The sun., 1897-01-18
CONVICT-RAISED COTTON.
SUCCESS or A NEW ENTERPRfSE ~
TWO SOUTHERN STATES

ton States Likely 20 Adopt the ptnn
new ORLEANS. Jan. 17.--Just as Scw Yo,x
has abandoned the working OF the conylcts, il,
Southern States have put their prisoner, "A
work at raising cotton in such number, as "a
threaten to AFFECT seriously the output Of ca,,,a
II not TO cause many complications. Tao c,.
pertinent made during the last two year, q
using convicts In farm work has been such /.
success financially and otherwise that it Is IRE.
dicted that all the cotton States will soon adopt
1t s the only solution of the vexcd rouyc,
problem. As II 10 tho State Of Mississippi.
although II has been working Its convrts a,
growing cotton only two years. has become IA,
largest raiser Of cotton In the world, with Sogth
Carolina good second. When the other state,
Join them in this business very considerable
proportion Of the cotton crops OF the South
will be convict raised.
The problem Of what to do with the cr rnals
has worried the South for many years ltlas
been . more dificult problem here than 10 ias
North. because most Of the convicts are negroes,
unfit for any kind of killed labor. The piano
leasing out tho prisoners was tried for Willie
but II proved q failure. besides being crue. snd
barbarous In the extreme. The death ia'r a
the convict camps was excessive, and tie h.Y-
tally and suffering were so great ~ to afU.,s
the hearticst Indignation. In both Louisiana
aud Mississippi the lease system has proved o
, ool.e.'nao,o ,h"' popu'n, Upi"'o" ga, ''eh
,,o :" 'a,v, VI n' aoo'',""' nv ''",'s
their contracts since the laws have shut tluu
ont from competing In most lines OF work. \
large proportion OF the conyicts in Loui.iaua
and Mississippi were formerly employed In lrycs
building, work specially suited TO them. ~ %
required very little skill; but Congress has Zoe
some years past forbidden any Government
work to be done By cony,c,s. TIL. ,,op,mce NJ
r.i,,oad h,iIdIr, Il, III, so,,h ,L,,,,, ,'',rn, -.
o"u '''"s ~ .H' ''u''' va y" '"''' ''"-
past there has been a surplu, Of ,hi, lab1, q,
tb. msrk., +, Iou,.,ana tho co,vic,s orc ,,o-
hiS,,sa from agricui,ursI ~, M
in ,b. Ration Rouea ,sc,or,. hn, ,,,is ,n,t d,
apparently In violation OF the law. IL bl,terly
denounced by the New Orleans clothing mara-
the trouser. made in Louisiana snail no, be I'D
In the state but dumped ei'swhert.
ihs was tno oohu,''oh oi husHs pFeNalI'hS
the lease system and manage its own conyir,..
:. ... a.. .I. - -,
~ ocssn the ehperi"ehI on sha' "a'e
bourh, and planted in cotton. The first year.
crop was a success. The acreage in eonyies
plantations was greatly increased durug the
past season. There are now thirteen planta,!oa. ,
operated by the State OF Mississippi. and all
though only q small proportion OF the c1nyicts
WV s".o n.'eeu To-, v 40
eS ,ha y, ssi ye after PAYING al ,he eLpeh,ts
nettsd from $500 10 $4,000 each. ana Ato'aL
OF sst'oti. out mere were various eAIthses 10
victs are confined. which reduced the Ret pro-
eeeas 70 soo,4yo: some 2eOO baes OF c.Llyn
10000 TO 60 600 bales il il puts ali is couvlcJs
VOL. ,.--
south carolina mas adopted the same LoHcy
success.
were protests against the leasing OF it, conrics
TO contractors. and as the leases expired tLyy
were not renewed. anu several hundred hahls
we're ompioyed on large plantations wotkinsoa
SHARES With the owners The state purchased
already been paid for out Of the profits made IN
the cotton raised by convict labor. The plants
t@lohs @ repIestht IN Their present condition.
&c, some siao,ooo. and there are ,up-
plies OF corr. pork. &c, on hand OF the
value Of $4,000. The net .pront on the
years business was s5s.0oO. In south Caro-
ot the convists have been @ employed. FThs state
70 so sa.snea Az % with Tue experiment. that i WI
,Sas ths 81 pfot "GN on convict % 4 iaSef S
90 sume!ent TO sustain the psnitentary. Tie 10:
INSTITUTIONS.
In both mississippi and south Carolina AL
ths anor on these farms Is convict Ihe farms
conyicts nsed IN the way ot food corn, mo.G--
ses, pork, &C.; but the chief, or money. crop IS
The eonvicts themselves thoroughly enjoy the
change. and their moral condition has grraiy
improved under II. This is well shown in tho
fact that although tho opportunities for escape
are naturally Tar greater than when the con-
yicts worked In factory or on lease. only
hall as many guards are needed as formerly -
prevent ESCAPES: and the attempts AT e>eHGrs
are mueh rarer. The health Of the cony''is
has improved and the death rate has fallen "a
IN most remarkable degree. The condiiun 4
the PRISONERS Is indeed very satisfactory lA"y
receive no compehsatoh Tor their LABOR. II
IN All other respects they arc AS comtgrl1t.s
as the average farm labOrrrs of the south.
row that ne years business is over aHi 10
expenses anu earnings OF the season have ben
counted upin Mississippi and south Caroil1.'.e q
result Is SO satisfactory In both states a. To- !rN-
ger ~ no longer matter ot doubt thA. lAs
business OF raising cotton with convict Labor -
prontAble, even when cotton Is greatly drVfe.
ciated IN price, IL costs barely 2 cents a TuH.
TO raise COTTON win this convict labor. al
Whatever Is Obtained over that price represents
prnnt.
The experiment has been watched in loni'!,
ana ana other southern States, VITA the aNo"cd
lhehtlon OF iolowlng IL should IL urovc size