The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-08-15
CONVICT plOBLEM SETTLED.

SONV4S4 F&OOAL4~A OA4 A1AOs
The proposition that is being
discussed in the present state
canvass to abolish the present
state convict system and work
the convicts on the public roads,
will find no favor or support
among the people who are intel
Iligently informed in respect to
the practical working of the pre-.
sent admirable prison system
which was established in pursu-
ance of the provisions of the con-
stitution of 1890.
The present convict system
was established aftermany years
of earnest and jealous effort by
many of the leading men of the
state in their attacks upon the
former system of convict leasing.
The present reform was estab-
lished by the constitutional con-
vention of 1890, after an elabor-
ate discussion of the whole ques-
ton in all of it's various bearings:
and it is the natural, practical
and logical solution of the convict
problem in this state. The new
system was put in operation in
1894, and consists simply in
working the convicts at agricul-
tural pursuits on lands owned by
the state, and under direct off
cial supervision.
The state now owns a farm of
about 2000 acres in Rankin coun-
ty, worth, with it's improvements
$25, 900; aAfarm in Kinds county
of about the same acreage, worth
about So, 900; cotton plantation
on Honey Island of 1000 acres,
worth $4,000, and $4,000 acres
of land in Sunflower County,
more than 5000 acres of which
is cleared and in cultivation, and
worth at least $2O0,000. making
total valuation of about $780,
900. Besides this, all of these
lands are provided with all the
stock and implements necessary
for their cultivation, which will
amount in value to at least $780,
600 at a moderate estimate.
Every year all of these lands
are becoming improved, and
more land is constantly being
cleared on the large tract in Sun
flower county, with the labor and
the earnings of the convicts.
The prison population, stated
in round numbers, is 1 100, about
80 per cent of whom are negroes,
and the net earnings of these
convicts is at least $4,000 annu-
ally. All of this valuable prop
erty, both real and personal, has
been purchased entirely with the
earnings of the convicts, and has
not cost the taxpayers a dollar;
and what is more, in addition to
these large acquisitions of prop
erty anet surplus of the convicts,
earnings is paid every year into
the state treasury which is used
for the general expenses Of the
state government.
When the Sunfower tract has
been improved and cleaned up,
and put in high state of cultiva-
tlon, and the convict labor syS-
tematically and economically
provided for, the net earnings of
the convicts may safely be esti-
mated at not less than 1925, 900,
which is fully one-eight of the
ordinary annual expenses of the
state government, exclusive of
the school appropriations.
Viewed strictly from an eco
nomical standpoint, the labor of
the convicts could not possibly
be used at any other employment
as advantageously as in this agri-
cultural labor. From moral,
and humane point of view, in no
other possible employment or
occupation could this proper dis
cipline and treatment be secur-
ed.
The people of this state have
seen, under the old convict leas-