The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-11-21

Warden parchman subnitts

brief report of my stewards nip as
warden Of the Mississippi peniten-
tiary for the last four years. The
present system of penitentiary
management has existed eight
years, half of which time | have
served as warden. At the close of
the fiscal year 1898, the year pre-
ceding my induction into Office,
there was on hand TO the credit of
the penitentiary fund, e. shown by
the State treasurer : report, S35.-
OPP %. With his cash balance
began the development of the pen
Itentiary affairs under nv admin
istration. At the close Of the
fiscal year 1899, the first year of
my administration, the treasurer's
report shows a cash balance of
SlO2, LOG. %, or n net prof, of &c.,
O7S 80. since which time the board
mas bought the new State farm in
Sunhower county, for which they
paid $4,000 in cash. They also
bought $1,000 in personal property
located on this place. We have
invested in machinery, farm stock,
etc, little over $4,000 We now
have in the State treasury to our
credit 500 ,562 So. We have on
hand and unsold approximately
3,IS4 bales OF cotton, estimated at
Z cents per pound, Sl32, 40 We
We have on hand and not deliver
ed $4,000 worth of cotton seed.
We have 81 ,eCO worth of splendid
beef steers These several items
together make in the aggregate
1912, OH 81. Subtract from this
the amount on hand at the close of
the fiscal year 1898 and you will
have the exact net profits In cesh
under my administration, 81 So
975. 81. In addition TO this. we
have on hand 5000 bushels of
corn, 900 or | POO tons of hay, or
quite enough TO do the institution
the ensuing year. We have also
saved lSOO To 1000 bushels of
seed peas. During the year 1901.
the year in which the Sunhower
property was purchased, we clear
ed mp more than 1000 acres, on
which we will make 900 bales oil
cotton and 1900 bushels of corn
this year. We have cut the stocks.
sawed and erected into cages, resi-
dences, barns and gin houses more
than a million feet of lum Der. Six
cages, with all necessary accommo-
dation5 for managers, guards and
other employees, are now ready for
use. With ordinary care and in
dustry, all the land necessary for
the use of the penitentiary ought
to be cleared and ready for cult
walton by January. 1904. We have
one splendid overlooking artesian
we'll. and another is in course OF
construction Without criticising
the board or claiming undue credit
for myself, | want to say that every
days labor performed by the con-
victs, every acre of ground cult
waited, and every foot of ground
cleared on the new Sunfiower plan
tation, together with every house
erected thereon, has been done at
the responsibility and discretion of
the warden. More than half of
this vast industry has only been
visited by the Board of Control
once in three years. and but one
memb Der has visited them oftener
than four times in three years.
That L have made mistakes in the
management and cultivation Of
\ 1900 acres of land, scattered over
ten counties, is admitted, but L take
I ii that the most severe critic Will
admit that the management has
been a success. | had felt that at
all times | enjoyed the confidence
and support of the Board of Con
troll under whom | have worked,
and for this reason | have been en-
couraged to exercise all the tact
and energy with which L am pos
sessed. My first object has been
to take the very best care of the
convicts L could, and they are now
in the best condition. They are
better fed, better clothed and more
\ humanely treated than at any time
since my connection with the pen
itentiary. My second considera-
ton has been 10 make every dollar
possible Unfortunately, however,
dissentions have crcpt into the ser
vice and | believe now that | can
best subserve the interests of the
State by leaving the management
of the penitentiary to others. L
therefore decline TO stand as a can
didate for the ensuing term.
Il desire, in conclusion, to re-
tdrn my heartfelt thanks to the
Board or the members thereof, who
have confided in me and supported
my administration; trusting that
your every effort in the manage
ment and development of the in
stitution may be crowned with
success. and that my immediate
successor may enjoy a successful
and contented administration, /
am sincerely yours,
u. NJ. PARCHMAN, Warden"
Hon. Wiley y. Nash entertain