A practical demonstration of the utility of convict labor on road work was made on May 21 [1910], says an article in Good Roads, when Samuel Hill, Honorary President of the Washington State Good Roads Association, and Major Henry L. Bowlby, State Highway Commissioner, took a party of leading citizens of Portland and Seattle to inspect the work, being done near Lyle, on a section of the Washington State road. (N. Y. Times, November 13, 1910)
A member of the party from Oregon... is reported to have said: "This is ideal work for them. Here we saw them construction a road as good as the old Roman roads, which also were constructed by convict and slave labor. The men were happy and contented: in the jail they are unhappy and discontented. On the road they are of economic service; in the penitentiary they are a menace to themselves and the State. Few men are required as guards, for the men do not try to escape. I am most favorably impressed with the scheme and I trust Oregon adopts it."
MARCH:
Total Value of months work: $3,123.00
Cost of camp maintenance: $1,567.00
Profit for March: $1,530.00
936 days labor performed
$1.66 per day profit per man
APRIL:
Total Value of months work: $4,321.50
Cost of camp maintenance: $1,891.87
Profit for March: $2,429.63
936 days labor performed
$2.60 per day profit per man