Sunday, January 13, 2013

Road Work



Today's picture shows convicts doing road work. The picture was taken in the 1940's. The men would gather rocks, and then use a sledge hammer to break them into little pieces, and then the small chips were used as the base for roadwork. Personally if I were a convict I would rather be out doing work like this than be cooped up behind a fence all day.
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8 comments:

  1. Interesting picture. I would rather spend my hours working outdoors too, if I were a convict. It does look like it would be hot, dusty work. I don't imagine they were paid at all?
    -Anne K.

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  2. I always wondered about the job of breaking rocks, then I realized all the railroad expansion in the 19th century needed ballast for the road beds, and gravel won't do. It slips and settles; you need shard pieces that will lock into place.
    As far as outdoor work? I don't think you would enjoy it. This is slave labor contracted out to profit the prison (or warden).

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  3. That is what they call "Making little rocks out of big rocks"

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  4. Reminds me of the three Stooges. They were often in prison breaking rocks and often on Curley's head.

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  5. All the workers are black. All the supervisors are white. Are you certain this is a prison work crew?

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    Replies

    1. Absolutely. And all the white folks are armed. Probably taken in Georgia.

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    2. My eyes must be failing me. I cannot see one gun.

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    3. Look at Saturday's picture. You can't see that gun from the front, either.

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