The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-22

twelve to fifteen thousand dollars, due tC
the State for the labor of its conv:cts. Ii
seems that the former management in.
stead of requiring cash, or good security
for the hire of the convicts, permitted ir
responsible parties to have them on credit
and turned over to this administration
claims for twelve or fifteen thousand dol
lars, with no security save mortga &C
bonds $4,000 par) out of an issue OF
$50, 800 par, which bonds are secured by
a mortgage on the land. 1t has been of
| fered for sale at public auction and
brought only sixteen thousand dollars. On
| this basis the State will get, after pay
ling its proportion of the costs and ex-
lpenses of foreclosure, about three thou
sand dollars Thus the actual loss to the
State will be about ten or twelve thou
sand dollars. 1t has been suggested that
the State might get this property for
less than sixteen thousand dollars. 1t is
an open question whether it is best for
your board to attempt to get back some
of this loss by purchasing the property.
If that should be done, it would be neces-
sary to reserve the right to keep small
number of convicts to work this land.
Mr.. Thomas Evans, of Wilmington, an
countant, has been employed to state
the account from the books of the former
management, if such be possible. SO as to
show the actual loss to the State during
the four years ending with the year 1896.
His report will be made when his ac-
count is completed. Sufficient eyamina-
ton has been made by others to show, as
understand it, that the loss or shortage
during that four years was about one
hundred and twenty-five thousand dol
lars.
| l am profoundly satisfied that it is best
for the State to take such measures as
will save the State harmless against fur
| ther loss and make the institution self
supporting, provided always that. precau-
tons shall be taken against abuses and
cruelties. Respectfully,
DANIEL l. RUSSELL,
Governor.
To Claudius Dockery, Esq, Chairman,
| and the Board of Directors of the State
| Prison.
MIGHT LOSE THE PIE.
After the reading of this letter the
proposition was discussed from al
points of view. Most of the members OF
| the board agreed with Governor Rus
sell that, as purely business PROPOSE
| ton, Mr.. Winder's bid was a good one.
but there were some other conditions
| which they thought ought to be in
| corporated in it before it was accepted
| Principal of these were:
/. That absolute control of the man
agement and discipline of convicts be
lynN ~ Il; nA 10 all
any chance for bad treatment.
2. That during Republican admins.
tration Republicans be given the places
| in the control of copyicts and the man
agenent Of the farms and ether pro-
perty.
These conditions, / am told, the bid
ders for the penitentiary will hardly be
willing to accept. But the board APP
pointed q committee Of three-A. Y.
Sigmon, w. II Chadbourn, and Wheel
er Martin--to put in shape these and
other views of the board in regard to
the lease, so as TO officially inform the
bidders upon what terms and condi-
tons the State will agree to u lease.
This paper was prepared last night
and viii be ready to lay before the
directors this morning.
Speaking of the proposed lease, Chair
man Dockery said last night:
Il am not in favor of any lease that
doesn't guarantee the absolute protec-
ton of all Radicals, both in stripes and
out of stripes; when that it done I'll
look at it from a business standpoint
think the State would do well to accept
Mr. Winder's terms, but there are other
things involvedin such deal besides
the mere counting of cash. l would not
consider for moment any proposition
that made it possible for the conyicts
to be inhumanly treated
Besides this, Pm in favor of the
policy of working the convicts on the
public roads. This is about the only
way in which they can be profitahly
utilized without putting them in compe-
tition with free labor. And to that
am unalterably opposed. Before accept
ing it l would certainly have to consid-
err thoroughly any proposition that would
have tendency to prevent the utiliza-
ton Of the convicts on the roads"
CASTLE HAYNE FARM.
The matter of disposing of the Castle
Hayne farm was also left to a commit
tee consisting of Capt. John r. Smith
and w. H. Chadbourn.
1t will be remembered that recently
the State bid in this property at jul
dicial sale for $4,000; but the sale has
not yet been confirmed and the State
can give it up to other parties, if it so
desires. There is syndicate of Colds
boro, Wilmington, Raleigh and Greens
boro capitalists that offer to take it OF
the States hands on certain conditions
These conditions, in effect, are that tn,
State guarantee the use of such convicti
as may be needed to work the phosphate
mines, and on favorable terms. Capt.
Smith and Mr.. Chadbourn are to de-
eide upon these terms and other details
and report to the board at its next meet
ing.
Superintendent Smith, in his report to
the Board, pictured the result of his
years work in rather rosy terms, claim
ing that this year the penitentiary will
hrA sOtf ck,,sg T.