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Gokp or ConyicTjsqsd wo&ia&eg
rpr —pzn HERE is nothing particularly new or
| revolutionary about the working of
convicts upon the public roads. For
4* many years it has been the custom
UZ . / in most of tho cities of this country
■ " to place vagrants and other minor
net at work upon the streets and in
a number of states tho inmates of
the penitentiaries have been employed at various
times in tho construction of highways.
Hut tho modern idea of convict road labor is new
and it is only just beginning to appear In various
parts of the United States. The old idea —where
convict labor was employed on the roads —was
merely to utilize the labor of the convicts to the
best advantage to the state —to make the convict
produce as large a revenue as possible, in order to
repay the slate for the expense of maintaining its
penal institutions. Into the new idea, there has
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■ entered an element that was unthouglit of former
ly. This new element has to do with the reclama
tion of the convicts, the development of their moral
senses and their ultimate return to the world as
law-abiding citizens, rather than as human derelicts,
made unfit, through their prison life, for any fur
ther attempt to lead an honest existence.
The new idea of convict road labor is to aid
both the state and tho convict; to give the state
the benefit of the labor that can be utilized to
greater advantage in this way than in any other,
and to give the convict the benefit of the out
door life, the freedom from tho restraint of prison
wails and the different character of discipline that
makes it possible for him to regain his self-respect.
In working out this new idea, especially witli
the view to tho reformation of the convicts, old
Ideas of prison regulations necessarily have disap
peared and the whole system of discipline has been
revolutionized. The honor system taken the
place of armed guards, iu many instattees, and the
road "camp” has replaced the stockades and "bull
pens” of the old days of convict road labor.
Colorado was one of the first states to adopt the
new idea. New Jersey began experiments along
the same line a short time later. President Wood
row Wilson, then governor of New Jersey, is given
credit for tho inauguration of the convict road
work in that state along the new, lines. Several
other states have fallen in line, each working
possibly in a different way, but toward the same
general end.
Illinois is tho latest state to make a begin
ning in this work. A force of nearly one hun
dred convicts was recently taken from the peni
tentiary at Joliet and placed at work on the
roads. Armed guards were dispensed with and
the men were placed upon their honor. The
convicts pledged themselves to make no effort
to escape and the authorities are relying upon
their keeping this promise.
In this case a tendency soon developed on the
> part of the people to overdo the idea of giving
« the convicts greater liberty and pleasure. A
Plan to give tho convicts an automobile ride
and theater party in a nearby city was pro
posed to the authorities, but Governor Dunne
vetoed this program and let it bo understood that
while it is planned to give the convicts greater
freedom than they have been accustomed to
within the prison walls and to aid them in get
ting a better view of life, the fact that they
have been sentenced to pay a peralty for in
fraction of the state's laws must not be forgot
ten and the men must be made to realize that
punishment awaits such violations of the stat
utes.
The. working of convicts upon the roads in
Colorado was made possible only a few years
ago by act of the legislature. , The system has
been generally adopted throughout the state
during the past two or throe years, the various
counties co-operating with the state in the im
provement of the highways. The result is seen
in many miles of splendid roads built by the
convicts.
The honor system was adopted simultaneously
with the placing of the convicts on the roads
In Colorado. All of the convicts were not
turned loose from the penitentiary without
guards, but a certain percentage of the prison
ers, including those having the best prison rec
ords, were taken from the penitentiary first as'
an experiment. Vs the success of the experi
ment seemed evident to the authorities, the num
ber of “honor” men was Increased and more
than 50 per cent, of the convicts were finally
removed from the prison and placed in the road
camps.
Warden Tynan and other prison authorities de
clare the experiment has been even more suc
cessful than they anticipate'
“During the last three years we have had more
than one thousand individual prisoners in the
convict camps,” says the warden. "These men,
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without guards—some 300 miles away from the
prison—havo created a national reputation for
loyalty. Less than one per cent have violated
their pledges by successful escape. Communi
ties no longer fear to have our convict camps
established near them. We have made manhood
as well as money by thiß healthy, hearty out
door labor. We have built the prisoners up both
physically and morally. Men discharged from
our road camps do not have the prison pallor,
the physical weakness and the hesitating, hang
dog appearance of the typical discharged con
vict. They are bronzed, sturdy, healthy, efficient
laborers and are in demand as such. About 80
per cent, of those we have Vent from the camps
on the completion of their terms have made
good. The other 20 per cent, have mostly found
their way back into prison elsewhere."
