The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-10-24
JOB.
It's Shameful History and
Burning Disgrace.

WV p"NoiSo ~ POi t'S hNioihS
Generation.
Aided and abetted by succeed
ing administrations, the lessees of
the convicts of the state gradually,
but persistently encroached on the
domain of the free laborers of the
state until their inconsiderate greed
and defiant arrogance drove the
long-enduring laborers of several
counties in East Tennessee into
open rebellion.
The sensational occurrences Of
that period awakened the peoples
dormant sense of shame, and
aroused their indignation to such
an extent as to create unani-
nous demand for the abolition of
the convict lease system.
In the very midst of this period,
November, 1892, when the dis
gusted and outraged people of the
state clamored for a reform in
prison methods, the members of
the 4Sth general assembly were
elected.
During the session March 18th,
and April 4th, 1893, an act was
passed providing for the erection
of new penitentiary and provid-
ing for the utilization of convict
labor therein; and upon farming
land and in a coal mine, and to pre-
pare for the abolition of the con.
vict lease system in Tennessee
This act is chapter Is of the acts Of
1898. The act provides Sec. End
thereof for main prison capable
of providing for fifteen hundred
(I,5oo) convicts; a chapel, a hos.
pital, and such buildings and work.
shops as may be deemed necessary
to utilize the labor Of the convicts
This section also provides, for the
purchase of farm of fifteen hun.
bred (I,5oo) acres, or less, with
such buildings thereon as may be
necessary to operate the farm.
Section 4, Provides for the pur.
chase of $4,000 acres of coal
land, and the erection of a stockade
Section 7, Subsection I, Pro.
vides that the farm shall not cost
over $4,000 90 and Subsection 3
that the coal lands shall not cost
over 100000.
In other sections the act provides
tor the appointment of a purchas
ing and building commission Of
three; supervising architect, and
a mining expert, and fixes fees and
compensation-for the commits.
sioners 1000 each per annum and
reasonable travelling expenses and
for the supervising architects 900
in all.
Proper provisions, so far as coult
be anticipated, are contained in the
act, regulating advertising, making
contrrats, and the like, as we'll al
directing and instructing the com
missioners in the discharge of thei
duties.
Se1tion I6 of the act pro vide.
and directs the amount of money tc
be expended each year, 1893 ane
1894, and concludes in the follow
ing words, viz:
"And provided further. In nj
event shall the aggregate expendi-
lures to carry out the provisions o
this act exceed the sum of 81,
hundred thousand dollars ($6oo,-
ooo.oo)."
Governor Turney appointed D
X. Young, X. J. Morgan and M
L. Mcdowell as the purchasing ant
building committee, and they ap
pointed Ed. Laurent supervisor,
architect.
Shortly after taking up thei
duties the Committee commence,
by mistake which narrowly es
capped becoming scandal.
AS soon as the advertisement
were put in the papers syndicat
was formed at Winchester, Gov
Turney's home, among his clos
friends and an option secured on
number of small tracts of land
most of it worth $500 per acre
some $1,000 and one piece $4,000
without the Improvements, whicI
were worthless to the state. Thi
land was offered the state at $500
per acre. The democratic press Q
the state Immediately jumped up
on the proposed deal. The Nash
vile Banner sent its correspond
ent up there who talked to oil
citizens and to the owners OF tn
property, and upon his return, wrot
the job up in all of its hidiousnes
The commissioners, oblivious t
the censure of a democratic pres
went ahead and made report t
the Governor, recommending il
purchase and closing as follows:
We made purchase of prise
site and farm that will meet tn
approval of all reasonable people
and will grow more and more i
fa -, Al, c,,t,ra nc tba oJ,-or