The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-04
WORK PRISONERS
ON STATE ROADS,
KALAMAZOOPLAN
Official Tells Road Congress that
Good Results Are
Obtained
MEN PUT ON HONOR
AND MAKE NO TROUBLE
Gov. Ferris Declares That Bet.
ter Highways Would As
sist Morality

Kalamazoo county's plan Of working
prisoners on county roads, to the ad-
vantage both of the men and the
highways, It Is claimed. was described
by w. M. Bryant. of Kalamazoo. at
Friday afternoons session Of the
American Road congress, in. the
Wayne gardens. The day was devoted
to the sixth annual session of the
Michigan State Good Roads associa-
ton. Gov. Ferris was the principal
speaker In the morning session.
For nearly five years we have
been working out what has become
known as the Kalamazoo idea. said
Mr.. Bryant. 1.-The first year was
preparatory work. removing stones,
stumps and brush. We have en-
ployed 10 to 80 prisoners. as the
supply permitted. We use the pris-
oners for shoveling, for spreading
material on the roads ard for trim
ming banks. Several times we have
used them as cooks. teamsters and
assistant superintendent. Nearly
100 miles Of road have been con-
structed during the past four yeays.
1--WE employ no guards. The men
are put on their honor, and very
few have violated the faith placed
In them. The majority are not GRIM
inals. but weak sisters Our super
intendents are all deputy sheriffs.
but they are all strong, clean, manly
men who take a personal interest
In those intrusted to them. After
a few days of work. the prisoners be-
come as efficient as the majority OF
men in like occupations. Good
treatment. good food and good sleep
ing quarters go a long way In build
Ing up a mans backbone and are q
help in regaining his self-respect.
No difference Is made In treatment
OF those who are drawing regular
pay and those who are prisoners.
For good behavior. the single men
draw 20 cents per day; married
men. when their families are needy,
draw one dollar per day, and this
Is sent to their wives.
Little can be done for the old
soaks.' as a rule. Their will power
Is gone. their ideals are shattered.
and they are content to be foaters
1t Is pitiful sometimes to see their
efforts to come back and again be
men.
1--WE usually work the men from
eight to nine months each year out
Of doors. During the winter we use
q few of them in making tiles for
road drainage. Work for the entire
year is necessary to make the plan
success.
II believe that 60 per cent Of the
and should be placed at work, build
ing the great trunk lines planned
by the last legislature. With proper
methods Of handling men, great re-
s{llts could be obtained. and I am
convinced that the percentage OF
escapes would be no greater than at
the present time. Trap rock, the
best road material In this country.
IL to be had In unlimited quantities
at the gates Of Marquette prison.
Thousands of tourists. q class OF
easy spenders, are only waiting to
cross our state. visit our cities, val
leys and beautiful lakes, until we
provide the highways for them to
travel over"
when once the people are awak-
ened to the need OF good roads. they
will And q way to pay for them and
all good things will follow" said Gov.
Ferris, after he had paid his respects
in no uncertain terms to what he EVIL
IDENTIFY considers the bad roads In his
own state.
Last fall I lived in an automo-
bile" said the governor, land I never
rot over marveling at the skill Of the
man who could make such car. It
was q marvel that an lyman could
make q car to last over those roads.
Poor roads, poor schools and II.
literacy go hand In hand" said the
governor a few moments later. He
entered into q strong plea for better
roads as an aid to morality and edu.
cation.
II am not a great booster for the
back to the farm movement" he said.
T believe the best solution Of that
problem is to bring the city and coun-
try into rs close relation with each
other as Is possible. and In that way
help people to get the advantages of
both.
AT present, the greatest waste in
the state is the educational waste.
We ought to be able to do al much
for every boy and girl In the country
as we do for the child In the city and
there should be In reach Of every
eligible pupil, good high school In
every part of the state.
with religious opportunities Just
the same situation prevails and would
be removed by the same remedy. The
last word In religious history has not
been said. He'll has never been do.
ing as big business as It IL right
now, and like to have people re-
minded OF that fact. We ought to
have Q few more men preaching that
the wages of sin Is death. The peo-
pie need the church now as much az
ever, although sectarianism IL going
We need to make II easy for men to
60 to some church and good roads
will do the work.
What would like to see this
congress do. IL to adopt some way OF
getting to the people, some way OF
waking them out Of their sleep. and
helping them to realize how much
they want good roads,"
Philip T. Colgrove, presiding oveI
Fridays meeting rs president of the
Michigan State Goods Roads associa
tion, presented George p. renkell. De
troit commissioners Of public works
as representative Of the mayor m
welcoming the state delegates. HI
A~l~Av x>l1s.- A.