The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-14
BILL ARP.
THE BERTHE COUNTY FARM.
How it is Managed in the Republican
of BERTHE

Windsor. BERTHE Co.. n. c.. Aug. Is.
There was ut the BERTHE county farm
at Austin in this county on the first of
December, 1896 two hundred and fifty
barrels of corn and nearly enough meat
and other supplies to carry on the farm
until the first of December, 1897. The
average number of people to feed did
not exceed twenty five during the fiscal
year. There was on said farm at that
time three mules, one horse and about
- hogs to feed and 20 to fatten
The corn was all consumed before the
first of December, 1897. TO feed the
team would have taken n barrel each
per month forty eight barrels. say fifty
TO feed the hogs would have taken about
thirty barrels, and sixty for the peo-
pie, making one hundred and forty-five
barrels, leaving one hundred and five
barrels, unaccOunted All the produce
raised on the farm was consumed or
wasted. and besides it cost the county
more than twelve hundred dollars to
carry on the farm during the fiscal year.
while the county only received the magni-
icent sum of twenty four dollars and
seventy cents. and the records do not
show from what source il came During
the fiscal year there was used on the
farm six thousand pounds of pork or
bacon, more than two thousand pounds
of beef, ten thousand behring's, twelve
barrels of flour and fifty-SiX gallons of
m0lasseS, and sugar and coffee at libitum
To feed each person on the farm as Il
liberal farmer would feed his hands it
would have taken five thousand two
hundred pounds of pork or bacon and
sixty five barrels of corn, leaving eight
hundred pounds of meat, two thousand
pounds of beef, ten thousand behring's
and twelve barrels of flour. This is no
imaginary sketch, but hard and stub
born facts taken from the records of
BERTHE county OH file in the Register of
Deeds office in BERTHE county, which can
he seen by any one who desires to see
them. The prisoners and paupers did not
consume these supplies as many Of them
have told the writer that they were near
ly starved to death and that they were
given for breakfast Il herring. a small
piece of bread and a cup of parched
meal tea sweetened with tea spoon
full of molasscs. Saturday evening as
they did not work and Sunday they
were not given any supper. What has
bttoIht Vi tloNt SupIiitS. Inc
of BERTHE county would like to know
Corn. fodder. peanut vines, shucks, veg
etabes, melons, meat, meal, flour, sugar,
molasses, meal. beef and wood cut by the
prisoners were carried off the farm and
no returns made to the county authori-
ties.
Evidence can be procured to prove
all the facts ! have stated and the peo-
pie of BERTHE county are clamOring for
an investigation of the management of
the county farm This farm under Il
careful economical and honest manage
ment could not only save enough to pay
its annual current expenses rs well as
the managers salary, feed and clothe
the prisoners and paupers, but pay the
interest on the bonds issued for the
payment of the purchase money. Is
there farmer in the State that has so
little idea of business as to hire and keep
Il manager to slperintend a three horse
farm that not only wastes and CON
sumes everything raised on the farm, but
actually sends him in debt more than II
thousand Il year? The county authorities
do it in this county when they could
employ Il better man at less wages
($35OOO per year, who would make the
farm pay.
Respectfully Yours.
HENRY 7. PUGH.