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, all camp structures should be planned 
with reasonable consideration for the physical comfort of the inmates. 
Structures designed for use in warm climates 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 all interior wooden 
