The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-10
THE STATE P~ENITENTIAY.
Crops OF the Big Farm on the ROa-
nOke-The Penitentiary Out of
Debt and $4,000 to Its Credit
General News from Raleigh.
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, y. c., November 5.

Raleigh, y. c., November 5.
In the course of an interview with
officials of the penitentiary it is learn
ed that the number of convicts at pres
ent is 800. OF these 331 are on the great
state farm, known as caledonia" on
the Roanoke river. On this farm there
are this year 1000 acres in corn, 1,400 in
cotton and 400 in peanuts. The cotton
crop will be somewhat short but yet
a thousand bales will be made where L.
200 were expected. The other crops are
very good. In the course of the ques-
tons asked the officials it was learned
that the financial standing of the peni
tertiary is extremely good; that all the
debts are paid, including the bill for
fertilizers, and that there is $50, 900 to
the credit of the penitentiary. AS yet
nothing of the present crop has been
sold. Of the accounts due none are
bad ones. The brick making at the
prison here this year has paid very we'll
indeed, about 2 II millions of brick
having been turned out. The sales have
been very satisfactory. One million
brick were sold to Mr.. Ashley Horne,
at Clayton, for an oil mill there. The
dmand for convict labor is very great,
but no convicts are now available, nor
will any be SO until after the crop at
the state farm has been gathered. The
GOldSbOro Lumber Company now has
fifty cOnvicts and the contract for these
has been renewed. over 20 years ago
the p~enitentiary bought e. acres of land
a mile south of Raleigh, at the point
where the North Carolina railway cross
es Walnut creek, and took the clay
from this land for use in making brick.
Now the sale of the land is ordered, as
the brick clay is obtained from lands
the penitentiary bought recently on the
line of the Raleigh and Cape Fear rail
way.
During the winter the republicans will
establish d weekly paper here, the funds
having been secured. They :aIk as if
it will later be made a daily, that is for
next years campaign, in which some of
their leaders profess to believe they see
some opportunity of success.
The delay in the issue of the magazine
rifles to the trOOps of the National
guard in this state continues. These
rifles were received here during sum-
mer and yet Georgia which received her
quota of these rifles later, has issued
them. The rifles ought to be in the |
hands Of the guardsmen so that the lat
ter may become familiar with them.
The ammunition for the rifles has not
arrived and the war department ought
to be urged to expedite it's delivery.
The wonderful weather continues and
the m are certainly making use
of it. Ali kinds of farm work are in ac-
.-o 49, %I@ 49, I
tainly in good spirits. Speaking about
their condition, Commissioned Of Agri-
culture Patterson said today that it is
very good indeed, except in those Sec
tons where tobacco was made, what
may be called the sole crop. He said
there was much more diversiication of
crops in the state than ever before, and
regards this as the most encouraging
sign. 1t is this he says which has en-
abled farmers to hold their cotton and
tobacco for good prices and which puts
them in a really independent position
A good deal of tall is now heard
among democrats here who have studied
political conditions as to the bill
ty, in fact, necessity of nominating
Cleveland for president. Some of them
say the recent election has made the
fact very apparent.
All the counties in the state except
Halifax, Burke, and Wayne have made
full settlement OF state taxes. These
counties have mad partial payments.
There does not appear to be any doubt
now of an early extension of the Ra-
leigh and Cape Fear railway southwark
from Ellington.
a great deal OF work is being done
on the farm of the Agricultural and Me-
chanical college. over 400 acres of land
which has been purchased within the
grain, grass and clover. and is making
L very fine appearance. Two years z
ii was a wilderness of scrub oak. the
large timber having been cut down
many years ago. The farm will in the
spring be one OF the sights which WISH
tors here will enjoy.
The abstract OF property sent by the
register OF deeds for M~ecklenburg coun-
~ has today filed with the corporation
commission as the state tax commission
and shows an increase of property over
last year amounting to s.. 46l. 623. Thus
far % II have filed abstracts OF
taXables.
Mrs. r. L. Gilmer. wife of the attor-
ney general. left today for New York
and Philadelphia to visit relatives and
will be absent three weeks.
Mr.. Virgil Rountree. of Kinston, and
Miss Susie Undertake were married
here this morning. at the home of Mr..
]. B.. Timberlake, the father Of the