Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-23
Russian coIonists for eeoraIa.

The Washington Times of Monday has
the following interesting interview with
the Hon. Edwin Brobston. Of Brunswick:
"I am just from business trip to New
York, and am elated and happy over the
magnificent promise of development that
seems in store in the immediate future
for the southern section of my state,
said Mr.. Edwin Brobston. OF Brunswick,
Ca, at the Riggs.
"Ours is a region that has been greatly
overlooked, but it's rich natural resources
could not be forever ignored. and we are
about to get the first installment Of colo
nists from southern Russia. This is an
enterprise in which the Southern railway
has taken the leading part. The coast
country OF Georgia is magnifcently adap-
ted to growing early fruits and vegetables
for the large markets OF the north. We
are from fourteen to twenty-one days
ahead of Norfolk in the production Of ber-
ries, melons, tomatoes, potatoes, and the
like, and our products come in right after
the first shipments Of like things from
Florida.
Our Russian immigrants will so to
work along this line OF truck farming, and
150,000 acres of land CONTIGUOUS and tribu-
tary to Brunswick have been purchased in
their interest. Another great project
from which we hope much is the line OF
steamships that will ply between Euro
pean ports and Brunswick and Savannah.
This line is for the purpose of carrying
across the Atlantic in cold storage all
kinds of food supplies that the farmers OF
the coast region raise. Sir Thomas Upton
is one of the promoters and is heavily in
terested. The intention Is to establish de-
pots and refrigerating plants near the
seaboard towns and to invite producers of
a big adjacent territory to bring in every
thing they make on their farms, for which
liberal prices will be given by the agents
of the company. Not a dollar OF Ameri-
can money is wanted. and all the funds
necessary to operate the business have
been subscribed by foreign capitalists"
Wants More Money for ConVlcts.
The Journal announced a few days ago
that Representative Gress. of Wilcox, was
of the opinion that the convicts could be
released at the expiration Of the present
contract at a profit of $4,000 per year
over what the state is now getting, and
would. probably lead fight to secure bet
ter terms when the present lease expires,
in case it is desired to continue the pres
emit system.
Colonel Steve Postell the Atlanta corre-
spondent Of The Macon Telegraph, fol-
lows this up with some interesting figures
on the present lease.
A gentleman closely identified with the
convict system of Georgia, and thoroughly
conversant with its working, says it Is
not necessary to formulate any ingenious
plan to insure the state an additional 49,
900 per year for her convicts after the ex-
piration of the present contract.
Were the contract to terminate next
month the state could get $2S0,000 more for
the hire of these convicts than she now
gets, for the reason that the supply and
demand regulates the price.
Four years ago there was not as large
a demand for them as now by so per cent,
and convicts contracted for then at 800
per year are being, and have been, sub-let
for 500 per year, or just double what the
state gets. In some cases they have been
sub-let at $50 per month, or $40 per year.
This gentleman AYERS that, taking $500 as
q fair average, which the state could get
tomorrow II the present lease expired,
that would mean bringing into the state
treasury of 100000 per year for convict
hire, as the state now hires out on an av-
erage of 1000 able-bodied convicts at 800
per year, or 10000 The expenses OF run
ming the department Is $4,000 per year,
or a net gain now Of $4,000 annually, and
with the increased demand and consequent
higher price for this labor. the 100000 that
they would now bring would mean. de-
Quoting the $4,000 yearly expense. S2S0,OoO
clear profit each year to the state. The
sum of S2S0,0O0 income per year Is good
deal more than $175,000 per year, and 1t
doesn't require any brain-racking to ac-
complish that result.
Who Will Be McLaurIn's Successor
Who will wear the senatorial toga OF
McLaurin? is the question often asked by
persons interested in the political situa-
ton in South Carolina
''That McLaurin will never succeed HIM
self is now admitted even by his friends"
said a prominent South Carolinian in the
arcade last night.
"Those who looked with favor upon COM
mercial Democracy. and there were some
we'll known citizens among them, have
been driven away by the prospects OF be-
ing shut out from Democratic allegiance,
for Senator McLaurin's enemies hold the
reins of the voting laws; and will see TO
II that those who vote for commercial
Democracy will lay up for themselves all
kinds OF trouble in the future. Again,
McLaurin has carried the commercial
idea too far and has disguised many VINO
favored his views and objected to those
who are in the movement for whatever
spoils can be secured.
"Some have said that Senator Tillman
has lost strength during the last hve
years, but with such persons the wish
is father to the thought. Senator T1ilman
is today stronger Lndn ever, AoE ne as
sumes the role Of the defeder of Democ-
racy agaist then inroads Of Republican
ism under the name OF commercial De-
mocracy.'
who then Is the next strongest man
and the one who will likely share an
equally important seat in public office,
you ask2 Clearly the man who is most
like him. Congressman Latimer has been
accused of being Tillmanlike in manner
and methods. This allegation he takes no
occasion to deny. Latimer is strong In the
upper sections of the state and will, 1t Is
thought, be junior senator from this state.
But he will be compelled to defeat two
brilliant men, viz! Henderson and John
son, both Of whom are strong politically
and admired for their eloquence. Elk
Congressman Hemphill is a lawyer or
much prominence in Washington circles
and will make a hard effort to return to
Washington with the obligations Of the
people of South Carolina upon him.
"Ex-Governor Evans will, also, be IN
the race and he is very popular as he has
already served at the head OF the execu-
49, a hQu