The Forrest City times., 1894-02-09
TWO POINTS TO CONSIDER

times is the rapidly increasing number of prisoners being lodged in the county fails, charged with grand larceny. Al ready the new jail in this county, be- fore it has been accepted by the county was over-run, and the city prison re- ouired in which to confne the surplus criminals
 All reports indicate that these dep- redators are but the forerunners, and that their operations are but the begin hing of what will prove to be a nuis- ance of mammoth proportions before fall.
 Thousands of negroes and hundreds of whites are without the means of se- curing the ordinary necessarles of life. There is scarcely anything at which they can earn livelihood. Could they secure employment, perhaps many thefts would be prevented, but there are always a few who would rather steal than work, and under the present nodsls operandi of the law their pun ishment has but few terrors.
 If they and other criminals could be promptly convicted in our magistrates courts, and sentenced to, and required to perform. hard labor, while others were given employment at TemUnera- tive wages, our jails might soon be- come tenantless.
 There are, then, two points which present themselyes-the absolute ne cessity of factories, which will give employment to those who are disposed to earn an honest living; and, an im- provement in the laws, so that swift punishment may be meted out to those who prefer to steal.
 likeness is the mother of crime-in many ways-and the crowded condi- tion of our jails may De traced to the condition in which many, too many negroes and whites find themselves from the first of November until the credit season opens. Crops have been harvested by this time, and they have nothing to live upon until spring, and no credit nor employment. It is natural under such circustanees, for a negro to steal, and there are ignorant starv- ing white trash" not far behind them. THE TIMES has many times pointed out the numerous advantages of this locality for factories of various kinds. Up to date we have only succeeded in inducing our citizens to build one factory-the cannery-this plant Is soon to be sold under a mortgage be- cause there never has been sufficient sum subscribed to pay for it. It has been operated part of two seasons, losing about 5000 the first year, and about $500 the next. MT. Nash will run it the coming year and thinks his experi- ence in the past will enable him to make it pay dividend. We know that it can be made to pay.
 This factory furnishes direct em- ployment to about fifty people during the working season, mostly women and children who could not otherwise be employed. As far as this goes it has been. great blessing to many poor people. Buf it operates during the season when labor is in demand and therefore does not materially benefit the very class of citizens first above mentioned, which ii is desired to reach. We need factories to run throughout the year, industries which will furnish employment to white and black. Our natural a dvantages entitle us to secure them. and we think that by organizing a business mens league or commercial league or something of that kind, these things could be secured. Capital awaits proper invitation and proper encouragement. If we will advertise our resources and do our duty we may secure the factories.
 Later we propose to take up the matter of justice in the lower courts, and investigate the reason of so much dissatisfaction among taxpayers, aris- ing from the great expense of these courts and their small checking effect upon evil doers.