The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-21
Problem to Be Solved BY the
! General Assembly
SOLUTIONS ARE PROPOSED,
In Bills and Resolutions to Sell
Farm and Work Public
Roads

ScHNlCS. IS a i've question mat Is
engaging the attention Of thoughtful
citizens and which will be brought be-
fore the present General Assembly for
an answer. There are divergent
views on the subject, but few there be
Xtho have given the matter serious
consideration but will concede that
she subject involves a problem.
Intended to aid In the. solution of
this problem, If not completely to
solve it, are a bill m a resolution in
PRODUCED in the House by Representa-
tive NJ. A. Griffin, Of Wake county. A
similar resolution and a similar bill
we're introduced in the Senate by Sem !
ator Phillips the same day. The bill
provides for the working Of State con-
victs on the public roads, and the
resolution, which is concurrent, relates
TO disposal Of the State farm, pro-
ceeds Of which to be applied to the
public roads and schools.
Public Roads VS.. Railroads.
The purpose Of the bill is to take
cOhvicts OIL of railroads and put them
on the public roads. 1t provides that
all ~convicts sentenced to the State
Trison who are not required in carry
ing on the work Of the prison and of
the State farm, shall be used in work
ing the public roads, which would kill
ALI provision for working the coavicts
in building railroads. The bill pro-
vides that the superintendent of the
penitentiary shall allot the State con-
victs to work on public roads, as d.
rected by the chairman Of the State
highway commission, if such Office
shall be treated by the General AS
sembly, or, otherwise, by the geOlogi-
cal board, Of which the governor is
eX-Off1ciO chairman. 1t is provided
that when counties apply for convicts
to assist in construction and mainte-
nance Of their public roads, preference
shall be given to those counties which
Jo not rave a sufficient numbe Of
convicts of their own to warrant their
maintaining a chain-gang for public
oad work.
when thus allotted to such coun-
ties for such work." the bill provides,
1.-THE county receiving such %cOnvicts
for road work shall pay the cost of
guarding, feeding and clothing the
n satisfactory to the superin-
tcndent OF h State prison." This
cost, however, is 10 be paid by the
superintendent Of h State prison
when the convicts are engaged ir
building inter-county roads
Sale OF State Farm.
The resolution as to the sale of the
State farm provides that on or sefore
July /. 1914, the state affirm shall bt
SCld and the net proceeds of the sale
deposited in the State treasury, one
half to the credit Of the public schoo
fund and the other to be used IN tn
construction of public roads. The
States prison board is authorized
however. to retain sufficient amour
of the State farm. or purchase suit
cient and elsewhere, upon which t
erect accommodations for housing an
care of all State convicts not worke'
on the roads, and to Sive them EN-
ployment in raising of supplies 70
their own use.
1t is the opinion of Mr.. Griffin an,
others who W. studied the QuestiO
that the policy the State has fOllOwe
for some years of letting the convict
to the promoters of new railroads t
be used in the grading Of such road'
is wrong, especially in view of tn
fact tina the only remuneration tn
state receives from the work of thes
convicts on such roads is stock in til
roads built or proposed, which stoc
in some cases is worthless and in otl
ers "problematical." as expressed
the State treasurer's report; and
view of the further fact that the opel
atoms of the last four years have r.
suited in the State virtually buyir
his worthless stock and stock
"problematical' value. at par, ar
paying it's cash therefor.
States Railroad Stock.
The General Assembly, in providiI
that the convicts should be used
the construction of railroads and Il
State to accept stock in the roads
payment for the labor of the convic
was ~presuming that the penitentia
would prove self-sustaining, wltho
income from the work of these co
Victs, and. that in such event, the Sta
would be out no money for the bon
Of these Railroads.&c. they proved
value, the State would be the game
II worthless, the State would not 10.
But experience has failed to ST.
tain this presumption, and. instead