Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor of the Telegraph:
GOOD ROADS

Your photograph of the Harrisburg
Motor Club banqueting in the Chest
nut Street Auditorium is an inspir-
alton, to air my views on Good
Roads" Why shouldn't I say some
thing? I am a taxpayer, pay my
part for the upkeep of the State and
State Roads and subscribe to the Tele-
graph, that stands for good roads and
Statewide advancement.
Better Roads means a better State.
We want more good roads in Pennsyl-
vania, and free of tolls 1t should be
our pleasure to go from one town or
city to another and enjoy the privi-
lege and right of eminent domain. If,
our fathers or forefathers granted GER
tain privileges for highways; the
''highwayman" at the toll gate should
be paid by the State for the last time
and the good people of the State en-
JOY the free use of the roads, as we
enjoy the God-given sunshine and air
that we breathe.
How about convict and short-term
Jail labor on roads? 1t will mean
many thousands of dollars saved to
the taxpayer. Let's get busy, talk this
and push the idea and get it before
! the Legislature. We built good roads
in the Canal Zone at Panama with
convict and short-term prison labor,
and it seemed to get good results with
an economic saving.
If we could look at the roads in Italy,
around Rome, built by Julius Caesar,
some of which are in preservation to-
day, we would take notice." The
roads constructed by Caesar were
made of huge blocks of stone, and
were built by prisoners of war.
Our prisoners who have broken the
law of our land, should be made to
earn their daily bread" and employ
a1 a. F.,I
account. If they do we'll as road
builders, we should pay them a GER
tain per centage, part of which
would amount to something at the
end of prisoners term and be an in
centive to start all over again." and
be man, and act the part of a man
At different points in the State let us
employ convict labor in the manufac-
ture of a large Vitrified brick or block
one foot square by foot and one-hali
long, with such chemical and physical
properties that will make fine paw
ing block to pave our State highways
Further, we would require a first
class foundation for such a highway
and paving block, it should be made
of concrete about twelve inches in
the center and eight inches on the
side of the road.
For such big project, we the peo-
pie, should have our own cement
plant. and operate same with convict
labor. The cement concerns Couldn't
kick on this government owner
ship" because the government output
goes to the government or State, and
the State could hardly go into the
road building business on such a
wholesale rate, by working the matter
otherwise; and buy her material "re-
tail'' so to speak.
1t will likely make better men OF
our brothers in prison to get out and
build roads and get the good fresh
air in their lungs and sunlight to q
new hope. Organized and unorganized
labor should want to let their unfor-
tunate brothers have all the chance
that he can give him to get new hope
and ambition.
Let us talk. convict and short-tern
labor, large vitrihed paving block;
having sand cushion with a concrete
foundation, and a concrete binder Oh
each side.
Let's get this general scheme, before
the people and build roads whose up
keep won't amount to much.
Judicious expenditure of State!
funds on good roads is one of hel
best investments.
c. S. L.
! Middletown. Pa. Feb. 16. 1916.