Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-02-02
To the People of Arkansas, Th

from the strained relations fea-
ture of the governors so-called mes
sage, turn away until the final touch,
to give attention to his statements
and comments in relation to the ac-
tions and efforts of the penitentiary
board in connection with the purchase
of convict farm, in the course of
which facts Shall be stated just as
they occurred, and necessary infer
ences only drawn.
On the 18th of August, 1901, the
board decided to visit and inspect the
following farms:
One in Lincoln and Drew counties.
offered by J. M. and J. G.. Taylor.
One in Jefferson county, offered by
Louis Altheimer
One in Lonoke county, offered by
N. B. Beakley.
One in Lincoln county, offered by
Jared Martin.
One in Chicot county. offered by
Hardee Sons.
Every one Of these offers required
part payment in cash, and the ex
pense of the inspection was to be paid
out of the penitentiary fund.
The Altheimer and Beakley farms
received the first Inspections but the
governor did not join in the inspec
tion of that of Beakley. The mem
bers of the board, except the attorney
general, who went over the Altheimer
farm afterward, took the train about
8 o'clock a. M, went down to the AL
theimer farm. rode over portion of
1t, and took the returning train the
same day. My information is that
they were actually engaged in the
examination of the farm not exceed
ing three hours.
On the 18th of August all the mem
bers of the board went to Lake Vii
lage, in Chicot county, for the pur
pose of examining the farm of Har
dee Sons, known as the Red Leaf
plantation, and then examining the
others on their way back to Little
Rock, stopping Off for the purpose
at the most convenient railway sta
tons. After devoting something like
six hours to the examination of the
Red Leaf plantation, we returned to
Lake Village, distance of five miles.
where we spent the night. At an in
formal meeting of the board, held on
the following morning, the eXamina-
ton of the other farms was, on mo
tion of the governor. abandoned, Judge
Hill and voting against it,
On the 9th of September, 1901. on
motion of the governor, all the offers,
eight in number, of farms to the
board except those of Beaklcy and
Althcimer, We're, against my vote, eX-
Guided from eonsiderat ION, and the
question of purchase made to rest
between the offers of Altheimer and
Beakley.
At the next meeting only four days
later, there were a great many per
sons present, including Mr.. Altheimer,
who seemed to have come by the re.
quest of the governor. He took charge
of them and examined them before
the board, stating that he wished to
prove that the Beakley farm was wet,
for a convict farm. | replied that if
such was the case | would never be
in favor of its purchase. The gov
ernor examined the witnesses and
they stated that a large part of the
land was wet and flat-wet in the
spring and winter from surface wa
ter-and that in stages of very high
water most of it oyerhowed. Most
of the witnesses were from England
On my motion the question of pur-
chasing the convict farm was then
postponed for thirty days.
On further investigation | found
that a considerable percentage of the
Beakley farm was wet land. and that
the most of it sometimes overflowed.
| also found that the Altheimer tract
was subject to the same objections.
only in a greater degree, it being
lower than the Beakley farm, fiat
and wet |, therefore. concluded that
neither of them would do for a con-
Wet farm.