The leader., 1905-03-01
A Visit 10 the County Farm.

cQlGOr OF. Inc l1eaQeT accepted an
appreciated invitation from Hon.
&. P. Jones, President of the
Board of Supervisors, to accompa-
Iny him behind team of good
horses on trip to the County
Convict Farm, two miles east of
town.
Notwithstanding the severe
winter, we noted quite a lot of
necessary farm work had been ac-
complished BY Supt. John S. Mil
Ter, who has had charge of the
farm and county convlcts since
the latter part of November. "A
large amount Of new fencing has
been built and the trees, bushes
and briers which have long -four
ished along the creek that runs
through the farm, shading the
crops at the ends of the rows and
drawing the strength from the
land, have been cut down and
these parts of the farm given a
new and improved appearance. "a
considerable amount Of wood has
been gained in this way, which
will be sold or utilized on the
farm later. A squad Of hands
was still engaged in this work,
and on another and higher part of
the farm, some pl0Ws were run
ming, preparing the land for an
early planting of corn. "A lot of
cattle were observed in a new pas
ture which had been provided for
this years use. Later, when we
reached the barnyard, Supt. Mil
Ter informed us that the farm
owns seven head of cows and FIVE
calves and would make all of its
own milk and butter this year. A
pair of very fine Poland Chinas
compose a part of the stock of
swine, and these are supplement-
ed BY u lot of haIf-breeds and a
few unadulterated razor backs, .
making altogether an aggregation
which Pres. Jones says will fur
nish meat enough by next winter
to nearly supply the farm a year.
Supt. Miller showed us his crib
which be said contained enough
corn in the ear to make this years
crop, and there was fine lot Of
hay in the large barn loft, which
will easily last until a new crop of
forage is gathered.
AG the present time there are
l6 county convicts on the farm
and FIVE paupers. All Of the con-
victs are negroes, and all of the
paupers, except one, are negroes.
The morning Of our visit Sher-
iff Applewhite delivered to Supt.
Miller, Jake Watson, sentenced
for assault and battery, and
Kidn Richardson, an escape last
December, convicted Of carrying
concealed weapons. Several of
the convicts can be safely worked
as trustees" others have to be
closely guarded or required to
wear spurs to keep them from
running off. Pres. Jones and
Supt. Miller say there are enough
able bodied, long term prisoners
now on the farm TO insure a plen-
tiful supply of reliable labor for
this years crop, especially as the
farm is going to reduce its cotton
crop this year to 90 acres. Corn,
cane, peas, potatoes, peanuts,
vegetables and hay will all receive
full recognition.
The log cage where the colored
prisoners are confined when not at
work was visited and examined.
1t was found comfortably warm,
reasonably clean, and ample bed
ding was provided. One Of the
prisoners who has been at the
farm for quite awhile, was ques-
toned, and said they we're well
pleased with Supt. Miller's treat
ment and had no complaint on
that score. Three or four Of the
paupers talked with bore the same
testimony and seemed as we'll sat
isfied as people could be ID their
unfortunate condition.
Mrs. Nathan Lotion is what
might be termed nation at the
farm, her husband being employ
led as the regular guard, and she
experimenting the cooking and
dispensing of the daily meals to
the prisoners and paupers. She and
Mr.. Lotion occupy the superin-
|tendent's house, and there the only
white pauper on the farm, an old
bed-ridden lady SO years DID,. is
nursed and cared for.
During the last eight or ten
years, there is no direction III
which greater retrenchment il The
way Of county expenses has been
accomplished, than that Of main
tanning the county paupers. Be-
fore the county poor house and
farm west Of town was purchased
in the latter part Of the nineties,
the regular annual expenses of
maintaining the paupers ranged
from 81 800 10 81, 200, plus what
was paid out for temporary re-
lief. The establishment Of The
Icounty farm cut this down several
hundred dollars annually from
| the start and the farm soon paid
lfor itself. The consolidating of
Ithe county convicts and paupers
lunder the same management, still
| further reduced the expense of
caring for these unfortunates.
Last year The present Board oi
Supervisors accomplished still
further reduction along this line