Under the Colorado system, the convict is
allowed ten days off his sentence for each month
of labor performed on the roads. This is in i
addition to the usual reduction made for good
behavior. • There are other incentives for the
convicts to so conduct themselves that they will
be put at work on the roads, according to War
den Tynan. “For one thing,” he says, “the man
who is allowed to leave the prison for the road
camp practically has seen the last of prison if
he conducts himself properly. His food is bet
ter, his clothing is better. He has not constant
ly before his eyes the guns of the gruards to
remind him that he is a convicted criminal and
has no place in, society. His self-respect re
turns, he is taught self-reliance and sustained
application, and'these things enable him to take
his place among other people and do a man's
work when he is released from prison.”
As to the economic side of the question. War
den Tynan is just as optimistic. He declares
that the state has saved a large amount of
money and that it .will save hundreds of thou
sands of dollars during the next ten years
through the use of convict labor on the roads.
With reference to the cost of maintaining the
convicts in the roaiF camps. Warden Tynan gives
some statistics.
"In one of our camps,” he says, “we worked
33 men. not including the camp help, one month.
The maintenance of each of these men cost the
state exactly 25 cents per day. The total cost
of all the work for the month, including salaries,
care of stock, feed for teams and cost of equip
ment, was $515.15, or 47% cents per day per
man. Had this number of men been employed at
the standard wage rate of $2 per day, the cost
of wages alone would have" been $1,632.50."
THE COCHRAN JOURNAL. COCHRAN. GEORGIA.
In New Jersey the convicts are handled a lit
tle differently, but the object is the same. Here
the guards have not thrown away their guns,
but the firearms are not in evidence and the
casual visitor to the convict camp scarcely can
tell which are the keepers and which convicts.
Woodrow Wilson, when he was governor of
New Jersey, thought he saw a way to solve some
of the problems presented by the state prisons.
He outlined his idea to the state prison labor
commission and turned over to that body, togeth
er with the state road commissioner, the task
of working out his ideas. The result of President
Wilson’s suggestions is "Don't Worry Camp,” tho
first of the road convict camps to be established
in New Jersey.
This is wery much like any other summer
camp, except that it is better equipped. One
large room holds the convicts' beds, while in a
projecting ell there is space for five guards,
whose beds are so placed that every square foot
of the convicts’ quarters can be seen through a
glass partition. This is the only suggestion of
surveillance, except for the locks that are placed
on the doors at night. The convicts' room con
tains a shower-bath and other facilities. The
ventilation is scientific and the floor, walls, ceil
ing and beds are spotless. Two former chefs,
now convicts, preside in the kitchen and prepare
the meals, which include meat twice a day and
plenty of fresh vegetables.
All the buildings in the camp were construct
ed by the convicts themselves, without any out
side help, save where expert workmanship such
"las could not be furnished by che convicts, was
needed. After the camp was completed the con
victs were put to work on the nearby roads.
Asphalt roads are to be Jaid and culverts and
bridges constructed, and in this connection is
seen one of the chief benefits of the new sys
tem, so far as the convicts are concerned. TV
prisoners will have an opportunity to learn, ine
masteries of scientific road-making, a profession
which is not overcrowded. Those prisoners who
show an interest in the work will be promoted to
responsible positions and will be In a position to
secure well-paid jobs w T hen their terms expire,
the authorities believe.
While these few' states have been taking the
lead in the efforts to solve the problem of con
vict labor, other states have been studying the
question of how best to direct the labor, of the
state's ward, both for his own interest and that
of the state, and rapid progress .is predicted
along these lines during the next few years by
those familiar with penal conditions throughout
the country.
DIVERSIFICATION ON
SOUTHERN FARMS
Forage Crops Fully as Important
as Cotton and Corn.
PROFITABLE AS WINTER FEED
Every Farmer Should Make Growing
of Fodder a Big Part of His Farm
Operations, Selecting Piece of
Land for Purpose.
(By G. 11. ALFORD.)
