CONVICT LABOR FOR KOAD WORK. 57 



Shackles of all kinds also have been discarded. Though in the three 

 western States named the guards are armed with revolvers and rifles 

 and are about as numerous in proportion to the convicts as in the 

 southeastern States, in New Jersey and New York the guards carry- 

 only concealed revolvers and each one is responsible for the security 

 of 20 or 30 convicts. In these States, and the North and West gener- 

 ally, the convict cage and the night chain are not tolerated by public 

 opinion, and apparently the same degree of security is obtained 

 instead by the use of stockades, substantial buildings, and night 

 guards. 



In the road camps of Utah, where tents ^re used exclusively, a 

 high degree of perfection in the prevention of escapes has been attained 

 without the use of chains. The tents are pitched within a square of 

 approximately 150-foot dimensions, the Hmits of which are marked by 

 a smgle-strand wire fence. At two diagonally opposite corners of 

 the inclosure and immediately outside the fence are two smaU guard 

 tents, and the only opening in the fence is near one of these tents. 

 Situated at the corners, each of these guard stations commands a 

 clear view of two sides of the inclosure, and guards are on duty 

 at each station at aU times when the convicts are in camp. At each 

 of the guard corners are two strong locomotive headlights, so directed 

 as to illimiinate the two sides guarded from the respective corners. 

 Convicts are forbidden to enter or leave the inclosure except by way 

 of the single entrance and they are cautioned on pain of punishment 

 not to approach the fence at other points, while at night no excuse 

 is considered sufficient to justify a convict in approaching the fence 

 at any point without permission. Working under this arrangement 

 with a force of men maintained at approximately 70 for three years 

 up to November 1, 1914, there had been only one escape, a record 

 which hardly could have been improved upon had every man been 

 chained night and day. 



In aU the States of this group convicts assigned to road work are 

 selected especially with reference to their moral character and their 

 general fitness for the work. The discipline of the road camp is 

 markedly less severe than that of the prison from which they are 

 removed, and eight or nine hours of labor is the rule. More or 

 less latitude is allowed the prisoners in the employment of their 

 time after working hours, games, periodicals, and books being pro- 

 vided for use between supper and the retiring hour, which is, as a 

 rule, about 9 p. m. In New Jersey and New York particular atten- 

 tion is paid to this matter, and baseball games and other outdoor 

 sports are arranged regularly during the season for Saturday after- 

 noons. Whipping is not permitted, and the only punishments which 

 are sanctioned are deprivation of meals, and return to the peniten- 

 tiary, except that in Arizona prisoners may be punished for minor 



