Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-08
THE STATE CONVICT FARM.
The Peniicntiary. Board Hecommen" '"e
Purchase OF the Anderson Property

GurfNuse Oh tbt RnOfI-O'
At a meeting OF the Board OF Directors
OF the Pcnit ntiary, held yesterday eve
ming. Superintendent Lynn submitted
recommendation for the purchase OF 'he
Anderson property as a convict-farm. Ihe
recommendation was approved by the
hoard. and will now be submitted 10 the
Governor for his approval. as the Act OF
Assembly provides. The Governor was
consulted as 10 this purchase before he
lsgt the city, and no doubt is entertained
as 10 his swing his sanction 10 ".
The probcrty In question " In Goochland
county, - miles west OF Richmond, ana
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad
masses through g. Four hundred acres
are low grounds. and the rest t5S acres
IS upland, much OF which Is In an I'M
proved condition. The purchase includes
two tracts, one known as Beaver Daih'
and the other as Pleasant Green. 1ne
buildings except the barn. are not very
valuable. but they are sufficient Tor an
the purposes of the State. The state VIII
have 10 erect stockade. and build within
II barracks capable OF accommodating
one or two hundred convicts.
THE PRICE REGARDED AS LOW.
As soon as the Governor has signiiied
his approvaI Of the purchase. and title has
passcd. Superintendent Lynn Will proceed
10 erect quarters for the convicts, and
with the other work 10 be done.
The urlcc 10 be paid for the entire tract
IS ug 600 cash. which Is regarded as very
low indeed. a price which was only OBJ
tairablc because General j. X. Anderson
heirs. to whom IL belongs, are anxious 10
clos- up the affairs Of the General $
estate. and make ilnal distribution OF
the proceeds.
In the Judgment Of gentlemen who are
I'm n pos.tIon 20 know. Superintendent
LYNN has managed this purchase with
great skill and discretion He has per-
sonallV examined scores Of farms when
were offered him. and has considered
every advantage Of site suggested, ana
come to the conclusion that Tor penlten-
tiary-farminS purposes no better invest
ment could be made by the state than
this property, which is In less than an
hours travel from Richmond. and which
has a great area OF rich James-river bot
tom-and. Besides. it Is known that the
locality is a healthy one. because on the
adjoining farm gang Of conVcts nave
been AZ work for contractor Tor TWO
wears or more, and have never suffered
from III health Ths total amount OF the
aunropriation made by the General As
sembly for the purchase OF the farm
and erection Of buildings was SZo.Wp
SPECIAL FREIGHT RATES.
Superintendent Lynn said yesterday eve
ming. in conversation with a Dispatch re-
porter. that before the deeds were signed
to pass title h" expected TO be able 10 make
special freight rates with the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company for doing the
needed transportation. These. he said,
the company had promised TO make, but
he thought ii his duty to see that they
were formulated before the matter was
beyond the control of the State authori-
ues There viii be great deal OF busl-
ness between the farm and the prison,
and the Supc rirtendent desires 10 have a
thorough understanding with the Chesa-
Peak and Ofio company as TO their
freight rates There is an existing State
law which fixes rates for transportation
Of convicts on all railroads.