Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-11-16
JREN, ARKS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1914

ergetic measures should be adopted with tho means
and assets Of the Banks, to discharge the interest
upon all such bonds as bave been sold in good
faith. and IN strict accordance with the Bank
Charters.
My predecessors saw proper, for the purpose of
doing ample justice both to the State and to the
bond holders, to recommend the appointment Of
an agent or commissioner. under the authority Of
the Legislature, TO investigate fully the subject of
the bonds, in order to ascertain those sold in good
.aith. and reported accordingly to the next Leg.
islature. fully concur with him in recommen-
ding the creation Of such an officer, as presume
no portion OF our population would be willing to
pay the interest on bonds frauduenlly obtained
or disposed Of n violation of the constitution and
laws Of our State.
Cnder tho act of Congress, approved the 4th
September, lS4l, distributing the proceeds Of the
sales OF the public lands among the several States.
Arkansas was entitled to 100000 acres. Imme.
date steps were taken by my predecessor 10 car.
ry the act into effect, by the appointment of 10.
eating agents. and at last session there had
been located 1913. .720 acres. have continued to
make locations under the system adopted by him.
ana IN conformity with the acts of the Legisla.
ture relative thereto.
Up to the 30th of October last, the locating
agents had selected 479 sS2 acres. Orthis, 255..
o2| acres have been confirmed TO the State. The
amount OF lands selected and not vet confirmed
IS loS, ID acres. The amount selected the plats
OF which are not in the Registers Office, is "a.
ofo-acres.- Of the lands above selected and con.
hrmed. sales have been made and applications re-
celved for the purchase Of 10000 acres.
For the better protection of the interests of
the State IN the locating and dsposing of her lands
wh'ch has already become an extensive bu sincss,
It will require the vigilant attention of an agent
ot / Al, Il,
ties of the Executive are so numerous. and his
presence Is so constantly required at the seat Of
government, that. 1t is impossible for him TO ad.
vance the interest of tho State in the mana ce.
ment OF her lands. would therefore recommend
10 your consideration the proprety of establish.
ing a land offi2e separate from the Executive De-
partment, AMI and the appointment o., on agent,
whose duty it should be TO dispose of the lands be.
longing 10 the State, subject to the approv-
al OF the Executive, and to perform such other
duties as the interest of the State might require
connected with her lands.
In changing the penal code of the State, by es.
taoshinS penentary system, it was not, ap-
prehend, the intention of the State to create large
surplus revenue from the labor of the convicts.
out rather, for the suppression of vice and the
punishment OF crime, well as the improvement
OF The criminal. How far this change has pro-
aacsa ] the the eec! intended is still of specu.
It's evident, however, in my Judgment, that no
SYSTEM possessing less the principles of humanity
could have produced more general satisfaction in
'he community. 1t was not The design, further
more, 10 make the labor Of the convic Is conflict
with the labor aud industry of the citizens
II IS supposed, however. by some, that it docs
conflict inJurous with the labor of a highly res.
Pectabe class of our population and has consequent
y ~, become unpopular in many parts Of tho State.
" hether ms Is true or not, it is believed to be
so, and il Is the duty of the General Assembly so
10 chanse the labor OF the conr!cts, as 10 silence
any complaints that may exist and produce as
much satisfaction in the community as possible,
provided it can be accomplished without bringing
an expense upon the State. In examining the
mode OF conducting the labor of the penitcniaries
OF other States, we that it has been one of their
grand Objects TO keep such labor from interfering
as lar as practicable with the labor of the citizen
by employing the convicts IN the ma ufaclure of
bagSlnS and rope. course cloths, Goa rse Shoes &c.
which are considered cash articles and alwa VS.
find a roady market. Wherever this has been
done, quiet has been produced in all classes of the
community, and greater revenue to the State.
1t will be seen from the report of the agent of
the Peneniary that the value of work. TOOLS
stock on hand, debts due, Improvements made, and
all effects purchased since the 10th of Februa ry,
1872, amounts to the sum Of 9.lO6 81 100 dol.
lars. Its expenditures for the same period, will
DO seen from the following exhibit:
Cash drawn from tho Treasury, 81 .6SI 25 !:
due 10 Agent, Physician, and Guard. 1875 u;
debts due to sundry individuals 50. .S22 30: a.
mounting in the aggregate to Sll,S79 SO; the
number Of deaths since 3lsl October, 1912, are
2; the number of pardons for the same period, .;
the whole number of deaths, pardons. and escapes
during the same period, 6; the number of convicts
now in the penitentiary is ~. Tho exhibit made
by the gent shows that the State has lost in the
last two years by the penitentiary S2,172 S3.-
Tho failure Of this institution To meet its expendi
lures will not, presume, produce any surprise,
Wien the difficulties under which it has labored are
taken into consideration.
AL lsimilar institutions re necessarily an expense
for the first five years of their existence and that
too where much earlier market md higher oricos
we're obtnined than with US. This institution had
also to labor under all the difficulties of depre-
ciated currency and extensive credit ystem For
the pupose, therefore, of keeping up the ins,tu.
lion, and preventing the State from sustaining n
much greater loss. il has become necessary for
the general assembly 10 make an appropriation of
three thousand dollars, to purchn So materials abso.
'utely necessary to keep the consicts employed,
and to sustain the interest of the institution, which
will more fully appear from the report of the
Agent OF the Penitentiary herewith submitted for
fnv raj hlo