UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 414 
Contribution from Office of Public Roads and Rural 
Engineering 
LOGAN WALLER PAGE, Director. 
JZ&%J-t~ 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
December 15, 1916 
CONVICT LABOR FOR ROAD WORK. 
By J. E. Pennybacker, Chief, Division of Road Economics, and H. S. Fairbane, 
Highway Engineer, Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, and Dr. W. F. 
Draper, Passed Assistant Surgeon, United States Public Health Service. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
Systems of convict labor 2 
Road work for convicts 6 
Efficiency and economy of convict labor 17 
Management and operation 29 
Records and cost accounts 34 
Discipline and methods of control 54 
Camp location 65 
Water supplies 69 
Camp sanitation 89 
Health conditions and care of sick and injured 115 
Quarters and structures 127 
Clothing, camp supplies, and equipment 145 
Rations for convicts at road camps 157 
Bibliography. . .. 191 
Appendix 193 
INTRODUCTION. 
Within recent years the policy of utilizing convict labor in road con- 
struction or in the preparation of road materials has received serious 
attention by State legislatures, and a number of the States are now 
actively employing convicts on road work, while other States are 
earnestly seeking information on the subject. 
Among the many problems involved are the following: 
(1) Whether it is profitable to use convicts for road construction, 
and if so, under what conditions ; 
(2) The systems of discipline and management productive of the 
best results; 
(3) The character and economy of structures and equipment best 
adapted to conditions in various sections of the country; 
(4) The character, preparation, and cost 1 of food; 
1 It must be borne in mind that all prices of foodstuffs, clothing, and camp equipment herein quoted 
are those prevailing in 1915. 
Note.— This bulletin is intended to give State officials in charge of road work accurate and comprehen- 
sive information on the use of convict labor for building roads. 
53577°— Bull. 414—16 1 
