Nevada County picayune., 1886-05-26
EDITORIAL CORRESPOND
 RNCE.
Visit to State Penitcntiary--Trip Georgia Matters in the Elm pire State,

having 10 lay over uutll | COeh at night. Wo concluded to take our wife out to the penitentlary grounds, in the Southern outskirts of tue city. We were most cour- tiously treated by Mir. A. N. John son, Secretary and Treasurer for the lessees, who had us shown through tho prison, which is sur rounded by a cemcntcd rock and brick wall twenty feet in height, en- closing we suppose about ten acres in area. The quarters we found far more conveniently and com- fOrtably arranged than expected, and much superior to that of other Southern States. The State has just had erected two splendid brick buildings, one for female prisoners, with hospital in second story, and one for general convenience, the later large three story structure, not quite completed. It's ground floor vii be used for a dining room, kitchen and bakery; 2nd floor. as a chapel and too small work shops; 3rd floor, one large work shop. There is an average of 600 convicts, but the number now is only 560. Abou. one-third of them only, arc worked within the walls of the penn, balance be- ing scattered over the State, at coal mines, brick yards aud on farms. The convicts are worked at a number of trades, some as ci. gar makers, brick-makers, carpen ters, farmers, etc. Women and mon -are kept entirely separate all the time-there arc now only II female conyicts. about evenly di- vided between squaws and negress- es. Only onc-third of tn whole number of cOnvicts are white, an1 they are kept separate when off duty: In 1883 the State Legislat- ure leased for ten years all con- yicts, to the Arkansas Industrial Company, for the sum of S3.75 per month for each convict, taking all responsibility for their safe keep ing, board, etc. This lease yields the State about $26.000 annually. The State gives the lessees the free use of the renltentiary, and allows them to work conyicts out side the walls.
 ON TO GEORGIA.
 Taking a sleeper at Little Rock Wednesday night, we arrived at Memphis about $50 next morning. The Memphis & Little Rock K, k. had just begun running trains through, the overflow of the Mis- sissippi having covered it's track for thirty miles for two weeks be. fore. This is plucky road. full of vim, and deserves much credit for the success it is achieving, as it la- bors under many difficulties. Thursday we made slow time, talk ing most of the day to travel 1l4 miles on the miserably rough and dusty l.. & N. After boarding the N. c. X St. L. R. R. at McKensie. we made fine progress, making nearly 400 miles in ten hours. At Nashville we took sleeper and en- joyed a fine nights rest, arriving in Atlanta, at 6 a. m. Friday, and leaving this city at 1.3O P. m. we landed at Carrollton, our destina ton ot 4;30. We noticed all crops seemed backward, all along our journey. cotton inst coming up and corn being worked out first time.
 MATTERS IN GEORGIA.
 Crops here are rather poor for time of year-poor stands of both corn and cotton, tho heavy rains of March causing this.
 Parties arc red hot in the State campaign. It is friendly tilt among good Democrats, however.