The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-01-13

power. = "a ~
The location Of Lockville struck the epti,.
committee as embracing all that was needed
There was water power there unsurpassed bv an"
IN the country. The owners proposed to Law os
some ten acres of land and give a limited wat.
power as gratuity. The committee thoupbt
the ten acres would not be sufficient and tbat
they would not consider the proposition unless
the quantity of land was increased to 25 acres
which was finally agreed to. The only difficult,
was, that the amount OF water power was limi|
ted. i i,sstt lif.l
Several considerations presented Themselves
in looking the matter over. In the first paes
was this: in the Northern penitentiaries whrrs
mechanical labor is used, the outside mechanics
are generally opposed to it, because they saw it
,interfcres with their business. Northern con
>victs are of different class from ours: thev ~.
generally light fingered gentry, good at nic %,e
locks, and good mechanics. Ours are not sl;f
full mechanics. The committee thought il desi,a
BILE to employ the labor, and that the mannia"
ture of iron would be the best, and when if Wv
considered that $4,000 00 were expended fop
iron In this State annually, and the mannfao
turer usually made about twenty five per cent
the committee concluded to accept the twan.-.,
five acres of land and the water power
The Senator from Rowan mr. Robbfns1 w..
opposed to making any location until he had An
opportunity OF going and examining Northern
pcnltehtlarles-lt was desirable togo North at the
expense of the State The committee aereed IN
lnat, and the Senator and others were appointed
10 go there; but it was found the committee had
noC the power TO send such committee
OUT simply the power to make the To-
Gallon, purchase site and erect a
stockade. Before the conveyance was made the
parties brought in this large tract OF land as
part of the purchase at $3.50 per acre, Which
the committee rejected, and stated that they
would rather make purchase of the site and
the water power at a reasonable price. 1t was
finally agreed to pay S20, GOO for % acres and the
limited water power. With that understanding
he left for home, where he received letter from
C.. L. Harris, chairman, requesting him to meet
the committee, but the meeting took place tha
day he received The letter. He came here in oha.
dience to q subsequent letter, and found that
another proposition had been made-that tbs
parties had Offered to take for the 5000 acres of
land, the water power as it stood, and the site
for the penitentlary 500, 900 in the bonds of the
State. The committee insisted that they
must have unlimited water power, and railroad
track should be brought to the penitentiarv, and
received the written obligation of the president
OF the Chatham road to have the track put to the
penitentiary or in the yard if necessary The
road will cross at Haywood, which is about two
and half miles from LOckville, and it will cost
the company 100000 to build the road TO the
peDitentary. Then facilities are open to the
door of the penitentiary by railroad and up and
down the river by the canal.
The price on the water power was lower than
any engineer had ever put upon 1.-THE water
power and the Railroad are eqniyalentto SS0ON
At the time the purchase was made the bonds
would have brought S65, 600. An offer had been
made to him to-day for 800 acres of the land at
$50 in State bonds. lift were his individual prOp
erty he would not sell it for 100000 in cash
The committee were ready to prove that iron ore
was there in abundance, and that it is the best
quality of any iron in the United States This
committee of investigation will find that is the
fact.
What induced the committee further to be
anxious to make this purchase was that profit
could not only be maze upon the rails but upan
the pig metal, and that 1000 of this 5000 acres
OF land is timbeled and can be made into char
coal to convert the T iron into pig metal If
the Legislature understood the matter as he
did he would not desire to part with this land
for any purpose.
The ironis where it can be loaded on the boats
direct. The granite is on the river where it can
be loaded on the boats and transported for %
cents ton to the location of the Penitentiary
The entire purchase can be saved in the item of
transportation. twill cost ten dollars a ton if we
purchase site here or anywhere else and trans
port the granite any distance. Further, il a roll
ing mill was put there for the purpose of making
railroad iron, it would not only be- selfsistain-
ing, but pay the entire expense of the State gov
eminent. These statements could not be con-
1t had been said the title was defective. Some
of the best legal talentn the Stale had decided the
title good before the purchase was made, and
since that time other gentlemen had given sim
liar opinion.
The committee were advised by the best LEGAL
talent in the State that they had not exceeded
their powers, that they were fully authorized to
do more if they thought proper.
If it is desired to build the Penitentiary of red
sand stone in place of granite, the material can
expense of about % cents a ton transportation.
Twelve miles below the Penitentiary is the prop
erty we have purchased where the granite and
the iron ore are inexhaustible and can be brought
up at 25 cents a ton.
Taking the whole matter into consideration,
the State would never sell the property with his
consent He had stated that proposition had
been made for 500 acres at $50 in bonds An
other thipg-when this modest Senate committee
visited Chatham county they came across gen-
tlemen and asked him if this property could be
sold and at what price. He replied it could,
and he would give 100000 in State bonds tori
himself leaving the water power to the State, at
price to be Fixed by board of engineers, the
amount to be deducted from the 100000, and
would give any amount of security and Offered
Mr. Swepson and DIR. Hawkins as security that
he would fulfil his obligations to the letter. He,
Mr.. Downing, pledged himselfto find purchaer
within day tor it. il the parties selling the prop
erlV Will agree 10 give tuc SdlIC 40
did to the State. This does not look as II "
was very hard bargain.
When this committee was appointed, he on!
desired full and fair investigation. The com
mittee had nothing to fear from 1t. He was go
iag to refer to letters from disiDterested men IS
to the value of the property and the water power
but would simply ate that the engineer OF the
pepitentiary said it was the best water power
that he ever saw, at least 1000 horse power.
There were many parties in this town very anx
ious to sell their property, and committee had
been appointed, vulgary called a smelling com
mittee He stood ready to give them little
work-ieady to prove that one of these gentle. {
men offered dollars and cents to member Of
this committee to use his influence with the com.
mittee to select his property for the location Of
the pcntentiary. He made the statement def
mite, not including all creation. -.-.s, u
He hoped a committee would be apPoiiiteu "
nvestigatethis matter, and when that was aoh is
he believed little more would be heard uiiless III
laudation of this committee.
Mr.. French introduced resolution TO raise
a Joint committee consisting OF hve on Inc par.
of the House and three on the part OF the oellaV
10 ;nyestsgate all facts connected with the pur
chase of the site for penitentary, and TO repOn
os IN the yalue of said property, and the prolr
otv of the State selling the same or any pan
thereof; with power to send for persons and p9
ners. examine witnesses under oath and 10 au
minister oaths.
The resolution passed its several readings III
der a suspension of the rules.
Mr. RAGLAND introduced resolution lniaOi
of J. I. Moore Referred ...
Mr.. ESTES introduced resolution. lnstrueul,
the Clerk of the House to make out a new Isl o
the standing committees OF the two houses, 10
rether with the hour designated for the meetir
OF The committee. Adopted.
The SPEAKER appointed Messrs. Bowman "
lone and Latin House branch OF the comm
tee to confer with the Tennessee Legislature.
ON motion OF Mr.. SINULAIR the use of the :
of the House was granted to Prof. Doherty iO'
lecture on science.
Mr.. MALONE introduced resolution in re-
tion to the printing of the laws.
Mr.. PoU introduced q resolution INSTRUCT
the judiciary Committee to inquire and reg!
,uhether inc purchase of 5000 ceres OF land