The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-12-14
/ A BIG PROPOSITION.
An Offer to Work 800 or 400
Convicts in Chicot
County, this
State.
1000 ACRES CULTIVATED.
COUNT ROFflGNAE AND r. ]. FELDER,
ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND
C0RBlN & co., OF NEW YORK,
LAY A PROPOSAL BEFORE
THE BOARD or PRISON
COMMISSIONERS.
TERMS OF THE PROPOSITION.
The State to Feed, Clothe and Guard the
convicts, Receiving 0ne-Half
Proceeds Of Crop
Produced.
A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN.
The Proposal Held Under Advice--what
Members of the Board Say
About it--A Bit of
History.
TERMS OF THE PROPOSITION.
A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN.
The Proposal Held Under Advice-Whai
Members of the Board Say
About if--A Bit of
History.

From Arkansas Democrat sth.
/ Count Rofignae and Col. I. j,
Fielder appeared before the board Of
penitentiary commissioners at 3
o'clock yesterday evening and re,
mained in consultation with the
members of the board for some
time. The count, on behalf of him
self and other gentlemen interested
with him, proposed that the state
cultivate the Sunnyside plantation,
in Chicot county, in which mum
Der of foreign capitalists have an
interest, on the shares. In plain
words, Count Roffingae's propo-
sition was in substance
that the state furnish a sufficient
number of convicts to cultivate the
land, feed, clothe and guard them,
receiving in payment one-half of the
crop produced.
The proposition was discussed in
all its bearings, Attorney General
Clarke, Gen. Armistead and Gov
ernor Fishback examining each de-
tail with care. The number of acres
in the plantation to be cultivated, if
the proposition is accepted, is 1000,
and the lard is claimed to
be very rich and pro-
ductive. The number of convicts
which would be required in cul,
tivating it is placed at 800. The
gross proceeds of crop produced
upon it, with a favorable season, is
estimated at from 800, 600 to
$3.50, 900. The board was informed
that the plantation was one oi
the finest in the entire South there
is scarcely an acre of what might be
termed poor land on it. On the
contrary all the land is fertile ard
susceptible Of the highest state Of
cultivation, and with plenty of labor
under intelligent direction the plan,
tation can be made to yield large
revenue both to the owners and te
the state.
The proposition was talked over
by Count Roffingae and the members
Of the board at some length. The
count was anxious to have the mat
ter of the proposition settled at once
but no definite conclusion was
reached. While the proposition ap
peared to meet with favor in the
eyes of members Of the board
there were several matters which
had to be considered in connection
with it.
In the first place
the state will be at the expense o.
caring for 800 or more convicts, i
the proposition is accepted, for some
months or until the product of the
plantation is marketed, and as there
is little if any money in the STATE
treasury to be used for keeping tbs
convicts the matter of finance mus
necessarily enter largely into a de
cision of the proposition. 1t is pos
sible that the board may decide te
accept the proposition provided
Count Roffignae and his
associates will advance the
funds necessary to provide fol
the convicts until the stat'
is able to realize something from th,
contract. OF course the proposition
will only hold good for one year; a
the expiration Of that period ii may b,
cancelled or continued in force, jus
as the parties in interest determine
An acceptance of the proposition
would relieve the state OF the care o
800 or 400 conviets, and would per
haps turn into the state treasury |
stated sum of money each year, TO
it is highly improbable that tn,
contract would be terminated at th'
end of twelve months; it woult
likewise settle to some extent, an'
for time at least, the question o
employment for the convicts.
No step, however, viii be takel
in the matter BY the members o
the board for some time. Governo
Fishback said last night that be wa
in favor Of Attorney General Clark
or Gen. Armistead visiting tn
plantation in Chicot county an.
looking over the land with vieS
Of determining its cotton producin
capacity. The governor expresse
himself as being rather favorable b
the proposition, provided the mat
ter Of funds to run the convict
while q crop was being raised coul
be satisfactorily arranged.
4 Aitorney-General Clarke said
~ think il ID little letter than an
farming proposition which has "
been made TO the board ! cannol
Of course, say what action the boar