The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-02-11

payers anu Iuc tOAslIe UHN
to build railroads for private parties,
the late Hon. Augustus Leazar, OF Ire
dell. waged a fight against this use
OF convict labor. He demanded that
convict labor be not given away to
railroads, but that the penitentiary
be made self supporting. MI. Leazar
had q hard fight to carry Oh his
policy, but he was a man OF g
and he impressed himself upon the
legislation OF this State in real pro-
gresive and constructive ways MS did
no other legislator Of his generation.
1t was only by the most courageous
and vigorous fight that he could put
a stop to private parties being given
convict labor and drawing N the
Of the State to build rail
roads in which the State had no real
ownership. After Mr.. IRazar made
his successful fight, he was chosen
by Governor Carr as superintendent
Of the State Prison, and under his
management the State Prison became
self supporting and the State got out
Of the business OF building railroads
for private CORPORATIONS. Some years
ago the Legislature decided-whether
wisely or unWisely-to give convict
labor to grade a railroad into Hyde
County and Allegheny County. giving
to the Eastern county that vas far
removed from a railroad and to a like
Western county the chance If obtain
ing q railroad. Some legislators who
voted for those measures understood
although there was not the least
deception practised-that the State
was going to give the convicts and the
incorporators of the road were to
feed them and guard them, but the
bill was plain hat the State should
build the Mattamuskeet and Allie
| ghany railroads and pay all the ex-
penses Of the convicts, transportation,
board, guard. etc. They were the only
the Legislature Y too up seriously
and considered. However, after they
were enacted. other parties seeing
how fine a thing it was to have the
State OF North Carolina build rail-
roads for them OK their communities.
obtained bills giving convicts to build
other railroads, s. that now there are
convicts building railroads for the
Transcontinental in Western North
Carolina, In Iredell County as well
as on the Allegheny road. There may
be others The law giving the con
victs to the railroad on Pigeon River,
and in Iredell provided that the con-
victs could be given II the State Coun-
Gil decided the penitentiary could
spare them. It was rather a surprise
gave convicts to these two railroads
but, under the terms Of the act, thu
. Council OF the State felt it had III
option to deny them. There is n
Z more reason for the State OF Nortl
: Carolina to build a railr Dad In Ire
, dell County at the expense of tn
Z people Of the State than there Is i,
building Il railroad in Wake County o
. Aecklenburg County or any othe
: county in the State where a part Q
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railroad. AS for the convicts VIII
worked on the road project fror
Knoxville to Southport. the propos!
ton has no cllm whatever upon til
= State to build it. The convicts Q
4 these two roads should be called i
and all acts authorizing the use {
I" convicts to build railroads should l
repealed. The State Is obligated I
build the road to Sparta, and it ma
be that it will have to let the convic
stay until July on the Iredell roa'
but this work should be finished (
quickly as possible and there is I
call upon the State to finish the raj
:. road from S%tatesville to Noun Air
StatcSviile has good railroad facilitie
the very best, and so has Mount Air
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