The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-22

HOW 5. A. RaWls Has Avoided TAsU
a the Marion Yarns.

At a time when the convict lease sys-
tenn, and the treatment Of the conVicts
in this State is being so widely criti-
cized by people who know little Of the
question involved, and who evidently
care less, il is but Just TO give the other
side of the question and to cast some
light upon q problem which is as yet far
from being solved.
A representative of the Metropolis
who was in OcaIa last week, had the
good fortune to meet Mr.. s. A. Rawls,
the convict lessee, and in response TO
his invitation, rode out to the convict
hospital near the Brick City in company
with several other visitOrs
II must be confessed that the MetrOp-
oils representative went to Ocala some
what prejudiced against the entire lease
system, and with the impression that
the convicts were treated in anything
bat a humane and enlightened manner
Many things have contributed to this
impression. In the first place, the in
dictment Of two convict guards for man
slaughter in Orange county, and the
heated state Of public opinion in Orlando
was not without its effect; but q visit
TO the Marion farms as this admirable
and humane place is called-did much to
rectify views based upon incomplete
knowledge.
In addition to all this came the YER
dict of the Criminal Court jury in the
Orange county case The two guards,
who had shot down a negro convict
while escaping and who had been indicted
for manslauRhter, were found guilty Of
only aggravated assault, and the dis
crepancy In this case between the charge
and the verdict went far to convince
the Metropolis representative that pre-
JUDGE had not been without its effect.
These conclusions were fully confirmed
by visit to the Marion farms
II is here that the sick and "incapa-
BILE" conVicts are confined, and it is safe
to say that nowhere in the United States
are the conditions more humane, more
enlightened or better adapted 70 the
needs Of these unfortunate wards of the
State.
The hospital is under the direct charge
of DR.. s. H. Bitch, the prison ply
stefan and hospital surgeon, who il an
ardent advocate of the open as opposed
TO the close penitentiary system, and
whose paper on the NEGRO Criminal, I"
read at the Lincoln, Nebraska, meeting
of the National Prison Association, at
tracted so much attention.
MARION FARMS.
The Marion farms are situated some
two miles northeast Of Ocala, and COM
prises $50 acres of as fine land as there
Is in the State, and although this planta-
ton had been in cultivation many years
prior to its acquisition by the present
convict lessees, its natural fertility Is
clearly indicated by the splendid growth
made by the various crops annually put
in by the owners Of this magnificent
property, which today represents an
outlay Of at least $50, 0OO.
These lands were never covered with
pine trees; the natural growth was live
oak and hickory, and one of the most
interesting features Of the Marion
farms Is the immense pecan nursery Of
100, 600 trees, together with the pecan
grove Of 6, 900 hourishing trees.
II has always been contended by
nursery men and horticultural experts
that the pecan could not be successfully
grated on the hickory. That this is an
erroneous view, however, Ia indicated
by the fact that a large number of
hickory trees growing in their wild state
have been successfully grated with
pecans.
This department is in the capable
hands of Mr.. X F. Mann, a son Of ex-
Senator Mann, Of good roads fame, and
1t IL safe 10 say that he has already
proven himself an expert in this direc-
ton
The general superintendent Of the
farms is Mr.. A. {. Cobb, who, by unre-
hitting care and attention, has sue
ceeded in making the institution a
model one, whose lines may be safely
followed
The hospital itself is in the hands of
DR. s. II Bitch, man whose broad
and humane views upon all subjects
connected with his profession are well
known, and who treats the unfOrtunates
entrusted to his care here with as much
solicitude and attention as If they were
pay patients.
SOME FEATURES.
The hospital il situated within a
stOckade, and il usually occupied by
about fifty patients. The majority Of
these are, OF course, colored, and L is
safe to say that the greater part of
them are better fed, clothed and cared
for than ever before.
Separate accommodations are, of
course, provided for blacks and whites,
and the writer cannot say too much for
the neatness and order that everywhere
prevailed here,
separate and isolated ward for
prisoners suffering from tuberculosis
has been installed, and a very neatly
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