The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-29
We NEED .a0iD COMMISSION
SOUTH CAROLINA
WILL GET NONE OF UNCLE
SAM'S GOOD ROADS
MONEY.
engineer Scales in interview at Lex.
ingtOn Throws Light on Situation as
1t Regards State.

Lexington, July s25.--If South Caro-
ma, Georgia and Texas are to keen
pace with the other States in the mat
ter of good roads, and if they are to
share in the distribution of the eighty
hVe million dollars to be expended by
the federal department on the roads of
the country during the next five years,
under the provisions OF the act of
congress, which was signed by the
president week ago. these States will
nave to get busy-and get busy at
once-in the opinion of George c..
Scales, government good roads en-
Sineer In charge of the Washington
Atlanta highway between Columbia
and Atlanta. who was in Lexington
yesterday comforting with Chas. e.
torley, supervisor of Lexington coun-
ty. South Carolina, Georgia and Texas
are the only three States that have not
established State highway commits
sion or the office of highway commits
sloner. said Mr.. Scales; and under the
provisions OF the federal law State
must have one or both of these offices
before the government will turn loose
Its money on the roads of these
States.
| Georgia now has three bills up in
Its legislature said Mr.. Scales, "and
in my opinion, South Carolina will
either create. a State highway COM
mission or, provide for a State high
way commissioner at it's next sitting
OF the legislature. under either of
which the State can share in the
money to be expended on the high
ways by the federal government" he
seid. I'm the event that a highway
commission be established the conn
mission will have to be empowered to
employ highway engineer through
whom the government can, act. This
engineer would have 20 make plans
and specifications for roads, all of
which would have to be agreeable to
the federal government. Among other
Things, the engineer would have to
laT cut new roads from county seat t.
county seat; and his suggestion
would, Of course, have to be acted up-
on by the authorities at Washington.
sale Mr. Scales..s -.
Under this new law i expect to Sc
the greatest Improvement in the roads
iof the country that has ever been
nown, and it wilisnot take five yefrs
or the national government to- fnd
al ~ AZ il should have long since be en-
ending some Of it's aid in building up
he highways Of the country said AIy.
iScales. go 80. sy,
The time is rapidly coming when
the Southern States will have to do
away with the present convict system
/ of working the roads and turn their
eyes To Tree labor and the contrdc dcJ
System" said Engineer Scales, sifpro-
hibition continues to have such a tell
| ing effect upon crime. In some of the
fcounties in Georgia through which my
duties carry me there are not convicts
lenough to make up decent chain
gang. In Clarke county, for an exam
pie, a year ago, even six months ago,
there were more than 100 convicts ON
lthe chain. ganga> there are now less
lShan, so, and the number is daily grow
Ting less. In the North and East high
tways are worked almost entirely under
bthe contract system. Public bids are
asked for, and the work is done at
the cheapest possible, cost, always
taking into i. consideration of course.
tthe reliability Of the bidder. But at the
same time, all road work is under the
direct supervision tof an expert-under
lthe supervision of an engineer, and in,
Ispectors go over the. roads," .,tsf =.
| . The statement Of Mr. Scales with
Preference to the, extreme scarcity of
tconvict labor in Georgia since the pro-
Inhibition law, became effective. brought
Va most interesting and important
statement from Supervisor CorleY
with reference. Ito the local sit
uation here Il am experiencing
the same trouble right now," broke
in Supervisor. COrley. "a year ,ago
had eighty one convicts on my
two chain gangs, and now / "a have
only 43, hardly lenough to operate one
chain gang; and unless more ,convicts
come my way / will be forced to .put
Iall of the convicts together. AT present
II am operating two gangs--one a
shOrt-term gang, the OtheI for the
long-term men; but the cost of keep
ling guards, is too great fur. me to keep
it up unless there be a change and
twill he forced to work all the men nm