The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-09
ROADS CONSTRUCTED
BY C0NV|CTS GOOD
System in Colorado PleaSes
Governor Spry and War
den Pratt.
Continued From Page One.

Continued From Page One.
than is at all possible under the present
system.
The roads Of Colorado built by the
convicts from the Canyon City prison,
are equal to the finest unpaved roads in
!he ,he eountry' county a road has been built to
ing the Royal Gorge. From this road
one can look down into the Royal Gorge
and see the famous. hanging bridge far
strueted and Is ono of the. show places
OF Colorado, 1t is ten miles long and
was built at Il cost OF only s6500.
Another excellent road constructed by
the prisoners is road known as The
sky Line which runs along the sum-
nit OF the mountain and then winds
side of the range. We travelled by motor
over the road from Canyon City TO Colo
rado Springs. an excellent road, which
was improved and rebuilt by convict
labor the course of this road was
changed and a 20 per cent grade reduced
TO per per cent grade The road is now
COSY OF the Improvement was only 5000.
In Colorado the state furnishes the
men and their clothing. The county III
which the work Is being done pays for
the food, the shelter and the guards. so
that the cost 10 each county Is very
small In this state our law doesn't
OF the maintenance of the labor. but l
am satisfied that such an arrangement
could be made without its specific in
corporation In the law.
The convictS OF Colorado are pleased
with the operation of the law and all
OF them are eager for the opportunity to
work on the roads. both because OF the
respite from walls and bars and because
or the TACT that the sentences of those
who work on the roads and who do not
mis5sfayH ShE,ot ,soin,n are reduced by one-thrd
escapes are few and far between.
PourorJ owl D,,~i.1,,~.a-A
.Ionly those convicts who the warden
work on the roads. II they work we'll
and give no trouble they are rewarded
by reduction OF sentence. II they give
trouble to the guards their punishment
is prompt and severe. / know Of an
instance where one Colorado convict was
away from the road camp for twenty
minutes absence c->t him six years
which otherwise woule have been de-
Quoted from his sentence.
Under u.s Utah law there is no re-
ward specified. but the state board of
correction ls empowered to reduce the
sentences OF those convicts who work
credits will probably be evolved by the
board and the prisoners given tho ad-
vantage of this system.
The greatest fear we had for the sys-
ten was the maintaining OF night camps
when the prisoners are working far away
from the prison In Colorado we found
that the convicts occupied tents and that
with efficient guards there was no dan
gor OF escapes, From what the warden
and ] learned with this respect ] am
satisfied that the oonvicts will give us
little trouble. after they learn that the
reward is sure II they do not misbehave
and punishment certain If they do.
"A trial Of this system of road build
ing. ] am satisfied will convince the peo-
pie OF the state OF its feasibility and
within few years give Utah one OF the
finest systems of public roads in the
country"
Good News for Utah.
While In Colorado Governor sprv called
on Governor Shafroth at Denver. and
boring OF the tunnel for the Moffat road.
The Colorado state legislature recently
proposed a bond Issue OF $1,000 600 TO
in constructing a new tunnel. This will
be voted on by the people at the general
election Of 1912. A commission was ere
ated by the legislature to visit the site
of the proposed tunnel and to pass upon
the feasibility OF railroad construction at
that point. The Utah legislature ere
ated q similar commission. consisting OF
Governor Spry. President Henry Gard
ner Of the state senate and Speaker E.
w. Robinson of the house OF representa-
tives.
busy man" said Governor Spry. He
was busy with his work in connection
with the approaching adjournment of the
state legislature. but he found time to
discuss the proposed Moffat tunnel with
me. l had luncheon with the governor
proposed extension OF the Moffat line
through the tunnel and into Utah
While | was In Denver the question
was was raj raised as to where ,dne the terminus OF
gestion that perhaps the line would not
penetrate Utah. but would go in another
direction. In that event, | told Governor
Shafroth the people OF Utah would not
be interested in the project and of course
would lend no assistance in the construc-
ton of the railroad. However, the gov
ernor assured me that the purpose of
the construction of the road was to link
Salt Lake and Denver by a short route.
that the purpose OF the builders was to
to Salt Lake City and TO make Salt Lake
City a terminal point.
Will Call Meeting
"As soon as Governor Sbafroth has
some leisure following the adjournment
OF the legislature I rather think he will
take some action In calling a meeting of
the Joint commission created by the leg
islatures of Utah and Colorado. The
Utah commission was created at the
request OF Colorado, so that il Is proper
to allow Colorado TO take the initiative
in calling a meeting of the commission.
The members OF the commission Will
meet at the site OF the proposed tunnel
and Investigate the feasibility OF boring
the mountain for the new railroad and
OF Utah and Colorado. The people of
Colorado appear 10 be eager for the con-
struction Of the new road and the opin-
bond Issue will carry.
Under the terms Of tho proposed bond
issue, the state issues four million dol
lars worth of fifty-year per cent bonds
10 provide funds for the boring OF the
MofTat tunnel The railroad company is
to pay the state toll for the use or
the tunnel during the life OF the bonds
and to take up the bond issue at the ex-