The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1913-08-30
BOOSTERS AUTO TOUR
Big Get Together Meet in Jackson :
Sentiment in Favor Of Con-
victs on Highways.

Jackson, Miss, Aug. 28.-The
majority of the autoists who at
/ tended the good roads booster meet
ing here last night departed for
their homes before midnight. but a
number remained over to make the
return trip by day and to see
more of the capital city than wa s
possible at night.
There is no doubt great impetus
has again been given to the cause
of good roads, and the chances are
stronger than ever that Mississippi
is going to put several hundred
convicts to constructing highways
in the not distant future. There
has been demand that convlcts be
put to work on the roads for sew
eral years, but the Legislature so
far has turned a deaf ear to the
proposition. The number of con-
victs has increased heavily the last
few years and as they became
crowded on the farms the LegIsla-
ture ordered the purchase of addi-
tional lands so that all corners
might be accommodated with work.
The idea has been to make cotton
and corn for sale in the markets of
the world and to turn just as much
money into the States strong box
as possible. But sentiment grows
that such is not the purpose of
State prisons-that is. just to make
money--and hereafter the Drawn
and muscle of 1900 convicts is 60
ing to be diverted. There is no
doubt that the farms can be operat-
ed on one-half or one-fourth the
labor now used, thus permitting
the use of 500 or 1000 convicts on
the public roads, the remainder
being retained on the farms to
make bread and meat and some
cotton for their support without
additional expense to the State.
The sentiment of the big meeting
here last night is expressed in the
following resolutions adopted be-
fore adjournment:
Whereas, while it is to the
public interest that the convicts In
the penltentiary should be employ
ed in some useful occupation, their
employment should not be confined
alone in clearing and cultivating
lands, but permanent and substan-
tial public improvements should be
made by their labor for the con-
venience and use of the people, and
the money expended in the several
counties in bringing these public
malefactors to justice should be
returned to the counties in the way
of public works therein; and
Whereas. an improved public
road is the most beneficial object
upon which the peoples money
could be spent, as every tax payer
could see the immediate result of
his funds so paid into the public
treasury, and would reap the ma
terial benefit thereof every day,
and in bad weather more than in
good weather; therefore, be it
Resolved, by this convention of
good roads boosters from the coun-
ties of Pike, Lincoln. Copiah.
Kinds and Madison. assembled at
jackson, this. the 9th day of
August. 1918, That the Legislature
of the State of Mississippi be and
| it is hereby requested to provide
for the use of portion of the con-
vIcts in the permanent improve
ment of the public highways, and
that one or more of such highways
be built to extend through the
State.
Resolved, further, That there
should be highway constructed by
the State from Clarksdale and the
| State line above, or some other
point on the northern boundary of
the State, to Osyka on the southern
boundary, running through the
capital and Central Mississippi.
and that other lateral roads should
be constructed SO as to connect the
county sites of every county with
each other.
Resolved further, That this
great central highway should be
provided for at the next session of