The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-24
State Highway Commissioner
Tells of Achievements and
Needs of His Department
SAYS MEN HELD in
IDLENESS In JAlLS
Urges Remedial Laws State
Has Built More Roads With
Convict Labor / han Any
Other in Union

The annual report of state Highway
Commissioner George V. Coleman, sub
mitted TO the Governor Yesterday, con
tains numerous practical suggestions
which The commissioner requests the
Governor TO pass along to the Gen
eraI Assembly.
lie recommends amendments to coun-
tS and magisteriAl district bond issue
laws in order that bond issues for
road building shall be ISIS led on es-
Inmates made by the commissioner
rather than by Inexperienced persons;
that the law of eminent domain be
made applicable for acquiring rights
of way for roads located by the de-
parlment; that sergeants and jailers
be required to report weekly to the
superintendent of the penitentiary the
names and lengths of sentences Of all
persons sent 20 Jail; that the depart
ment be allowed greater discretion In
fixing its employees salaries to avoid
losing competent men who may be Of
fered more elsewhere: that the coun~
ties in which convict road forces are
worked shall be required to pay Ave
cents day for each day of convict
iabor, the money so received to be
paid to the prisoners when liberated
to enable them to live until they can
find work; that the automobile tax be
set aside to maintain roads and bridges
already built, instead of being used for
new work. the paroiing Of the High
way Commission OF well -conducted
prisoners that a small special road
maintenance leva be made for the ex-
pense of the upkeep OF roads con-
structed from bond issues, that the
State money aid for road building be
increased to s5e6,eeo, and that long
la nj -
worked in auarries or gravel pits and
material therefrom he sold to the coun
ties at cost
The commissioner calls attention TO
the improved condition OF the prison
population due to the work In the open.
as well as 10 the splendid advance
thereby made In roads work. yir-
gina. he says. has constructed a
greater mileage Of roads by convict
labor than any other State In the
Union.
Near FIVE hundred thousand dollar.
In bonds have been issued by
various counties OF the State for road
Improvement purposes during the
fiscal year ending Septemb Der so. &C
cording to the repcrt.
During the year" says the com
missioner, eve have worked in
Ilnety-ScVen OF the one hundred
counties Of the State, and In the same
period OF time worked on 5s2 differ
ent pieces of road work Constrl ctino
all told, S46.a5 miles OF road nj q
cost of sl.S1a.S9754 We have ocer-
ated convict camps in thirty-three ~
the counties. employing between L.
ESQ and 1850 convict from the
peR!ientiary. and from $50 and 500
jail men from the various county and
city iails, The average cost per ten
hour working day of The convict labor
TO the State for the past year has
been approximately 30 81 cents We
have applications Oh Ale from four
counties for additional convict forces
as soon as the men and the funds are
available. but this in no wise rep
resents the demand for this form of
State aid, as ii is understood that
under the existing laws the necessary