Evening star., 1886-07-17

THE TREATMENT AGAINST WHICH THE CON.
VICrs REBEL-THE GEORGIA CONVICT CON-
TRACT SYSTEM HORRORS OF LIFE IN THE
CAMPS.
Few people have an idea of the real nature of
the Georgia prison camps where, according to
The STARS dispatches, several hundred prison.
ers were recently in state of mutiny for alleged
mistreatment The following description from
the pen of a gentleman who has visited them,
aud who has made a study Of the prison sys-
tenn OF this country, will be of interest: On the
northwest corner of Georgia lies the county of
Dade. This is known to the neighboring regions
as the free state OF Dade, owing not only to the
wild and mountainous character of the region,
whose few and scattered Inhabitants are in
keeping with their surroundings but because,
during the war OF the rebellion they openly re-
ceded from the state of Georgia and the con-
federacy, and managed to secure q freedom
which they virtually maintain to-day. Through
this county extends the southern prOlOngatiOn
of the Allegheny coal field, the workable beds
Of which are near the summit OF the high and
almost inaccessible mountains. In this wild
region are situated the camps where the con-
victs are employed in mining and cOking the
coal. These prison camps are peculiar in them
selves, there being nothing like them in civil
lied countries excepting Siberia, save in one
or two OF the neighboring states. They are the
worst form OF
THE SOUTHERN PRISON SYSTEM
which is undoubtedly the most inhuman and
barbarous in America. This system is a result
of the impOverishment Of the southern states
and the inability of the newly-freed and de-
graded negroes to accustOm themselves to the
blessings of freedom is distinguished from the
other three systems of the United States,
chiefly in this: that the entire personal control
of the prisoner is relinquished to the contrac-
tor who, in consideration of SO much year for
the entire convict body, takes them, feeds,
clothes, guards and maintains them, and In re-
turn makes all he can make out of them. Tue
only real f4SDODSibllitV to the state Is the
amount annually agreed upon. In no other
prison system in the United States is the states
ton and discipline of the prisoner SO completely
relinQ uished. No prisoner Is ever turned over
for a days labor TO the contractor except with
who at all times have his bodily care In their
hands. Such is the theory of the south
ern lease system OF convict labor. II
for abuse Is enormous but what are the facts?
without exaggeration, these abuses are the
history. The lessees, usually men OF great in
fuence in political life, have within their
with tho mo- fss @ the entire
Whatever who may be confined TO their keeping.
The prisoner is looked upon and treated merely
to his utmost, upon the cheapest and most un-
sanitary food, scantily and improperly clothed
and housed, chained fifty in a gang, In the
most unhygienic manner, mentally and physi-
caIly, that can be imagined. The death rate
seldom is less than ten per cent OF the pOpula-
uoo, ana IL OIten exceeds twenty. Inc deathS
are usually from chronic dysentery, the result
OF improper food; typhoid fever, the result of
improper sanitation; consumption and other
pulminary complaints the result OF improper
raiment, shelter and ventilation.
THE DADE COUNTY MINES
practically consist OF three prison camps, two
upon the mountain top, at Castle Rock and
Cole City respectively, and one in the valley.
These camps consist of huge stockade OF logs
stood sioe by side around q square, In which
are numerous log houses wherein the prisoners
sleep. Stationed around the clearing are little