Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-06-24
CAPT.. ROBERTS  VISITS THE COUNTRY AND REPORTS CROPS IN VERY
 POOR CONDITION.
 - VISITED co. CONVICT FARM He Says It Is in Good Condition and the Reports About Mis-
 treatment Untrue.
VISITED co. CONVICT FARM

Capt. N. T. Noberts returned Sat- urday afternoon from business trip to English and vicinity He reports the crops, both cotton and corn, the worst he has seen In that portion of the county. "The cotton" said Capt. Roberts, @is small, late and in bad condition generally. Nothing less than the most favorable cotton producing season during July and August can secure more than 50 or 60 per cent production. The corn crop will be, at best, about 5D per cent yield.
 " hile In the neighborhood Of Graeie's convict farm I rode down to see for my own satisfaction the true condition of his convict labor. as 80 much had been said relative to it's management. was glad to find that the reports of the filth, bad l feeding, oYerworked and inhuman treatment, were very much to the contrary. Upon personal examina- tian, found the kitchen in a clean and orderly condition. The dinner meal was being prepared at the time and consisted of Wellcooked corn bread, good clear side meat of salt pork, a goodly supply of cab bages and broiled rice. The cook tolfI Ime.that, vegetables were in- elnded in the dinner each day. and that they had coffee twice per day. Next l went through the sleeping de- partments. There 1 found the beds all made up in good order. the floors There are two sleeping apartments with beds to accommodate 60 or more men. The female prisoners have separate sleeping quarters.
 I walked to where the men were blowing They were well clad in shirts, pants. shoes and hats. I talked with several Of them, and of my own selection. I did not find one of them that had that ashy ap- pearance common to the black map, who has bean poorly fed or mis- that 1 was not an official or agent or Mir. Oracle, but citizen af the county who desired to learn condition and treatment of the conv ct labor generally. The men l talked wi, h had been there from three to five months. They said they had no spe- cial complaint to make; were treated about as well as they could be under tue circumstances. Two men said they were recently whipped and add ed that the blows, which were ad. ministered with leather strap. were hard anu painful. Two blows are given as punishment. l asked if they were go severe that the receiver would have to stand up at meals. No boss. answered one If them,' butt sho' did hurt
 Taking all things into considera- ton, l feel that the county convicts are in good hands. They are well fed. numanely treated and well worked, properly suffering the pen alty of violated laws. l saw aud talked to only two white men. They were both on the sick list. I readily saw that they were being well treat ed and both stated that they had no kicks to register"
 "Did you g0 to he farm at the SO
 licitation of Mir. Oracle, or any one elst ," ask ed | he reporter.
 No sir" answered Capt. Roberts. .this inspection was made without , any notice to the managers, entirely unexpected to them. It was no dress parade occasion, 1 saw them in their eyei y-day clothes.
 The Ladies Aid ; rietv of the Bap- ob,.rah Jaaira.. fn flt.ue