The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-28
LIME QUARRIES
FOR FARMERS
Reward System In Colorado Does
Away With Guards Over Con-
victs On the Roads-Gov.
Mann Thinks Virginia
Should Study It.
ICHM d. VA.-Special.-


Mann, in his forthcoming message to
the next Legislature, will urge the pas
sage of the so-called lime quarry bill,
which is designed to utilize convict Ia
Dor and at the same time aid the farm
ers of this Commonwealth.
1t is possible, too, that the executive
will also have something to say about
convict labor on the highways, as he
CLEANED a great deal of valuable in
formation on this subject while at
tending the recent Governors confer
ence at Lake Spring. n. ].
But the lime quarry bill is the
thing that most interests the agricul-
turists of Virginia at this time. They
have favored such a measure for a long
time, and in 1910 attempted to attain
their ends through bill introduced at
the last session of the Legislature.
That measure, il will be recalled,
met instant opposition at the hands
of the caustic lime manufacturers and
others, and finally failed of passage.
But this temporary setback has not
discouraged the farmers, and Governor
Mann says he intends 10 help them in
the matter.
The plan is to have the convicts OPP
crate plant or plants for the grinding
Of limestone rock. The rock, when
pulVerized, makes a fine 'sweetener''
for the soil. and what is more, il can
be easily handled without hurt to man
| or beast. The same, by the way, can
not be said Of all of the other lines
| which, at some seasons. have been
! known to cause much veXation OF
spirit.
Governor Mann, before he makes his
| recommendations, Will thoroughly post
! himself as to the cost Of the proposed
quarries and the prices at which their
/ product may be sold.
Already he has a great deal of infor-
4 nation on the subJect-informatio
which convinces him that the scheme
merits favor.
! Basing his conclusions partially on
! what he has learned about the State
| quarries in Illinois, he says that the
lime he has in mind can be sold at
sixty cents the ton. And he has the
promise of railroads which agree TO
haul 1t at half a cent the hundred
pounds. In other words, farmers liv-
| ing not over 200 miles from the quar-
ries ought to get the lime, freight
paid, at $1.60. OF course, however
there would be some small additional
cost for bagging.
The use OF the pulverized limestone
does not preclude the use of ferti-
lizers, and therefore the fertilizer
manufacturers ought not to oppose
| the proposed measure. But the ef-
feet of the bills passage, naturally,
would be to put the State in compe-
titjon with the private lime manufac-
turers.
Colorado Road Working System.
Governor Mann. in q recent talk he
| had with Governor Shafroth, of Col
orado. learned some rather astonish-
| ing things about the manner in which
convicts are worked on the highways
Of that State.
The felons operate on the roads
without at any time being under the
supervision of guards. They are man.
| aged solely by a system of rewards,
| which serve> as a constant incentive
| to the best efforts.
Each prisoner who hews to the line
/ while on the roads gets ten days off
Of every month. in addition TO the
/ usual allowance for good behavior.
To illustrate: A convict serving a
ten-year term in Colorado may re-
duce that term 10 four and a half
years, provided he goes on the roads
and does the work mapped out for
| him. Singularly enough, each law
breaker, before being assigned TO this
| labor, is put under oath that he will
not attempt to escape.
| Bound by Their Oath.
This oath means much TO the con-
victs. 1t appeals to their sense of
honor. One prisoner, who escaped,
lcame back and delivered himself up
fsolely because of the moral obligation
into which he had entered. He said
that he didn't entertain any scruples
about escaping under ordinary condi-
itions. but that he felt himself bound
| by the oath.
AS a result of this sentiment the
percentage of escapes has been only
II per cent.-less than the percentage
of escapes from prison.
The Colorado law-breakers work
| like automata. They live in tents and
are free from such humiliations as
Ishackles and lynX-eyed guards.
One of their number trusty-is
| allowed rifle at night, and is au-
thoriZed TO use it on would-be fugi-
| "a 1,rtN hi -,
| business to do.
The cooks and camp attendants also
| are conVictS, and they, too, have the
J reward system as their incentives.
The few representatives of the Gov
| eminent seen in the camps go un-
armed and perform duties which are
, chiefly of a clerical nature.
In Virginia it costs IS cents to work
a convict on the roads, but Colorado
lgets equally as good work at a cost OF
l25 cents.
! Governor Mann frankly admits that
the system described by Governor
Shafroth appeals no little to him. He
is not prepared to say that it could al
once be successfully introduced in
Virginia, but he thinks it is well worth
study and investigation.
Famous Lime Bill.
| Official etiquette forbids the Virginia
Executive from specifically outlining
the recommendations to be embodied
IN his message to the General Assem-
bly,, but he openly asserts that he is
going to throw the weight Of his in
huence in favor of the lime quarry
bill.
AS to that his mind is firmly made
up. And It is more than likely that
he will also have something to say on
the subject of road working by con-
victs.
But IL the proposed changes are
enacted into laws, they viii not
be brought about without some
desperate fighting by opposing in
terests. The caustic lime manu-
facturers, to judge by their ac-
tons in the past, will not give up
without a fierce struggle.
Nor will the Davis Shoe Com
pany, which now works the felons
| under contract with the State at
fOrty-two cents a day, yield this
| onviable privilege without putting
forth a mighty effort to look after
It's own interests.
The contract In question docs
not expire until 1914, and II Is not
TO be supposed for an instant
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