The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-12
Practically All Use Them

there was hardly more than half of the counties that took their pro rata share now only eight of the 146 counties of the state are not working the convicts and their roads are being worked by other counties. The demand for convicts every year far exceeds the supply.
 The law under which the convicts are now working was passed in 1908, and the system went into effect on March, 1909, with the expiration of the old lease con- tracts. Before that time the convicts had been sold out every five years to coal mines and lumber camps and other pri- vate enterprises. The men brought any where from s100 at times year up to in the neighborhood of $500. Of course this gave the state pretty healthy income and this was one of the reasons why a change was fought and fought hard
 The appeal for a change became too great, however, and following the lesis- lative investigation, which showed ]Ior- rible condition of things in Georgia con- vict affairs, in winch many charges were made, some of winch were absolutely ITO ven, and others believed, whether proven or not, the legislature was called upon for action. Time passed, and the regu- lar session was soon at a close without anything positive being done. Governor Hoke Smith then called an extra session of the legislature, the first of many years and the bill of John Holder, now speaker of the house, calling for an investigation was introduced and fought through. The measure was adopted in many ways, practically made over it is true In com mittee rooms, but there came a time when house and senate agreed and the bill was signed by the governor.
 It povided for the doing away forever of the old system, and for putting all the convicts on the roads, pro rating them to each county. The old and the feeble were to be put on the prison farm, where also 50 able bodied men could be used. It was also provided that in case all the convicts were not taken by the counties, which might refuse owing to the expense of maintaining them, then adjoining coun- ties might take the share of any one county and agree to work the roads of that county. Or if there were many left over. even then, other counties or mu- inequalities. wanting more than their pro rata. could secure them. And finally that they could be leased out for period of one year, under special conditions, if after all the counties and municipalities had been supplied, there were any over All Taken From Start From the start all the conyicts were taken, and 1t was never necessary to put the last proviso into effect. Fulton coun- ty, for instance, wanted a number grsat- ly in excess of her proportion even on the first year, but had to be content with her share and a very few more. Each year counties have come to see the value of convicts for road work, and by next year the chances are that there will not | be single county not working it's own men.
 The state of course, disposes of the fel- cny convicts. The counties take charge 1 of the misdemeanor convicts. though the state has a supervision over these as we'll There are in round numbers 5000 oonvicts in Georgia, about half misde- meanor and half felony
 Many counties have held special bond elections to secure more money for road work. DeKalb county, one of the leading in road work. has called special ,fec- i tior within the next month for a bond is- 1 sue of s55o000 for rood roads alone. This J Is only one example.
 The state hires the wardens and the euards, and inspectors These men are made responsible for the care and the treatment of the prisoners.
 Escapes Few in Comparison
 The only one drawback in the system r up to date has been the number of es- ] capes that have been made. This how ever. is a small item. in comparison 10 the large number of prisoners employed.
 Tn the past few vears.'' says the pris-
 
 good roads have been made which have proved blessing to the people and to the state. There are now and have been for the past two years about 5000 con- v'cts at work upon the public roads. half os them being felony and half misde- meanor.
 During the past year about s3.ODN 900 has been spent by Georgia in improving her roads and bettering her highways.
 The various county commissioners i, Georgia are muchly interested in road work and as the months pass they gain in experience and it is only a question of time when our good old state of Georgia will lead the entire United States in the natter of good roads and splendid ligh- ways.
 The prison commissonls relations have been pleasant in the extreme with the county commissioners in the various .o,,, iies and this commission has alwavs been 'eadv to aid the good work in any way i possible.'' al
 The commission has personally inspect ed the majority of the camps and have