The age-herald., 1898-04-08
OVER THE LINE
 IN IN GEORGIA fl Convict Lease System Expired on
 April 1. NEW LEASE HAS BEEN MADE Which Is Expected to Yield From One Hundred to Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Per Annum-Congressional Con
 tests Attracting Attention.
NEW LEASE HAS BEEN MADE

Aprll l. The state had been receiving groSS sum of s25,OO0 from it's convlcts, or about $17, 900 net. This had been going on ever since Governor Brown set the pace and price about twenty years ago. Some of the most substantial fortunes in the state are based on convict toll. But all that came to end April l, when new bids were opened and new five-year contracts were made. Able-bodied convicts to the num- Der of 1,S0O were let at that time at prices averaging $99.43 year, yearly hire of $17S,450. Of this number about 75O will be employed in brickmaking, 200 in farming in- dustries, $50 in lumber mills, and 800 in making cross-ties. The coal mines of the state have scarcely had an existence since the collapse of the Brown syndicate, and no convicts have been employed in that way in several years. Coal mining and iron making are not features of Georgia enter prise. Nature has not been over kind to the state in those respects
 
 Besides the convicts leased on April 1, about 300 remain, consisting of the feeble prisoners, the women conyicts, and the boys under 15 years of age, all of whom are to be placed upon a state farm. The prison commissioners are now looking for a suitable farm. Over three hundred pieces of land have been offered for such a pur- pose, and the commissioners think they will be able to buy fine property, put up needful buildings and conduct the farm until it becomes self-supporting, within the sum of $50000, appropriated for that pur- pose. Experts estimate that the states net yearly revenue from her convicts will here- after be at least s10O,0O0, and it may go to $2OO,O0O within three years.
 The city of Atlanta is not to have a city hall, nor the county of Fulton a new court house-at least, not very soon. The county had sold the court house to the city at $l50,- 000 payable in five equal annual sums. Tne supreme court of the state has decided that the county could not sell it's court house piecemeal it must sell it whole. that is, for spot cash. The court also decides that the city could not buy the court house ex- cept upon the approval of two-th1rds or the qualified voters of the city So the bargain is off and the fund of S60 900, which had been set aside for the court house, Is to be divided among the city departments ana spent in lieu of taxes to that amount. The original scheme looked to the purchase, first of the court house by the city; next, to the purchase of the custom house by the county; and then to the erection of mil lion-dollar building more or less, by the government But the entire scheme has fallen to the ground, and the city, the coun- ty and the government will manage to exist in their old quarters
 The state is very much engrossed in a triangular contest for the democratic nom- nation for governor. Colonel A. D. Can- dler the letter writer, apparently has rath- CT the best of the contest. He is considered the candidate of the plain people, while Judge Atkinson has the support of the Cap ftol City club, of Atlanta, and of the aris- tocrats of the state generally. President of the Senate Berner is a middle Georgia man, and his support will not, 1t Is thought, ex- tend much beyond a few home counties. To some extent the contest involves repi- ttion of the old Evars-Atkinson shindy Judge Atkinson is the anti-Evans candi- date, and will have the support of the ma chine and its court house rings. Colonel Candler will probably be a winner, but he will not have the walk-over tbat was his before he became ready letter writer
 There is at least one thing that Colonel Candler can do that disheartens competi- ton. He can mix metaphors with read mess that is simply superb. It does not tire him at all to call in one line the re- publican party an anaconda and In the rest a golden calf. He wants the ship or state restored to it's ancient moorings, but just why the ship of state should be stagnated Is not explained. Colonel Gamblers figures of speech are altogether beyond education; but a man can commit worse acts than confusion or profusion of metaphors. If they are dramatic enough. Colonel Candler fs secure in his native state.
 The demand for seed and fertilizers in the watermelon belt leads to the belief that the crop will be phen0rfenally large this year. In 1890 over 5000 cars were load
 1f fhnVr dt not yield freight money. crop Of 1000 cars is all the markets of the country will take at remunerative prices. Southwest Georgia is the home of the wAtermelop The district around Albany furnishes fully one-quarter of the entire Georgia crop
 sss
 In the list of Georgia's famous men the name of Willie Sims. the greatest jockey on earth appears, but a rival has arisen, one who has met and defeated Tod Sloane, the champion lightweight jockey, the pet of the English racing aristooracy, and the owner of innumerable suits of clothes. The name of the new star is Jesse Conley.
 CT was bawn in Augusta, Ga., and I'm 23 years old," said Conley on the day that he defeated Sloane.
 "I'v done bin around hosses mos all my life, Old Mistah JOnsiny had @ fine nag named Frog Leg what I use to ride.
 "Then went down to Norleans and then come to Newport, Ky, whar l prenticed to Mistah Marklein.
 q always allowed I could ride eff I had chance. I beat Sloane fair and square, reckon. At least haint hearn anybody say I didn't.
 ''Mebbe I'll go east next summer. I guess it's a pretty hard game at Sheeps- head and Morris Park, but I hain't afeard."
 He is black-skinned boy, about feet high. He rides at S5 pounds. He was never measured, however, as he believes that when a persons height is noted, a coffin is the next thing in order.
 The congressional contests are beginning to attract public attention. In the Sa- vannah district Colonel Lester, who has been a congressman ten years has opposi- ton. Editor Harrington, of Swainsboro. is his opponent. In the extreme southwest ern district MT. Griggs has not thus far encountered any opposition. In the Ameri- GUS district Banker Lewis seems to have a walk-over. This was the district of the lamented Crisp. Over in the Columbus dis trict Judge Adamson will certainly secure a second term. There is scramble in the Atlanta district. Colonel Livingston has Editor Blackburn, Colonel Fielder and Charles Brannan on his hands, and they