therefrom the county is .beini
paid dividend upon the investment
| Convicts almost invariably max
good and willing workmen. The
appreciate not only the fact that the
are able to be out in the open air ant
enjoying a certain amount of free
dom, but they are also inclined t,
pride themselves on the fact tha
they are trusted and permitted to d,
something of benefit OF course
there are exceptions and sometime
trouble with the sullen and unrecon
| ciled ones, but taken generally tn,
system works out well for all con
| cerned.