The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-01-18
WILL PUT CONVICTS
ON their HONOR
Deals With Agriculture, Roads
and ImmigTation-Would Put
as Many FelOns on the Road
as Possible - Hundreds
Still Be Left Inside.

r l c MOND. VA, Special
Governor Mann today transmitted
third message to the General AS
sembly. II deals with the subjects
or agriculture, roads and immigration.
The most interesting recommended
tlon is that Virginia adopt the Colo
rauo system of putting outside, or
road working, convicts on their honor
not TO escape.
The Governor says: II earnestly
O. 1nm1end that the authorities now
IQ1colling the camps be vested with
d Tetion, after experimenting with
one or more camps without guards and
nhdlng conditions satisfactory. to adopt
tne Colorado plan and put under il all
the convictS working on the public
roads. In addition to the inducements
ohered by this plan, the punishment
Tor escape or attempt to escape might
be increased"
The following is the Governors mes
sage:
To the General Assembly of Virginia:
Departing somewhat from the GUS
tom prevailing in Virginia, l have
separated my message into three
parts, and in this commend TO your
consideration the kindred and con-
nected subjects of improved methods
Of agriculture, good roads and i'm
migration.
These subjects are so grouped be-
cause if improved methods Of agri-
culture are introduced and fostered
by wise legislation. prosperity will re-
suit and good roads will follow.
These conditions will keep our boys
and girls on the farm, and will justify
the immigrant in seeking a home in
our midst.
Continuing. the Governor recites
the benefits derived from successful
demonstration work under the act OF
March II, 1910. lie then proceeds.
Better stock is being secured by our
farmers, who are enthusiastic and
eager TO join in the demonstration
work. AS before stated. only thirty
FIVE counties had local agents last year
which was as many as could be look
ed after under the appropriation
made. But as many other counties
have Signified their desire to have local
agents there should be an increase
s. 1000, which is recommended, be-
cause this work is making money for
the State.
Lime Grinding Plants.
In Illinois. a plant has been eS-
tablished for the grinding of lime
stone, which is furnished to the peo-
pie at so cents a ton in bulk and rs
cents in sacks, and / am informed
that about 10000 tons were manu-
featured and used last year. and the
demand will be for double that
amount during 1912. The railroads
in Illinois are hauling this product
at practically one-half a cent a ton
per mile.
Expecting to recommend TO
this General Assembly the manu-
facturc of ground limestone for
the benefits of our citizens, 1 have
made some inquiries I'm reference
to the cost of plants for this pur-
pose, and find crushefE of many
kinds and prices, but only cali
attention TO two: One No. mill,
capacity twenty tons To the hour,
with 175 horsepower Ideal en-
gine and $50 horsepower boiler
complete and installed, being the
machinery now I'm use at the
southern Illinois penitentfary,
and costing $S,921. This machlD-
cry is run by twcnty-four men,
including sixteen men loading an
average of 40 tons per day. The
repairs cost about $50 per year,
and the depreciation is estimated
at per centum per year. This
crusher will probably require
dryer for oyster shells, which
contain from 10 to Is Per cent.
of moisture.
The other machine. of which 1 have
description. will only require about
ITO horsepower engine and boiler
to do the same work as the one first
named, will operate without a DRYER
and with all the machinery required
to crush the rock and shells and con-
vey the product TO the cars. will cost
about $4,000.
Recommends Two Crushing Plants.
have secured information in re-
gard to several limestone properties
and quarries and deposits of oyster
shells, which can be secured by the
State at reasonable cost but do not
think IL wise to mention them spe-
cially in this message. Thinking as
l do that lime in the shape of caustic !
lime or limestone must be used as the
basis OF the Improvement of most of
the land in the State deficient in
vegetable matter, and certainly il the |
cloVers and alfalfa are TO be profita bly,
grown, and, believing that the use OF
lime and limestone Will greatly re-
dound TO the prosperity of our peo-
pie, bring about increased values and
by increased assessment soon pay
back to the State the amount ex-
pended.
j recommend the establish
ment Of at least two crushing
plants; one for limestone and the
other for oyster shells, to be sold
to all of our citizens for their
own use, at a price which will
include interest on the invest
ment, reasonable price for con-
vict labor employed, cost of rock
or shells, cost of upkeep and of
depreciation.
Subject of Good Roads.
With $4,000 miles of highways over
which the people Of the State must
travel to and from their homes in
discharse of business and social OBJ
legations. and in pursuit of that pleas
ure which comes from intercourse
with each other, and over which must
be hauled the agricultural products
of the state and those which we pur-
chase elsewhere for our comfort and |
happiness, the question of construc-
ton and maintenance becomes at
once serious and most important. Pro-
crossing along all other lines. and to
a comfortable extent in road build |
ing, or people are unwilling to suf- |
Ter ae inconvenience and positive |
loss resulting from roads which for |
many months are bad and sometimes |
practically impossible, and it may be |
added that the time during which the |
roads are bad is that part of the year |
in which our people in the country |
are not pressed by the demands of |
business and have leisure for social |
enjoyment. /
That we have recognized the i'm |
portalce Of this question is shown |
by the establishment Of a State High |
way Commission as a department of |
our government. Under the direction |