The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-02-03
cosvtcf FARMS 5s SHARES.
The Plan Adopted by the, Penitentiary
Ditectors---Detailso of theteases Recent
lY Made.
(Frozn the Neecs and Cour7er.)

From the Nescs and Courier:)
CoIUsM1A January 27.-It viii be
remembered that the terms upon
which the board of directors of the
penitentiary, at their meetings held IN
the early part of this month, leased
three plantations for convict residence
labor were not made public because
the contract had not been committed
TO writing. Much interest has been
exhibited in the matter, and It seemed
desirable that the public should be IN
formed of the details of the contracts.
Inquiry was made this morning at the
Office of the Clerk Of Court for this
county, and il was found that the
Seegers and Sims contracts had been
signed and were III the Clerks hands
awaitine record.
The lease Of the Seegers plantation
contains the following provisions:
John C. Seegers leases to the board OF
directors of the penitentlarv for a
term of FIVE years from January l,
1886, bis "Big Lake" plantation, locat-
ed in Richland county, some miles
below Columbia. He agrees 10 fur
nish all the farm utensils, implements
and machinery required by the direc-
tors, and to furnish also such mules
as NAV be required by the directors
for farm work and 8 horse for the use
of the manager of the farm. He fcrth-
er agrees to furnish all the lumber
necessary for the maintenance and re-
pair ofthe convict stockade and "such
land as may be required for vegetable
gardens. He agrees to pay each year
during the term Of the agreement and
lease one-half of amounts which shall
be required for the purchase Of com
mercial fertilizers and cotton bagging
and ties.
The directors agree to occupy and
use the farms solely for the employ
ment of convicts, the convicts to be
managed by officers and guards Of the
penitentisrr. They agree to furnish
such number of coMvicts as may bs
necessary for the proper cultivation OF
the farm, and to maintain these con-
victs and their guards at the expense
of the penitentiarv. They agree to
properly care for the mules and horses
furnished, the said animals 10 be main
tanned and fed Mr.. Seegers., They
agree to pay one-half the amount re-
quired for the purchase of commercial
fertilizers and cotton bagging and ties
to return to Mr.. SeegerS, when the
crops shall be gathered, the seed corn
aud other, seed brains and cotton seed
furnished by him for planting such
crops. The cotton seed raised on the
farm 10 be used as fertilizer: snd at
the expiration of the lease, after the
deduction of the amount of seed ad-
yanced by Mr.. Seegers, the remainder
is TO be equally divided between the
two parties to the agreement. The
board agrees to pay to Mr. Secgers as
rent ofthe farm one-ha!f Of the net
proceeds of sales of crops insde on the
farm.
This arrangement and lease is signed
by JnhRG. Seegers and T. j. Lips
comb, superintendent Of the peniten-
tiary.
The lease of,the plantation Of j. C.
F. Sims, about ten miles below the
city, is conched iii the same terms.
This pisntation has l,40o acres. OF
course the maintenance Of such large
force of convicts without return until
tie crops are made will be expensive
but if this arrangement were not eff
feeted the prisoners would have to be
supported in idleness at the peniten-
tiary. So that there is no risk on the
part ofthe Stste, but certainly, one
would judge, of making the convicts
6v harvest time pay for their own sup
port during the year and yield a sur
plus, more or less large.
About one hundred convicts are al
ready on the leased Seeeers, Sims and
Aughtry farms, and others will be
sent out. next Monday. They have
completed, except on the Seegers
place, the building Of comfortable log.
hspscs and stockades and are now
ditching fields, clearing fallow lands,
&c.