Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1898 — Convict Made Roads. [ARTICLE]

Convict Made Roads.

State Geologist Blatchley has a Plan for Construction. Delphi Times. State Geologist Blatchley is formulating a bill to present to the next legislature which, if pasted and put into operation, will place Indiana far in advance of any state in the Unon in the possession of magnificent roads. His proposition is to employ idle convict labor upon the country roads and pave them with convict made brick. Since the action of the last legislature abolishing the custom of leasing convict labor, prisoners confined in the state prisons are condemned to enforced idleness. A great many propositions are in consideration to utilize the wasted labor force to the greatest advantage to the commonwealth. Professor Blatchley’s scheme commends itself to all people as one which would benefit equally all sections of the state. It seems at first sight an extravagance amounting to impracticability, but the proposition is backed with figures that are convincing. The work would necessarily be slow but would be permanent, and, according to Prof. Blatchley, would cost practically nothing to repair. His calculations, based upon a careful computation, show that brick roads could be supplied by convict labor at a saving to the people of SSOO per mile over the average gravel road, on original construction, and something like SSOO per year on repairs. All who are interested in securing good roads should look into this matter and if it proves as promising as at present indicated, representatives of the various districts should be prepared to give it a favorable reception when it appears before 4he general assembly.