The question of forage crops is not
a difficult problem for southern farm
ers. Almost every farm crop grown
| can be used for forage. There are,
however, many plants that will pro
duce forage in abundance.
Every farmer should make the grow
ing of forage an important part of his
farm operations. Each year a large
piece of land should be selected espe
cially for the growing of forage crops.
Forage crops are of fully as much im- i
portance as cotton and corn, but they I
are usual’y neglected crops.
The turnip crop should be cousid-1
I ered of great value. Prepare the land !
thoroughly, manure heavy, plant in j
drills three feet apart, when the leaf ]
is as large asV dime, thin to 15 inches I
and cultivate often, and you will raise
a great quantity and find that the crop
is very profitable for winter feeding.
For the earliest spring feed, sow
oats, rye or wheat in the fall. Sow
two bushels per acre on fertile soil,
liberally manured and well prepared.
These crops usually produce feed by
the first of March and furnish good
hay if cut in the dough stage.
Crimson, white, burr and red clovers
are valuable winter crops to plant.
September and October are the best
months for seeding, and to be sure
of a big crop plant on fertile soil and
a perfect seed bed, using plenty of
manure and 200 pounds of acid phos
phate per acre. Sow from 15 to 20
pounds of seed per acre. The yield
of hay on thoroughly prepared fertile
soil Is about one and one-half tons
per acre. Tho corn crop planted on
this clover stubble will never fail you.
As high as 20 tons of silage corn is
often grown on clover sod.
Alfalfa excels every other crop In
yield per acre, in feeding value, and
as a soil enricher, when grown' on
land to which It is well adapted.
For a largo yield of hay, sow one
bushel of wheat or oats and 15 pounds
crimson or red clover per acre. The
crops are cut when the clover is in
full bloom. It is easy to make two
tons of hay per acre on fertile soil,
and these hays are milk and fat pro
ducing feeds.
Hairy vetch and wheat or oats are
also fine for grazing and hay. More
land is being seeded each year to
this mixture, and the farmers all like
it.
Fall or spring sown oats furnish
grazing and make a capital hay when
cut in the dough stage. At Baton
Rouge, La., two and one-half acres
were planted in oats at tho experi
ment station for grazing on Septem
ber 28. October 29 seven Poland
China pigs weighing In total 27G
pounds were put on the oats and
given no feed during the winter. On
February 17 the pigs w-eighed a total
of 568 pounds, or an average gain of
.37 pound per pig per day for 110
days. From October 29 to January 1
45 head of sheep were pastured on
this same plat.
Rape will produce more green for
age in the south during the winter
months than any other one plant or
combination of plants that can be
grown. It has been demonstrated by
the experiment station that an acre of
good rich land sown to rape will pro
duce as much pork when used as a hog
pasture as the same acre planted to
Hogging Down Corn
Weight at Start 82 Lbs.
Cost and Pork Per Acre.
Com and $2.38 per 100 lbs. Lbs.
Soy Beans WBKt 619
Corn and Cow 2.46 “ “ “
Peas m| 504
Corn Alone n
Sweet Corn and 3.55 “ “ **
Soy Beans ■■■■■■ 350
Ear Corn and 3.74 “ ** “
Meaf mm
| corn and well cultivated. It can be
j grown a great deal cheaper than corn.
I One or more acres should be planted
on every farm every year.
Wheat, oats, rye, and barley make a
good mixture for grazing and hay.
When sown in September or October
on good land, it may be grazed all the
dry days from November 1 to March
1 and then hay may be harvested the
latter part of May or the first of June.
There is hardly an end to the sum
mer crop that can be grown for for
age. Every farmer Is entitled to his
choice, and while sorghum and other
crops produce an abundance of high
class feed per acre we must not fail to
keep in mind the fertility of the soil.
It is possible to have a rotation of
very fine forage crops that will im
prove the soil. Cow peas, soy beans,
peanuts, alfalfa, the vetches and
clovers furnish grazing and hay and
rapidly increase the fertility of the
soil.
At the Louisiana station corn with
cowpeas grown in the corn and pea
nuts gave 450 pounds of pork per
•nro. The peanut* were planted after
oats, which, during the winter, fur
nished grazing that gave 200 pounds
of pork per acre and a crop of oats be
sides. The peanuts planted after oats
gave an average of 400 pounds of pork
and this added to 200 pounds from
grazing the oats made a total of 600
pounds of pork per acre and a crop of
oat 3 besides.
