Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-18
PENITHNTIaRy FARMING.
North Carolina Works 500 Convicts
and Cultivatcs 10000 Acres OF Land.

Wilmington On. c. Messenger)
representative of the Messenger had
an interesting chat yesterday with Super
intendent J. NJ. Mewboorne. of the state
penitentiary. He has been visiting the
various State farms to organize them for
the years work
SEVEN FARMS.
We learn from him that the State now
/ has seven farms that embrace over 1900
acres of land. and on which will be en-
ployed nearly 800 pententiary convicts,
and about 400 horses and mules
The farming this year will be done on
more extensive scale than even that of
last year, as two or three more farms
have been leased, and will be operated
with convict labor, which Is said to be
unequaled for the business. Last year
the crops on the State farms then ope-
rated were 1920 bales of cotton and 1880
barrels C77.50O bushels) of corn.
THE CASTLE HAYNES FARM
We learn from superintendent New
boorne that the State will not and does
| not propose TO purchase the Castle
Haynes farm and phosphate mines. ut
will rent the land and cultivate about
600 acres of land, planting 300 acres in
corn. and 800 in peanuts and vegetables.
] There are now thirty-six cOnvcts on the
/ farm but they will soon be increased to
sixty-seven. Twenty-tbree mules and
| horses will be used on the place. The
State will not operate the phosphate
mines, but will work them for the owners
| OF the property.
/ In connection with the Castle Haynes
| farm. the pententiary authorities have
| leased 300 acres of the most valuable rice
lands on the Cape Fear and will plant
rice this year. Three years leases on
the lands have been secured, with the
option Of six years. If desired. Among
the rice lands leased are about 276 acres
of the Navassa Guano Company's lands
on the Cape Fear opposite the factory.
Some $50 acres of these lands are now
available for this years crop. The Ly-
rias plantation on the opposite side of
the river has also been leased and on
this place there are fifty acres of availa-
| bic rice lands with the other to be
brought into cultivation. In addition to
the rice LANDS already noted, 100 acres of
| cultivated rich lands on Eagles Island
have also been leased from Mr.. H. u.
| Buffers Mr.. Butters's place is known as
BLEAK House" and the lands are said
to be the finest on the Cape Fear. Con-
vict camps will be maintained at the
Lyrias place and at "Beak House." and
| Castle Haynes and the rice lands, as
they may be needed.
| Superintendent MewbOorne counts on
| producing this year not less than l2,CO
| bushels of rice, and says he is confident
that the greatest results for the public
viii be obtained from this venture of the
State in farming its convict labor He
says rice is a more profitable crop than
cotton or corn, and i'm raising it the
State will not be so much in competition
with the farmers, as only few of them
are rice-planters. Mr.. George II. cam
non. of Brunswick county. is to have
charge Of the Castle Haynes farm as
supervisor" and will be in special
charge of the rice-planting
THE HALIFAX FARM
Another one of the State farms is
known as the Halifax farm, on Roanoke
river. in Halifax county, three miles from
Weldon. IT contains 24OO acres. and this
wear from 600 to 500 acres will be planted
in cotton. 1000 in oats. and $50 in wheat.
The wheat Is now looking WELL and is
ouite promising A small crop Of corn
will also be planted. Here forty eight
conyicts and twenty-five horses and mules
will be worked.
NORTHAMPTON FARM.
Across the river from the above farm,
In Northampton county, is the farm by
that name. 1t contains $500 acres, aad
will be worked by 165 convicts and eighty
four horses and mules. There viii he
cultivated this year 900 acres in cotton
and 1900 acres in corn. This farm Is
three miles from the town OF HahiaA'
CALEDONIA FARMS.
on the Roanoke, twelve miles down the
river from the Northampton farm, ~ the
big Caledonia farm of 1000 acres. 1t Is
five miles from the town of Tillery' ana il
is divided into two farms. 80,
caledonia No. 1 will be worked by lSl
oon,,lcts and elehty-four horses and
mules. There will be planted 1000 acres
IN cotton !. 500 i'm corn, and several hum
dred acres in wheat and oats.
Caledonia No. will be worked by Is,
convicts and sixty-eight horses ana
mules There will be 1000 acres In corn
and 900 acres in cotton, and some other
available lands will be planted in oats
TILLERY FARM
The state this year has leased the farm
~ Cantain j. r. Tillery, adjacent 70 the
Calendonia farms. He will furnish the
horses and mules and the State will FUR
nish seventy-hve convicts 10 WORK tne
Mace. Here 200 acres will be planted II
peanuts, 500 acres in cotton ana SOV III
corn. r.n1
The Arson farm is In Arson county
,hroo miles west of Wadesboro'. IL Is
ON the Carolina Central railroad, and Jus
seton Is Russellville named for Gov
ernor Russell. II contains 25OO acres.
and will be worked by l0i conVlets' am
81 horses and mules. There VIII be plant
ed COO acres in cotton, 400 acres IN corn
se acrae in wheat. and 60 acres In oats
THE pEN1TENTIARY PROPER.
pesjaes these farms, there Is forty
acre farm garden at the prison III
Raleigh. IN. 80. +hat
SUPERINTENDENT Mewborne tells US una,
the prison viii now be little more tnan :
great hospital as only the ola men an'
women and the sick men sent IN from th'
farms will be kept there. All me Wohe'
oonv,cts have been sent into the prison
srar, tho farms and will be worked In th'
si',rt factory and employed at other work
go ~ them will be worked on TN
farms There are now iOio conVlets, an an.
~ this number there are now ohiy lo'
r,.,, and women In the central prison
~ \ G. Wade has had forty-hVe con
10 az work on the Southeastern ran
~ a. Roheson county, and thirty-nv'
..,,t.,s are now at work doing some
dI<lng for private parties near ooius'
bore.
o~d..rs for printing sent TO the Dlspatcr