The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-04-06

Of some system for the employment of convicts
on state and county roads.
In speaking of what can be accomplished in the
way Of road building by the use OF convict labor.
Thomas J. lyman. warden of the state penitentiary
under whose supervision the work the last three
years has been done, recently said:
The benefits in this or any other state from
broad and scientific system of convict road build
Ing can scarcely be estimated. Basing our figures
on actual experience we are confident that we can
construct In the next ten years more than Eve
thousand miles OF the very finest roadways for
less than 100000 and this without adding any
thing whatever to the burden of the taxpayers.
During the period Of ten years the internal
revenue fund Of Colorado should amount to 2,000-
600. After deducting 100000 for road construc-
ton, the remaining amount should be wisely
pended in bridge building, road repairing and for
similar uses Add to this the financial assistance
from the different counties, and It would enable
to construct not less than 10000 miles. It can be
done In Colorado. Why should not the same con-
ditions apply to other states under more favorable
conditions where the roads are naturally better
and where cost Of construction would not neces-
sarily be 80 high as In our mountainous sections!
ITO illustrate better the great saving to the tax
payers on this class Of work and It's possibilities
let nae quote few figures from one of our road
camps During one month we worked IS men
the road not including the camp help. The num-
Der of days employed was 24x. Each OF these 80
men rendered to the state labor equivalent in
value to 81 and 80 day. The labor for each man
cost the state exactly rs cents per day. Had this
number Of men been employed at the regular
standard of wages Of say $500 per day per man.
the cost of wages alone would have been 81 63250.
Each days work thus represented net saving of
at least $175 per man. The total cost of all the
work for the month. including salaries, care of
stock, feed for teams and cost Of equipment was
$51515. or an cents per day per man. When
these figures are considered no one can doubt for
moment the economy Of building roads with con-
vict labor The roads are carefully and thoroughly
inspected by competent engineers who testify to
the completeness and high character Of the work.
What Is the incentive for the men to create such
great work. 10 q question often asked Colorado
ans. II II Just this: the man who IL allowed to
leave the prison for the road camp has practically
the last Of prison life II he conducts himself
properly his food II better his clothing 10 better;
his selfrespect IL preaerved and he ID taught self
reliance and sustained application He earns an
additional ten days month during the time he
works. which very materially reduces his sem
tence. minimizing the policy OF armed guards,
the men have been placed under skilled and com.
petent overseeS end guarded only BY their word
Of honor not 70 run away. They remain fAithful and
loyal 70 their pledges The suecoes Of such IN
honor sy1tem Va lnetantansous; TIE plan has
worked ont better than IT. osigln6tof6 expected-
Dufine fhe lat three yeotg ~ hare had more
than one tno1enn6 individual prisooeS 4 the con-
viet camps Thee ~ vitheqt ouards eczae 80
milse away non ~ yrison-- lsvs essets1 q,
80 ~ vieIasss ~ Sl>evss - - -