CONVICT ROAD CAMP, FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA. 5 
meanants were so employed. These convicts constitute a State force 
which the State prison commission apportions, according to popula- 
tion, among the various counties desiring their use. The responsi- 
bility of employing and maintaining the prisoners is borne by the 
several counties under the direction and supervision of the prison 
commission; and for the guidance of the county authorities the com- 
mission has established rules and regulations governing housing, 
feeding, guarding, discipline, etc. The convicts are under the imme- 
diate control of wardens appointed by the prison commission with 
the concurrence of the county authorities, and the commission also 
employs supervisors to visit the various counties and inspect the con- 
victs and their work. 
Camps established by the counties are of two classes, permanent 
and temporary. In general, the former consist of wooden barracks 
frequently located at or near the poor farm. In some of the counties 
these barracks are well designed and well equipped, convenient, and 
sanitary, but in many of the smaller counties the sanitary conditions 
are poor. The quarters in the temporary camps are tents, cages, or 
cars, and sometimes portable buildings. The sanitary conditions are 
bad, as a rule, in camps of this character, particularly the cage camps, 
in which the cages usually are seriously overcrowded. 
The beds or bunks provided are varied in character; in a few cases 
they are metal cots, but more often wooden bunks or individual 
pallets laid on continuous platforms. Two sheets, sufficient blankets, 
pillows and pillowcases are furnished to each man, and nightshirts 
also are provided. 
Misdemeanants are clad in suits of striped cloth; but felons are 
divided into three grades according to conduct, and wear gray, brown, 
or striped suits according to class. The weight of clothing provided 
for all classes is adapted to the seasons, and the cloth generally is of 
satisfactory quality, the clothing in fair condition. 
The rules of the prison commission require that food be provided 
for each convict in not less than the following amounts : 
Corn bread without stint, three meals each day except when wheat 
bread is furnished; wheat bread without stint, three meals each week; 
three-quarters pound of salt pork each day; one pound of fresh meat 
or 1| pounds of fresh fish twice each week; sirup or molasses three 
times per week; vegetables three meals each week; one cup of coffee 
for breakfast each day; salt, pepper, and vinegar without stint. 
Many of the counties furnish diets of somewhat greater variety and 
abundance than that prescribed, and the average cost of subsistence 
in 1916 was approximately 22 cents per man per day. 
It is the general practice, except in the case of cage prisoners, to 
secure all convicts at night by means of leg chains attached to a 
continuous gang chain and to one ankle of each convict. As an 