Sweet potatoes give from 400 to 750
pounds of pork per acre. If we take
an average at 500 pounds and add to
this 200 pounds from grazing the oats
which preceded the sweet potatoes,
we have 700 pounds of pork per acre
for one season, plus a crop of oats har
vested.
At the Mississippi delta station, aft
er the corn was gathered, pigs were
turned into the pea field, and made &
gain from the peas of 170 pounds per
acre. They had no additional feed.
Comparative Value of
Fertility in Farm Produce
oT»' SEES SU M
Timothy * !0 74
l(K M,ik bß ' a 3l ® * :011
!000 Lb 9. WTTtt * 4 £9
FatC.ttlfe ,U 2
1000 Lbs. n n
Fat Hots * U
500 Lbs. | ,a
Butter 1 40 15
The results obtained when turning;
hogs, cattle, sheep and other stock
into velvet beans after the corn is
harvested are more satisfactory.
The soy bean is probably tho best
annual legume to grow for forage in
the cotton belt. Whether used as a
hay, grain or for grazing it Is a very
valuable feed for live stock. Soy-bean
hay is practically identical in feeding
value with alfalfa, and yields from
two to three tons per acre. The grain
is more valuable than cottonseed meal
as a supplementary feed in the produc
tion of pork, mutton, wool, beef, milk
and butter. A bushel of soy beans 13
at least twice as valuable for feed as
a bushel of corn.
Spanish peanuts will produce good
crops on comparatively poor land,
when well fertilized and cultivated.
Prof. Duggar at the Alabama station
found an acre of Spanish peanuts pro
duced 600 pounds of live weight in
hogs. This was after the tops had
been cut with a mower and saved for
hay. The growing of peanuts after
oats and on other land, and the usa
of the mowing machine or the thresh
er and hay press, will promote the
raising of good live stock and add
much to the fertility of the soil.
Cow peas without grain usually give
better results than other crops. One
season a crop of peas grown on bottom
land produced 483 pounds of pork per
acre. Peas furnish most excellent
grazing for all kinds of stock.
Milo maize, Kaffir corn, millet and
other crops furnish excellent forage,
but a crop of corn and cow peas, soy
beans, peanuts, or velvet beans can
be grown on the same land at the
same time and furnishes a world of
valuable feed and increases the fer
tility of the soil at the same time.
This being true, let us call particular
attention to the importance of cow
peas, peanuts and soy beans planted
in the corn at the last working as a
factor in the production of large quan
tities of cheap forage. All kinds of
stock can be turned *lnto the field
after the corn is harvested and-will
soon be rolling fat.
Every farmer who keeps as many
as ten head of stock should build a
silo. The cost is small. For filling
the silo corn is king. The yield of
corn on fertile soil is seldom under ten
tons per acre, and often as high as 20
tons per acre.
No man can make the best use of
forage crops without adequate fenc
ing. Around every field run a woven
wire_ fence 30 inches high, with two
strands i>f barb wire above. Also use
several hundred yards of the hurdle
or portable fence to divide the fields
Into lots of any size. This fence is
simple and cheaply made and can be
stored under a shed until needed.
BEES Ar!TquTtE~PR6 FITABLE
Honey Gatherers Are Only Producers
on Farm That Yield Profit With
out Cost of Feed.
(By WESLEY FORSTER, Colorado Stato
Bee Inspector.)
If people knew what a great source
of profit is found in the keeping of
bees, and how interesting the work
there wouldn’t be an unused square
foot of g-ound on any farm in the
United States.
Bees are the only producers known
to husbandry that yield a profit with
out cost of feed. They find their own
pasture. They multiply so rapidly that
they more than pay for the small ini
tial expense of housing them, and the
first cost of equipment is almost tri
fling.
Bee culture may be made profitable
by the children of the farm, or by
the women members of the family. It
may be carried on successfully in con
junction with the keeping of poultry
or growing of fruit. In the latter case,
apiculture is found to be a great help
toward more fruit and better fruit.
Bees are little trouble, and require
only occasional attention. They are
easily handled and readily controlled.
Best of all, they give a real service
in hard cash, and that counts most on
the farm.