The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-22
Pennsylvania
ON VIRGINIA PLAN
Our Way OF Working Convicts
on Roads Attracts .Atten-
ton of Visitor.
SOUTHWEST COWS IN DEMAND
Pulaski Town and County Get a
Splendid Free ADVERTISE
mcnt From Banker.

Pulaski, Va, June cl.-Gcorge w
Hcnsel president of the ouarryville
National Bank. Ouarryville. Pa. after
his return home from a visit with his
sister. Mrs. John w. Eckman, wrote
10 one OF the Lancaster (Pa.) papers
as follows of his impressions OF this
section and the use OF convicts on the
county roads. Mr.. Hcnsers letter is
dated from Lancaster. Pa:
The people of this section who are
discussing good roads and the making
of them, may be interested In Virginia. $
system OF working conVicts-lea stwisc
a Lancaster countian, visiting in the
Old Dominion, learned some few things
and observed with some satisfaction
this class OF laborers earning their
board. Virginia believes that convicts
should be made to work and not be
permitted TO loaf and grow fat while
taxpayers labor to support them. Ac-
cordingly. when sentenced It's Ito Jail
and roads" unless the prisoners are
desperate characters and have com
mitted some serious crimes, when they
arc sent to the penitentiary. In some
sections of the State the county jails
are empty. with the prisoners i'll CON
vict camps engaged in macadamizing
the highways.
In Old Pulnski.
Just outside OF Pulaski in Pulaski
County. there is a specimen camp with
eighty convicts. They are housed in
one large Shanty, with forty beds ON
each side and 4 heavy chain extending
the entire length. AT night the con
victs arc chained to the main chain
with smaller chain around their
ankle so that there's no soInnambu-
lism. much less opportunity to es-
cape. In the morning they are loosed
breakfasted and taken to work -Four
Ill ,,.ttI
them. and it's very ware that any at
tempts are made to escape. All night
long guards stand watch, but the con
victs are glad to sleep. They are fed
good food. at an expense of about 81
cents day. so that. at least 81 a
man is saved in labor. which is a big
item. and the finest roads have been
built and are in course of construction
at Il cost Of from $4,000 to $1,000 mile.
Everything is neat and clean in the
camps, and the men do their washing
and ironing.
Honor Roll for ConvIct..
TRUSTEES are permitted to drive the
teams to town and serve in the capac-
ity OF walking bosses. There's but
little clerical work to he done. as it's
n long while between pay days. and
men are told what to do and compelled
to do il. Among the convicts in the
Pulaski camp is Il former bank cash
Ter. who stole some $4,000 and re.
ccived two-ycar sentence. With him
the pen lad been miGhtier than the
pick. and after working with the latter
two days. during which time he blis-
tered his hands to finish he was
made chairman of the water-carrying
committee. and Is now to BIO seen car
ryine water for his fellows. lie was
something OF an epicure in his better
days. and bargaincd with a farmer to
serve him meals at S. per week. but
was Informed that prison fare was a
part Of his punishment, so that he
fares less sumptiously than .ho had
hoped to. Thousands OF convicts arc
CONTINUED on Sixth Page0