Chap. 308.—An ACT to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to provide
for the working of certain long-term or desperate convicts by the superin-
tendent of the penitentiary, the governor, and the commissioner of
agriculture, for the manufacture of ground limestone and oyster shells,
and incidentally for the disposition of the same, and the by-products
suitable for road construction, to the citizens of the State, approved
March 14, 1912, adding the manufacture of ground marl. (H. B. 475.)

Approved March 27, 1914.

Whereas, it is the policy of the State to work as many of the
convicts confined in the penitentiary as possible, for the building
and maintenance of roads, and when on account of character or dis-
position it shall be expedient so to work them, to provide suitable
employment in quarries where they can be guarded, and their pro-
duct sold; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
an act entitled an act to provide for the working of certain long-
term or desperate convicts by the superintendent of the peniten-
tiary, the governor and the commissioner of agriculture for the
manufacture of ground limestone and oyster shells, and inciden-
tally for the disposition of the same, and the by-products suitable
for road construction to the citizens of the State, approved March
fourteenth, nineteen hundred and twelve, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the governor, superintendent of the penitentiary and the commis-
sioner of agriculture shall constitute a board, of which the governor
shall be chairman, to be known as the convict lime board, for the
purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act.

Sec. 2. Whenever the board shall be of opinion that it is wise
and expedient to do so, as many of the long-term or desperate con-
victs as can be profitably employed within the limits of the appro-
priation made in this bill shall be put to work in quarrying, getting
out and grinding limestone and oyster shells and marl, and to en-
able them to do so, the board hereinbefore constituted, may acquire
by gift, purchase or lease suitable limestone lands or quarries and
suitable deposits of oyster shells and marl convenient to transpor-
tation by rail or water, and shall cause the same to be manufac-
tured, so that the product shall pass through a sieve of not less than
ten meshes to the inch, unless the purchaser shall specifically con-
tract for a coarser product. And said board is also authorized to
acquire land convenient to the quarry for the erection of suitable
buildings for the convicts and other employees.

Sec. 3. The said board is now and hereby authorized to purchase
and install necessary and suitable engines, boilers, machinery and ap-
pliances, having regard to durability and efficiency, for the quarry-
ing of the stone and handling of the shells and marl, for the crush-
ing of the stone and shells or marl, and for loading the ground pro-
duct upon cars, boats, wagons or other vehicles for transportation,
and shall see to it that competent and reliable men are placed in
charge of said machinery, and whenever practicable, convicts shall
be used for all the work of the plant.

Sec. 4. The said board, in order to carry on its work, shall dis-
pose of the ground limestone and shells and mar] and, in the dispo-
sition thereof and of the by-products, shall have regard to the rights
and interests thereof and of by-products; shall have regard to the
rights and interests of all the citizens of the State, and shall not
sell to any one purchaser more than a carload during any one year
if there are any other applications therefor, and shall, as far as pos-
sible, have regard in making said sales to the several sections of the
State, and it shall not be sold to any person except for his own use,
out two or more persons in the Same locality may together order a
carload to be distributed at destination.

Sec. 5. The said ground limestone and ground oyster shells and
marl, so produced by convict labor, shall be sold for cash and at a
price which shall repay the State for the maintenance, guarding
and service of the convicts, for the interest on the amount invested
in machinery, ten percentum for wear and tear of the machinery,
the cost of the rock and shells and marl; and the upkeep of the ma-
chinery. And the said board shall dispose of any by-product of
quarry or from oyster shells or marl for road or other purposes for
a fair price to any of the citizens of this State on the same terms and
in the same manner, except as to quantity, as the crushed product
is sold. And the said board shall place upon every bag containing
its products; and when shipped in carload lots, on tags or cards not
less than four inches square, to be tacked on outside and inside of
car, which shall set out the analysis of its product, and shall in all
respects comply with the requirements made upon manufacturers
of lime.

Sec. 6. The board shall keep accurate accounts of all moneys
received and disbursed, and a list of parties to whom the crushed
limestone, crushed oyster shells and ground marl and by-products
shall be sold, and shall also keep an accurate account of the expense
of maintenance and guarding the convicts, and the amount due the
State on account of their services.

Sec. 7. All money received by the board shall be deposited in
one or more of the banks having the right to receive State money,
to the credit of the board, and shall be drawn by check signed by
the chairman of the board, and showing by itemized statement at-
tached, the purpose of the claim which it settles. On the first day
of January and July of each year a full statement shall be made
of the operations of the board to the governor and auditor of public
accounts, which reports the governor shall transmit to the general
assembly, and any money not needed for the working of the con-
victs as aforesaid shall be paid into the treasury.

Sec. 8. For the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of
this act, the sum of thirty thousand dollars, heretofore appropri-
ated by this general assembly by an act entitled an act to appropri-
ate thirty thousand dollars, the unexpended appropriation hereto
made by the general assembly to provide for the working of certain
long-term or desperate convicts by the superintendent of the peni-
tentiary, the governor and the commissioner of agriculture, for the
manufacture of ground limestone and oyster shells, et cetera, shall
be available as effectually as if the same had been therein specifically
provided.