Weekly journal-miner., 1915-08-11
ROAD WORK BY
 PRISONERS IS REQUESTED
(From Thursdays Daily.)

Road work by county prisoners, a standard bridge design for all county work, and a uniform system of cost data, with an exchange of monthly statements, were endorsed or favor ably discussed at the conference of county engineers at Flagstaff, which resulted in the organization of the State Association of Highway En- gineers. State Engineer Lamar Cobb was elected president Of the new asso- citation and w. H. Caruthers, county engineer of Maricopa county, secre- tary. Membership in the association will be open to any engineer in the State.
 Seven of the twelve county engin- eers were present at the conference, which discussed practical methods of highway construction and problems connected with the work of the coun- ty engineers. Members of the boards of supervisors also attended the ses- sions of the conference, and pledged their support and cooperation in the movement for more efficient work on the highways.
 One feature of the conference was the interest shown in the proposition to work the county prisoners on the roads. Cochise county has so far been the only one to try this experiment, and now has squad of Six prisoners at work under guard on the county roads. The cost of keeping prison CTS in jail, it was pointed out ranges from 50 to 75 cents per day, while the expense to the county of working them on the roads would make a comparatively small inroad on the road fund as compared with day la bor The small number of prisoners worked under this system it was brought out, makes it possible to handle them in squads of from six to ten, under foreman, who also acts as guard. The number in any county would not be large enough to amount to competition with paid labor, and at the same time the employment of the prisoners offered practically the only opportunity to use the now de pleted country roads funds to any advantage.
 Perhaps one of the most important matters that came before the associa- ton was the proposition of uniform system of cost data for all county road work. and the exchange of the monthly statements of expense by the various counties. Comparison of the costs of the same sort of work in the various counties will enable the engineers to ascertain just where they may stop leaks, and how they may obtain the best results. One of the principles of the organization Is that whenever a member is in doubt as to the solution of any problem than it shall be taken up with the or ganization, and that he shall have the benefit of all the data and infor- nation at its command.
 It was the sentiment of the associ- alton that all expenditures for road work should be approved by the coun ty engineers before being paid by the board of supervisors, in order that the responsibility for money paid out should be placed on the official who Is under bond for its proper use.
 One result of the meeting of the association will be that more infor nation and light on highway con struction will be available at the State good roads meeting next month, and that problems to be discussed there will be presented with definite data looking toward their solution. A committee has been appointed to draft a constitution for the new asso- citation.