The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-11-21
Tic State FarrUs OF he Wa!crcc.

Ga the fifth Sunday in September
preached at Bethesda Church near
Hagood, ia the forenoon, and at the
State farms to the convicts in the
afternoon, and at night. dincd with
Brother w. X. Gardner and family
on the DcSaussurc farm and preached
and then went over to the .Iiccd farm,
mile and a half distant, preached at
night and spent the night with, B. o.
j. II. Norris and family. Bro. Gard
ncr is from Kcrshaw County and
manages the DcSaussurc farm, and
bro. Morris, the manager Of the Reed
farm, is from Marlborough County
Judging from what saw. would say
that they are both careful and hAmanc
managers of convicts, and successful
planters. There were is convicts on
the lower OcSaussurc) farm and 72
on the upper farm.
Some / 200 acres arc in cultivation
or each farm The lower farm has
$50 acres in corn and 200 in cotton,
with the prospect Of ra:,ing plenty Of
corn as surplus.
The Reed farm has 500 acres in corn
and 225 in cotton. On this farm they
expect to gather from 1900 to Is, 600
bushels Of corn, and 200 bales Of cot
ton. On the lower farm $50 bales of
cotton. Each farm raised about 10 900
bushels OF oats this, year and nearly
1000 bushels of wheat. Of pea vine
hay they were gathering as fine lot
of clean, bright vines and grass as
ever saw; about 900 large wagon
loads to each farm was the expected
yield. Fifteen acres of fine rice and
about 1000 gallons of syrup is raised
this year on the Reed farm. was in
formed by the manager that the farms
are charged up with $3.50 month for
each convict employed, and last year
there was surplus of about 81 900 on
tho two farms.
Over and above this, the lands are
being improved, large buildings erect
ed pumps for better water supply
have been put down in the fields wher-
ever needed, and wind mills for draw
in 'waterfor general use at the settle
ments or barracks. They arc also i'm
proving the hogs and cattle, so as to
five the farms better supply Of milk
for the managers and the sick con
victs. and to reduce the purchase Of
bacon. The health is good.
They also have Is hounds at the
Reed farm, and when Brother Norris
opened the door Of the house they
were in to show them to me Monday
morning they looked SO fierce as they
barked and howlcd to get out, that
got up into my buggy, which was near
by. This seemed to amusc the color
cd "trusty,' who helps to manage the
dogs, and he said 'Thcy arc not apt
to bite white people, but they arc
dsath on stripes They keep them in
training by sending ont trnsty cvcry
now and again, and when he gets to
where he can get up tree, or easily
get back to the barracks, they turn
the dogs loose to follow him around.
But they would be apt to tear him to
pieces if they caught up with him in
an open place, and the manager diu
not keep up with them.
All things considered, think they
have made very fine crops on these
farms this year, in view of tho great
drought and the extremely hot wealth.
er.
The convicts work hard but arc
treated kindly. Brother Morris saws
he tells them that all he requires is
that they "bchave themselves and dc
plenty Of work. Their appearance
shows that they arc we'll cared for,
and think it would be mistake to
sell these farms, as there is some talk
Of.
regret not meeting my old friend
Col. Griffith. superintendent of the
penitcntiary, who had been over on the
farms few days before was there.
While on the Lexington circuit wears
ago preached at Lcwicdalc, where lie
and his family then lived, and always
had a warm welcome to their home.
l enjoyed my visit to these farms
and preaching to these people in bonds
tried to exhort them to give Their:
selves to the Saviour, obey the rule.
Of the institution, and build up char
acter for themselves of faithfulncs
and piety, and that God would blcs
them. l enjoyed their earnest, heart,
singing very much. ] was glad t,
learn the next day that they wero vel
pleased with my talks and want me t,