CONVICT LABOE FOR ROAD WORK. 195 



able market value. Said board shall employ a road foreman who shall have charge 

 of said outfit and equipment and work the convicts of such counties on the public 

 roads thereof. Said board shall meet annually to elect officers and transact other 

 business, and at such other times as may be necessary, and may adopt rules and regu- 

 lations for the management and discipline of said convicts, including such punish- 

 ment as may be deemed right and proper for violations thereof. Said board may 

 appoint a road engineer, if it shall deem advisable, the cost thereof to be borne equally 

 by the counties. The road foreman shall work said convicts an equal length of time 

 in each county each year, and shall notify the county judge of each county at least 

 30 days in advance when he will be in his county, and submit an estimate of supplies 

 that will be needed for said convict gang while at work therein, and the said county 

 judge shall furnish such supplies. The convicts shall be worked on the roads des- 

 ignated by the county judge. The county court shall pay the salary of the foreman 

 and any other paid employees with said convicts while working in that county. Per- 

 sons imprisoned for nonpayment of a fine and costs may be so worked until same are 

 paid and shall be allowed on same for each day they shall so work 75 cents. Prisoners 

 from cities and towns may also be worked, and prisoners may be hired from other 

 counties. If any prisoner shall escape, or attempt to escape, the time for which he 

 was liable to work shall be doubled. No convict shall be worked over 10 hours per 

 day, and when discharged shall be given $1 in money and, if he has worked six months, 

 a $10 suit of clothes. White convicts shall not be required to sleep or eat with negi'oes, 

 and females shall not be worked on roads. Felony convicts sentenced to penitentiary 

 for five years may be so worked . Persons held in default of bail, may, at their election, 

 be so worked and shall receive 75 cents per day for labor so performed, to be credited 

 on fine and costs if convicted . Work may be discontinued by said board by a majority 

 vote at any annual meeting. (Acts 1913, No. 306.) 



Convict road district. — At the July term of the county court each year the county 

 judges in any two or more contiguous counties may enter into an agreement for the 

 formation of a road and convict district. There may be worked on the roads of such 

 district all prisoners convicted of misdemeanor in justice's courts and whose fines 

 are not paid, and prisoners convicted in the circuit court for misdemeanor or felony. 

 The county com'ts shall provide for the care and maintenance of all prisoners while 

 working in their respective counties, including guards, wardens, clothing, medical 

 attention, equipment, supplies, stockades, camps, etc., and may pay for same out of 

 any money appropriated for roads and bridges. Prisoners shall not be worked more 

 than 10 hom-s per day, and such labor shall be valued at 75 cents per day. Males 

 and females and wliites and blacks shall be kept separate. Any convict whose con- 

 duct is exemplary and services good for six months shall be entitled to a commutation 

 of one month; for one year, two months; for two years, five months; for three years, 

 six months; and for four years, the prisoner sentenced for five years shall be discharged. 

 Prisoners sendng two years or more shall on discharge be furnished by the sheriff 

 with .$2.50 in money and |12.50 worth of clothing. The county judge, the county 

 clerk, and the sheriff of each county shall constitute a board to prescribe and enforce 

 rules governing work, care, location, and punishment of such convicts. Persons held 

 in default of bail may, at their election, be worked as other convicts and credited with 

 75 cents each day they shall work. (Acts 1909, No. 207.) 



Road improvement district.- — Provision may be made in any highway charter (for 

 road improvement district) for working male convicts of any county on the roads 

 thereof. Every charter providing for so working convicts shall also provide for the 

 appointment of overseers, guards, physicians, and other necessary officers and em- 

 ployees. The cost of feeding, clothing, housing, and superintending such convicts 

 shall be charged to the particular district or county where they are worked in pro- 

 portion to the time they may be used therein. (Acts 1913, No. 302.) 



California. 



State. — State prison authorities may use State prisoners in preparing road and 

 bridge-building materials. (Acts 1901, ch. CXII, being S. 1588 of Penal Code, and 

 Acts of lOJ], ch. 50.) 



The department of engineering may employ State convicts in the construction 

 and maintenance of the State highway system provided for by the "State Highway 

 Act," approved March 22, 1009, and in tlie construction and maintenance of any 

 other State roads. Upon requisition of said department, the State board of prison 

 directors shall send to the designated place, ana at the appointed time, the number 

 of convicts desired. Said department of engineering shall designate and supervise 

 all road work done, but said board of prison directors shall retain full jurisdiction over 

 the discipline and control of such convicts. The expense of transportation, guarding, 



