CONVICT LABOR FOR ROAD WORK. 129 



more costly in the long run. In fact, it is often found less costly to 

 abandon these shacks completely. 



Bearing in mind, then, what has been said about economy, the sec- 

 ond essential property of a good camp structure is that it shall pre- 

 sent a neat and well-kept appearance and that the peculiar nature 

 of its use as a place of confinement for criminals should not be 

 obtrusively apparent. As illustrative of the effect of this attention 

 to appearance, it will be well for the reader to compare the views of 

 the two mess shelters shown on Plate VII. In all structural essen- 

 tials the two shelters are exactly similar, both consisting of a simple 

 center table with continuous benches on each side, the whole covered 

 by a canvas ''fly" or roof. The more pleasing appearance of the 

 one is attained at the expense of a single coat of whitewash, the cheap- 

 est of paints. 



The third essential property of all structures is that they should be 

 so planned as best to serve the convenience of their occupants. 

 Thus, in the first of the two photographs discussed in connection 

 with the preceding paragraph it will appear that the benches along 

 each side are attached to the side posts, being separated from the 

 table by a distance of several feet, a most inconvenient arrangement 

 which prevents the proper use of the table. How readily this con- 

 dition might have been improved at no greater cost is demonstrated 

 by the second photograph. This is typical of the numerous simple 

 expedients which may be adopted to promote the convenience of 

 quarters of all sorts. Others, such as the proper placing of toilets 

 and baths with reference to sleeping quarters, of the commissary or 

 storeroom with reference to the kitchen and dining room, the pro- 

 vision for hanging clothing in the sleeping quarters, need only to be 

 mentioned to be appreciated. 



As a fourth common property, aU camp structures should be planned 

 with reasonable consideration for the physical comfort of the inmates. 

 Structures designed for use in warm cUmates should be so arranged 

 that they may be thrown open to admit an abundance of fresh out- 

 side air, and, on the other hand, buildings to be used during ex- 

 tremely cold weather should have double-sheeted walls and double 

 floors so that they may be adequately heated. 



That their arrangement should prevent, as far as possible, the 

 accumulation of filth, and should permit easy cleaning is another 

 property which structures of all types should have in common. 

 Re-entrant angles, cracks, crevices, holes, and other places of lodg- 

 ment for dust and vermin should be avoided, and when this is not 

 possible they should be made readily accessible for the purpose of 

 cleaning. Furthermore, it is a good plan to paint aU interior wooden 



