Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1898 — Good Roads And Convicts. [ARTICLE]

Good Roads And Convicts.

W. S. Blntchley Thinks Prison Labor Might be Utilized by the State. W. S. Blatchley, State Geologist, believes the idle convicts in the State prison might' be employed in building good roads. In the penitentiary at Michigan City there are today almost a thousand able-bodied men who are being marched about to furnish them exercise, because the labor, organizations of the state are opposed to their competition- The industry of the honest citizens of the state pays for maintaining these criminals in idleness. Let the General Assembly authorize the purchase of an extensive bed of shale in western Indiana, and the erection thereon of a modern paving-brick factory. Equip this factory with convict labor, and put several hundred additional convicts to breaking stone for foundation, and cutting it for curbing. * “In this manner the material for many hundred miles of country roads could soon bo prepared, and furnished at n reasonable cost to counties devoid of gravel and other road material. Roads could thus be constructed of vitrified brick at a low price, which would last a quarter of a century or longer, with littleexpenseformaiiitenance. "California, for a number of years, has utilized her convicts in the preparation of road material, and has found the plan efficient and in every way foasible. Let Indiana do likewise, and she will settle, once for all. the two vexed questions of good roads and the utilization of convict labor.”