The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-03

the good roads fight. and many of
/ them have exhibited much rivalry in
road construction Where the first
! year 4 tho new systom thcro were
/ hardly more than half the counties
that took their pro rata share, now
only eight counties are not working
the convicts, and their roads are being
worked by other counties. Tho de-
mand for convicts every year is far
greater than the supply.
! The law under which tho conylcts
are now working was passed in 1905.
ana tho system went into effect in
March. 1902, with the expiration of the
old lease contracts. Before the pas-
; sage OF tho law tho conviots had been
sold out every FIVE years to coal mines
and lumber camps and other private
enterprises. Tho men brought any
where from 800 a year up to about
5000. This gave tho State large
income and that was one OF tho rea-
sons why the now system was Bit
tcrly fought.
The appeal for change became too
great however, and following the leg
islatfVc investigation, which showed
horrible state Of things in Georgia
convict affairs, the Legislature was
called upon to act. Time passed and
nothing was accomplished at the reg
uiar session Of the Legislature. Gov
eFnor Smith then called an extra seq
lc Ir.t t.,
passed law doing away with the
lease system.
The law now in effect provides for
the abolition of the old system and for
putting all the convicts on the roads
giving pro rata share to each coun-
ty Tho old and the feeble were put
on the prison farm, where also MT:
ablc-bodied men could be used 1t was
furthe, provided that in case all the
convicts were not taken by the coun-
ties which might refuse, owing to the
cost OF maintaining them, then nd-
Joining counties might take the share
OF any one county and agree to work
the roads of that county. Or il there
counties municipalities wanting
| more than their pro rata codId secure
them. Finally it was provided that
convicts could be leased out for n
period OF one year under special con
ditions, If, after all the counties and
municipalities had been supplied, tho-o
were any left.
From tho start all the convicts were
taken. 1t has never been necessary
to lease any OF them under the last
provision detailed above. Fulton coun-
~, the county in which Atlanta is
located. for Instance, wanted "a number,
greatly in excess OF IFS proportion even
the first year. but had 10 be content
with ; share plus few more. Each
year counties have come To realize the
value OF convicta for road work, and
this year tho chances are TINT there
will not be a single county not work
| ing it's own men.
The State, OF course. disposcs OF the
ielonT convicts. The counties take
charge of the inisdemeanor convicts,
though the state has supervision over
, those ms we'll. There are about 5000
convicts In Georgia. about hair mis-
dcmcanor and half felony offenders.
Many counties have held special bond
issue elections TO secure more money
for road work. DE Kalh county, for
example, has called special election
within n short time for bond issue
OF $3.50, 900 for good roads alone. There
are many other like cascs.
| The State hires the wardens. The
guard. and the inspectors These men
are made responsible FOR the care ans!
treatment of the prisoners
The only drawback in the system so
! Gar has been the number OF cacapcs
that have been made. This, however,
| Is a small item in comparison to The
| large number of convicts employed.
rho Georgia Prison Commission says.
with reference TO the use OF convicts
in this way:
In the past few years hundreds OF
miles Of good roads have been made,
which have proved = blessing to tho
people and 10 the State There are
now. and lave been for The past two
years about 5000 cony!cts at wori.
uron the puhlic roads.
During The past ycag about sa,0oo.
600 has been spent by Georgia ia i'm
proving her roads and lettering hei
highways
THE various county commissioners
in Georgia ar" much Interested In rond
work ANA, as thc moaths pass. they
gain in experience. and 1t is only II
question OF tim" WHOM our good old
Stutc Of Georgia VIII lead the entire
United states in tic matter OF good
roads and splendid highways.
''rho Prison Commissions relations
have. been pleasant in the extreme wiki
the county commissioners in The vari.
ous counties, ana this commission has
l..l, f. ~ al