The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-01
GONE TO LOOK AT COAL MINES.
THE PENITENTIARY COMMITTEE
ENTERTAINs A INV PROPOSAL.


Sea COast-The Offers Embrace
Everything From Sea Islands a.
Mountains and valleys, Including
Middle Georgia Fruit Farm.
Atlanta, Ca, Sept. S0.-The sub-com-
mittee on pentendary, charged with the
business of hearing plans and suggestions
rs 10 the best manner of disposing of the
states convicts. for the purpose of draft
ing a bin TO be reported to the fun COM
mittee. met at the capitol to-day TO COM
mence work
After spending several hours in listen
ing TO the agents of different tracts of
lands suggested for a state farm or penal
colony, and 10 proposition TO buy coal
and iron mines, in which to work the con-
victs, the committee decided 10 take a day
off and go up to Dade and Walker coun-
ties tomorrow to inspect the mines sug-
gested 1t viii be the first Of the week
before the committee can get down to
work again. and by the 10th they must
have agreed upon something 60 report
back to the penitentiary committee.
All sorts of offers were made to the
committee to-day, ranging from sea is
lands to Middle Georgia fruit farms. Prob
ably the most important proposition came
from the new owners of the
Georgia Mining, Manufacturing and
Investment Company, which has
very valuable properties in Dade
and Walker counties. These parties
who were represented before the commit
tee by Attorney Clifford Anderson, took
the property to protect their claims
ha vvh n
the hands of a receiver two years ago,
these claims amounting to about 100000.
They now offer TO sell out TO the state
for $5S1, 900 being willing to lose something
in order to get clear of the mining bust
ness, they say. The company is now one
of the lessees of the convicts
and has 225 of them on hand Mr.. Ander
son stating that accommodations could
be provided at short notice for twelve hun
bred men, and with the expenditure of
few thousand dollars the entire criminal
population might be probably employed
at the mines.
The number of acres proposed to be sold
20 the state with all the stockade rail-
roads and other equipments is about 3d.,
900, the upset price per acre be-
ing 500, this to include improve
ments Twenty dollars per acre, Mr.. An
derson said. was the price of the govern
ment for coal lands wherever staked off
and claimed. The property of his com
pany was worth much more, but all they
wanted was TO get back the money due
them by the defunct company, as they
are business men and bankers, and do
not want to go into the mining business
although prepared to do so if they cannot
sell out.
There may be some trouble over the
title to the coal mine property, however
even if the committee should decide TO
recommend it, A letter was addressed TO
clio cd Nv
MIR. Julius Brown, who served notice that
the Dade coal mines Castle Rock mines,
and the Rising FaWn furnace property
were in litigation, and stated that the
syndicate which offered to sell them to
the state could not deliver the goods
This did not seem to disturb Mr.. Ander-
son, who in his remarks, without referring
to Mr. Browns communication, said that
his syndicate would guarantee the title
to the property offered. Mr. Anderson
said that there are thousands of acres on
top of the mountains that will produce
good crops. All the vegetables for the
convicts are grown there now.
The Dade and Caste rock mines, he
thought, could be put in perfect condition
for $25,000 so as to work 1900 conviets.
The Rising Fawn furnace might be put in
shape TO smelt iron for $4,000, all of the
Walker iron and coal property can be put
in condition for $4,000.
Col. c. B. Howard read Gov. Northern
offer for the sale of the Magnolia and Cho-
late Bend plantation. 1t is within seven
miles of Fort Valley. 1t is bounded by
the Columbus branch of the Central rail-
road on one side and by the Atlanta and
Florida railroad on the other.
Gen. Gordon addressed the committee
in favor of the purchase of this farm. He
thought Coz Northern estimate of sew
enty-five bushels of corn per acre was not
an extravagant estimate, and with irriga-
ton, he thought the land would produce
100 bushels. The general recalled the fact
that in his first message as governor he
recommended the establishment of a con-
vict farm by the state. He thought it
would not conflict with the proposition of
the coal company, if that was favorahly
considered by the committee.
Capt w. c. Wylie of Mcintosh county
submitted a proposition for the sale of
Sapelo Island, 1925 acres in one body for
$4,000 payable in state bonds. This in
cludes all of Big Sapelo except about 200
acres owned by negroes. These proper
ties are owned by various persons, the
Wylies the Spalding heirs, and others
MIR. Edwin Brobston of Brunswick sub
mitted proposition for the sale of 5000
acres of land on Turtle river in Glynn
county. 1t is inclosed within a heavy wire
fence. 1t is rich black loan, bordering
on salt water. These lands are said to
have produced a bale of sea island cotton
they had been used as pasturage. The
property is offered for $4,000 in per cent.
bonds. The waters surrounding the place
abound in fish and oysters, and the place
is accessible to Brunswick ten miles dis
tant by water and by rail over three roads.
Artesian water may be had at an expense
of 500 to $500 dollars. The Glynn county
convict farm, adjoining this raise forty
bushels of corn per acre.
Mr.. Brobston also offered the following
properties: Long Island, fourteen miles
from Brunswick, northeast, one and one
half miles from st. Simons Island. $500
acres. of which 1900 are marsh land for
$4,000; Little Cumberland Island, between
Jekyl and Cumberland Islands, 5000 acres
OF which loo are marsh lands, for SIG 0O0
Mr.. Houston submitted a proposition for
the sale of Ossabaw Island about 10000
acres Of land with model buildings for
boys reformatory, woman's building ana
building for 400 able-boded men. These
buildings are to be erected for S33 900 and
the state is offered the buildings and the
island at sl25,0O0 The buildings provide
Tor separate cells and are TO be construct
ca OF heart pine ana oak. He offered an
other proposition to sell 5000 acres with