Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-05
P~RESIDENTS'S ISLAND.
The County Work. House as
Managed by Gen. Forrest.
An Admirably Conducted Institution
Visit OF the Grand Jury prd Others
Yesterday.

Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock q
LEDGER commissioner being advised that
the Grand Jury of the Criminal Court
was about to make a raid on Presidents
Island, hastened to the elevator and
found the party ready to start. The COM
mittee from the jury consisted of 7. d.
Estes, G. R. Redford, s. A. Moore, Esq,
R. G. Gwynne and John T. Willins. Be-
sides these John G. Lonsdale, Joseph
Gibson and one or two others we're ready
to go down. Our representative was
welcomed and treated with every court.
esq, for which he returns thanks. The
trip was made in skifs aud in the face of
a rather rough wind. The distance is
about four miles on an air line, and the
little white nebulous speck visible on tie
right-hand side Of the island from the
bluff enlarges on the voyage until at the
end it becomes a substantial row Of build
ings. In fact, the place has q cosy, in.
viting kind of look that is often ~irresist
ible. 1t is proper to state in advance
that all the Grand Jury got away safely,
as General Forrest was at home and
knew each one by sight.
The General met Us at the landing in
front of his door, where the steamboats,
dump off his freight when the water is
up. He was in his shirt sleeves, and had
that easy air characteristic of the old
time Southern planter. The military
chieftain has been transformed into a
practical sgricuituralist, and he looks
every inch a farmer. He conducted the
party to his quarters, a small but very
comfortable old-fashioned double log
house, improyised from two cabins that
he found on the island. Sitting Oh the
broad portico in front, we could plainly
see the river front of Memphis.
The committee proceeded without de.
lay to inspect the quarters adjoining
occupied by the work-house prisoners
when not at work in the fields. These
are more extensive than we had sup
posed. The main building is l2Oz24
{ divided off into FIVE apartments in thu
following order and for these purposes
| First, female prisoners; second, whit
males; third, the Office and guard-room
e fourth, black males; fifth, storc-room
D Back Of the office is an L or q wing 65x3
n feet, which is used as q dining.room an
kitchen, and in rear of this is a bak
oven and laundry. A strong fence il
t closes these buildings aud considerabl
grounds, where the hands are mustere
1t and the roll called three times a dsy
If At right angles with the main builC
n ing and to the east is the stable
which is kept in admirable order. 1t ha
forty-two stalls, and includes two crib;
a harness oom and a sleeping room 70
the guard. About forty plows are run o
e the place, and each plowman is require
to spend one hour Immediately a.,.er SUI
per in cleaning down his mule. One stl
n bleman, an old darkey, does all the feet
e ing. The stock is in excellent condition
.e General Forests contract With tn
je county dates from the first of last Jam
airy, and runs for FIVE years. He has
1t that time had on his books about q
names Of persons sent there to work OF
1t fines for misdemeauors; no one
Ie them has died, and they are mostly
u fine health. The books at present sho
present thirty FIVE white males and ski
se black males, four white females on
RS eighteen black females; total, III.
e these two Of the black women and ten
6. the black men are penitentiary convic
lie ftom Nashville under special contraC
IL In the list appears two carpenters, OIL
shoemaker, a tailor, two blacksmith
of two cooks, three house servants. t-Lr
" washerwomen, one stableman, thr
seamstresses, one night warden, one fol
man and n book.keeper. There a
3 seven employees outside of the for
i working for the county. Four of Il
d. guards are paid. Occasionally a mi
sent down to work out a term gains pr
motion by good conduct.
The island contains altogether 60
acres. General Forrest has 1900 acr,
of which 800 acres is cleared and
cultivation, or will be this summer,
follows: In cotton, $50 acres; corn, IL
millet, 80; Irish potatoes, so; sweet !
ct, %tltoes, TO- garden, 8; promiscuous
at total, 500.
About forty plows are IN at preser
AT noon the hands come in for dinr
and are paraded in the yard for insp
res ton. Yesterday they counted off 8
Ter enty-6ve, seeming to take q pride in
he right dress and counting off prompt
Ter They are mostlys hearty set, fat, sic
and saucy. When dinner was ready tn
filed in and took their places, and OF
signal from the foreman dived into tn
= E%ations with a zeal unknown to dyspC
ter. The fare for breakfast is son 81
day-bread, bacon or beef and COTE
: Dinner-beef or pork, bread, po
s toes, kraut and onions. Supper-n
lasseq, rice, bread and coffee, and alws
y in abundance and well prepared;
10 - - =. ruLaN.N.A.l r.