Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-03-29
II CONVICT LAW.

EfAE
erable comment upon it, Such a law
Is in vogue in many states n it
has worked wonders, proved Of in.
calculable value and resulted in the
building and maintaining Of thous-
ands of miles Of modern roads, as
wen as bridges and other public im-
proyements.
One feature OF the law seems to
have been overlooked. II is this: If
any county desires to erect a public
building, and hasn't sufficient funds
at hand With which to pay for labor
application a be made to the state
board of control for a certain mum.
Der Of conyicts-not less than ten
and the desired number will be forth.
coming. Or they can be used in the
erection OF q school house. or any
public improvement which win prove
Of benefit TO the people.
ANOTHER f~eature OF the law which
is equally as important Is When
any county, after the plans have been
approved for the building Of a road.
bridge, or public building, can secure
the %convicts for the purpose of es-
tablish7ng and maintaining stone
qlarries, crushers and brick kilns
for the purpose OF securing the nee.
dysary material for the contemplate
cd work. In other words, they can
be used for all purposes for any i'm
proEement which will prove Of a
beneficial nature except for corpora.
tions, such as railroads, trolley lines,
&c, or on a turnpike from which the
Company derives a revenue.
Section Is says: The state road
bureau has authority. under proper
rulsj and regulations. to establish
and maintain stone quarries, crush
ers and brick kilns at places in the
state whore Suitable material may
be obtaissd, to be fuzszAhed TO the
counties desiring to use the same in
constructiDs or maintaining public
buildings, and for any other pur-
poie for which tss state may desire
to. use such stone Or brick. " " q The
state convict road force may be en-
ployed by said bureau as and about
said kilns in the manufac<zre OF
brick under the same rules saAs reg
ulations provided herein for working
said force on the public roads"
a great aid to the county courts in
this work will be that the chief road
engineer, who shall be an expert in
his particular line, shall aid the
cour and county engineer in the prep
aration of plans for the building of
roads and bridges, and pass upon
them officially before they are adopt
ed which insures that the work will
be performed in accordance with
modern ideas. The county engineer
is required to spend a portion of his
time at the State university receiv-
ing instruction in road and bridge
building, and the county courts have
no authority to employ any persons
who do not comply with this proyis-
ion.
In Berkeley county last year there
was spent for labor on tho roads
more than $4,000, or fye-sixths Of
the entire amount used for road pur-
poses. Under the new law. instead
of spending much money for labor,
it could BE- used in the purchasing of
material, establishing OF stone quar-
RES. brick hlns. etc, which would
mean that five times as much work
would be done on the roads as last
year, and the cost would be no great
er.
The working Of The conviets and
their maintenance. while employed,
VIII cost the counties nothing, The
State bears all expenses of travel, fur
nishes the conyicts With portable
quarters and guards, provides cloth
ing and cares for them the same as
at the State p%cnitentiary Instead
Of assisting in maintaining the CON
yicts at M~ouudsyiIle they viii pay.
no more taxes TO maintain them while
at work on the roads, and at the
same tame enjoy the fruits Of their
labors.
With twenty-five couyicts I'm Berke-
ley county many miles Of roads can
be bulls annually with practically no
cost 70 the taxpayers, and it would
not require any considerable length
OF time 10 make every road ,n the
county far better than the turnpikes
upon which toll is charged. And il