The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-04
'In my report made a year ago. mild

| Tn my report made year ago. mild
 " suggested, the propriety of disposing | or the agricultural lands now owned by
 the State at It's three several farms, or
 prisons. and the acquisition by purchase
 or lands in body, of sufficient quantity
 and fertility, to serve the uses of the
 State, in such agricultural operations as
 may Do carried on with convicts. not suit
 ed to heavier labor.
 "A year of experience and observation
 since then convince and persuade me.
 more and more. that the State should dispose of It's real estate now owned, and purchase other lands, in quantity and productiveness superior to the present | farms, which in my opinion. and those | Of the Board and of Your Excellency, will | be the best step In the interest of the | department, now in sight.
 "The farms now operated by the State,
 are either poor or uncertain. and neces- | sarily require as many employees, as If
 fertile and reasonably sure It follows therefore that they are weighted down
 with the expense of operating them. Financial Statement. The income of this department has al-
 ways been chiefly from the hire of the convicts. and principally from those
 working in the mines. The agricultural operations have always been carried on at loss, and the cotton will never be very little if any profit.
 General contracts for the hire of con- victs, to saw mill and turpentine men. at an advanced rate per month over for mer contracts. and raise of two dollars per month per man, upon existing con tracts-that is. contracts existing at the beginning of the present management have contributed much to the net profits of the department under present manage, ment
 A comparative statement of net profits Of the department. as shown by the Treasurer's and Auditors reports, for six years last past, may not be amiss.
 The Treasurer's reports show the net profits for the years named:
 For the year 1895. net income. .$26, ,S34. .43 For the year 1896. net income... 7,l39 5l
 For the year 1897, net income.... 20, ,654. .23 For the year 1S9S net income. .. 50, ,475. A For the year 1899. net income. m 24,7s6. .I3 For the year 1900. net income... 6527 .S2
 The Auditors reports shows the net in- come for the years named hereinafter The Treasurers reports show more, be- cause of the fact that upon the day the Treasurer, at the end of the fiscal year 1902. closed his books there were out unpaid warrants, which reduced the net apparent income, as shown by the Treasurer's books. from $100, 024 46 to 1 the actual net income as shown below 1 (The same may be true as to all the years where apparent net income Is shown by | the Treasurer's books):
 For the year 1901, net income. s S2.545 50 | For the year 1902 net income. 9S,SS5. .61 |
 statement of the business of the de- | partment for the year 1908: Amount of cash paid into the
 Treasury since Sept. 1. 1902. 1925, ,4SS 99 | Amount earned during the year
 after deducting amount of last
 years earnings. included in
 this years receipts, and not
 paid in ........................... 3s.OO3, 70 Amount paid for mules and other
 stock for farms, still on hand. 2,05l .67 Amount paid for mules, vehicles
 and mining tools and appli-
 ances. still on hand, and per
 manent improvements .......... 504o. 50 Total receipts ....................$S .$S70 5S4. .96 mount paid out for all purposes. 179, ,6SO. .S9 'otal net receipts for the year