El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-10
Road Building With Convict Labor
How Georgia Prisoners Solved the Mud Problem.
By DUDLEY GLASS.

correction of the old abuses But the
law which abolished the lease system
provided that each county should De
awarded it's share Of cOnvicts TO De
used exclusively upon public highways
and in other state and county work,
not to be in competition with free Ia
Dor and not TO be leased 10 private citl-
ZenS- The counties were TO receive 4
number or cOuvicts based upon their re-
spective populations, not upon the
number of prisoners convicted in the
county which desired them II any
county did not wish to use its allotted
share they would be divided among 9TH
e. counties wanting them.
The counties won't take them they
viii be too expensive TO maintain
cried the opponents OF the bill
They met q surprise there. however
When the new system went into erect
the prison commission had 5000 prtS-
Oners to apportiOn- but these were not
enough to meet the demand from cOUn-
ty boards. True. a few counties were
too poor TO undertake road work at
that time. but their share went TO
more prosperous sections. and today
three years after the new system be-
gan, over 100 counties are using their
fun quota, 81 having taken their share
and lent them to adjoining counties
With the agreement that their work
shall be repaid next year when road
funds are available, and only five COun-
ties-amOng the most remote in the
state-have refused 10 use their al
lOtment.
Marvellous Results.
To men familiar with the antiquated
system of road work which has been
in vogue in the south for generations
the results have been marvellous I'm
der the old plan citizens paid an in
significant road tax. or evaded it. and
were expected to give from three to
five days of personal labor upon the
roads each year. This task was seldom
enforced. and when fl was done a. all
il meant merely the patching OF the
roads
workers homes.
Politics and personal avarice did not
cease with the lease system, and for
time there was tendency upon the
pa TT Of a number of officials to use the
convict labor in enhancing privately
owned real estate instead OF imprOv-
however. two other newspap ers began
TO do missionary work. The Atlanta
journal. enthusiastic over autOmODil
ing, conceived a great national high
way from New York to Atlanta, and
in cooperation with the New York Her
aid. carried out the plan.
Then the Atlanta Constitution. the
morning daily. inaugurated a tour OF
its own. which. though not so spec
tacular. was perhaps even more bene-
fetal to Georgia This was a round
the state tour a great circle sweep
ing through the counties near the
boundaries. a 10 day journey
Cost Is Quite Low.
When results are considered the cost
or convict road work has been sur
pIiSingly low iu comparison 10 stat
ute labOr'-as the old personal road
work plan was called The average ex-
pense of maintaining a convict. in
Guiding hire OF guards. food. clothing,
housing and all inCidentalS. IS less
than a dollar day. Free labor would
cost from $50 to s. day. and would
be hard TO get AT that price.
Road materials are plentiful in GeOr-
gla- In the northern portion there is
plenty Of stone OF various kinds. though
ebert, conglOmerate. is most widely
used II is soft and easy To work. but
II consoIdates Into splendid rOadbed.
Some OF the roads built OF ebert in the
most populOus counties have cost be
tween $4,000 and $1,000 mile. but
these are considered good for life
time. and are designed for unusually
heavy traffic In nearly every county
material for rOpsOu road surfaCing is
which gives excellent results. Some
times this must be artificialIy pre-
pared. the clay and sand being found
separately. I'm other sections il is ready
mixed and need be hauled only short
distance on the coast. shells have
been used for generations i'm building
fine roads. and the counties are extend
ing the splendid shell bOulevards far
f''tO the interior The tOpsOil road OF
Clay and sand costs from $500 TO $500
q mile, and experts consider It, when
given proper attention and we'll
drained, an excellent substitute for the
more expensive maCadam.