The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-14
THE STATE FARMS.
What Mr. DnPre Saw and Heard

aeGas IL, otD orsne!s, 800 bales cotton,
enough corn to do the place, ceavine bay
saihciens for two years, potatoes, wheat, &c.
0Wing to the wet season the crops are shorter
tha1 last year, except cats. & good supply
Of hogs, aad cattle for milk purposes. The
stock fmnies), about 80. are in good 6x.
she convicts are we'll fed, and seem as hsppy
sas sach people can be. Vegetables every day
for dinner with bread and meat Milk,
whess-bresd, meat and corn-bfead, With
SONS tobacco, constitutes the die, on both
places for the other reals The clothing is
conforsable and the sanitary arrangement
gocd. A isrge .urnip patch of three acres.
ttarn,ns AZ large as plasee} with pess, supply
the vegetables. A pair Of black oxen are
beauties and can draw az much as four large
mules The lot buildings, while comfortable,
need replaeing, and If Gre should bura one
stssy Hould all 60, they are so near each
Otter.
Major McGili 10 the manager bf this farm.
He sas absent, bat his assistant, Hr. Moody,
tack meoser the place and gave me the in-
5 formation desired. am indebted to him for
many courtesies shexn.
The farm has q gin house. and also grinds
I scs The place. 0ne hundred and fhirsy.eigh.
bales of cotton were on hand,
Ths Reed fsrm joins. and Was purchased
asons ase years sgo for abou. Sc, 600. The
crop this year viii be, cotton, 400, bales,
COTE Il. 900 bushels, with wheat, oats, posa-
isss and peavine hay to do two years. The
oaserop was something ovsr {, 700 bushels.
The buitdinss are all new and win compare
WITH any 10 the State for size and good
work. The Development Of this farm for
four years years almost passes belief TIE
ssabls. an immense building, haa passage on
the first floor, and stalls for 40 or 80 head of
stock. pnsting Elk mules in Dig STALL. Next
story is for cora aud peas, and the third is
for hay, all being reached BY stairs. The
nachinery and wagon building Is large.
ese. Foor divisions on toe gound foor. In
one is large shreshing machine, which Gao
thrssh 700 bushels per day. Il is run by
an engine attached. and both cost 81 200.
Next division is the reapers and binders, and
taec the wagons in the 3d. and plcw tools in
the 4th. Second story is used for oats after
seey are shreshed, aud 80 story, general
store honss for yarions things The dairy,
commissary, gusrd's quarters. trua,ies' house
ana prison house are conyenisns, aud well
pat mp. Asisrge building for the milk cows,
aud still another ls.ger one for tbs cattle,
With ssoey above for their feed. A large gin
house, with modern conveniesces and good
Blacksmith shop, and saw mill where the
lnnber was sawed. These buildings all have
solid brick foundations.
The c-ick was made by the periten.iary at
Colnmbia. A quantity Of Gne hogs to kill,
a5oat 100 head cattle, and 80 6ne fat mules,
esmpsises the stock. The lands that are
ecit.satsd, in the maio, lie on the river, out
me- protected by dams from overflow. A
large swamp. not subject to overflow, is being
cleared up, and this year made near so BUSH
eas corn Per acre. The prisoners are we'll fed,
sod humane.y treated. The manager Of this
6ns farmss Capt. J. J. Cooley, and much Of
sss success is due to sis superb management.
When be took possession four years ago, there
vas rcs 6ftesn-iiofse farm on the place, DOW
there 10 thirty horse. He is man OF great
srefgy,.6oe business tact, and sound judg-
mens-to direct. have it that the crops 70,
fosr years have paid for the place, the iu-
provemects 90 it, the expenses, and nachin-
cry purchased, End cleared surplus, which
10 indeed 6ne allowing. 1t locke as if this
way Of working the convicts has solved the
problem for their keeping, but for them in
their native element as farm hands, and for
sbe Sss.e. Now for little criticism The
State should insure these buildings, for if one
catches a6re yoa could not use the coovicss,
fes in the excitement they might get away,
aud the proximity of each might cause them
all to ss6urn, which would be total loss to
che State. The directors should employ ont.
side help to gather the cotton in time and not
let it stay 10 the 6sld until it is blue. This
would not interfere With the near planters,
for there is enough surplus labor in reach to
gather it ALL Thousands of dollars have
been lost TO the State in this delay in gather
ing the crop. The governor did right to
veto the bill on the subject I have write.
this from memory. II i, will give any in-
formation to your numerous readers about
this common property to all. my task in
writing this will be amply rewarded.
P;sgsh, Dec. l3. j. E. D.
~ g.. ..~~.>..~>~>l-