The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-22

the state IN advance OF the regular
issue of the paper, for the purpose of
misleading the public mind and doing
injury to others than the Lessees of the
Penitentiary.
While it is matter of deep regret to
to us that charge so false and malicious,
should have been given to the public,
we deem it our duty to make a state
ment in reference to this matter and to
submit the proof of the utter falsehood
of the whole article.
The motive which could have inspired
so reckless a statement and one so
damaging to us, is beyond our concep-
ton. When it is considered that we have
given a bond to the State amounting to
SIG, 100000 for the faithful performance
of our contract, it can be readily seen
how injurious such a statement must
be-extending to our personal relations
with our sureties, our standing as citi-
zens, and our financial relations with
the business world.
1t is true that no suit has ever been
instituted by the Attorney General
against us for any balance due the State,
for the reason that settlements and pay
ments have been made according to the
terms of our contract with the State.
We have endeavored, to the very best
of our ability under this lease, and the
former lease, which began in 1876, to
discharge fully and fairly every obliga-
ton imposed upon the lessees of the
Penitentiary under their contract, and
the laws Of the State, and that these OBJ
legations have been so performed, We
are willing to leave to any fair-minded
and honorable citizen of the State.
On the LIST of December, 1888, we
made a settlement with the proper au-
thority of the State of all matters exist
ing between the State and the Lessees,
and paid the balance due into the State
Treasury, and in the same manner in
1884, we made settlement of all matters
existing between the State and the
Lessees, and paid the balance due into
the State Treasury in December of that
year. There is an unsettled balance
now due the State, and unsettled ac-
counts now due by the State to us,
which settlements will be made as here
tofore, and any balance found due by
us to the State upon the settlement and
adjustment of our accounts under the
terms of our contract will be paid into
"
Since the present lease began in 1881,
under the terms of our contract and the
law authorizing the same, we Lave made
improvements consisting of buildings,
machinery, tools, ETC., upon the peniten-
tiary and the penitentiary property
amounting to 500, 167 90, besides I'M
finished contracts, and paid in cash into
the State Treasury SAG, 020.61up to De-
cember 1884.
When it is considered that prior to
the leasing of the penitentiary to us, the
institution was a great annual expense
and burthen to the State, ranging from
$4,000 to 500, 900 a year, drawn from
the State Treasury, and part of the
time the State paying lessee SIS, 900 a
year to take the institution, and Civ
ing him the use of the penitentiary
and convict labor without charge, we
believe the management of the institu-
ton by us is generally acceptable to
the people of the State. Since 1881
for the first time in the history
of the State the penitentiary has
not only paid its own running expenses
and for all the improvements and
repairs that have been made, but it has
also paid, in cash, into the State Treas
ury, the sum of at, 020,6l, and we sub
nit to the people of the State, that the
Penitentiary rs it now stands, with its
splendidly constructed buildings, equip
| ped with the latest and most improved
machinery for the employment of the
necessary inmates, the extended walls
and cash balance, Is above stated, to its
credit in the State Treasury, and all with