Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30
GOVERNOR REPLIES TO
THE STATE BOARD ON
THE PRISON FARM
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Continued From Page One
for the use of the convicts and inmates
OF other state Institutions. BUT THE
COMMISSION SHALL NOT SELL OR
OFFER FOR SALE ARTICLES so
MANUFACTURER To THE PUBLIC"
This language is too clear to be doubt
ed. The land should bn purchased FOk
THE BUSINESS OF FARMING. The
other work was A MERE INCIDENT
To AGRICUTULRE.
The commission cannot manufacture
brick or agricultural implements for
sale The state has no use for brick or
hard timber for manufacturing purpC ses
except TO erect buildings on the land and
TO make hoe handles, axe handles, plow-
stocks and things OF that character.
For the state TO sacrifice the character
OF the land for farming on account of
the presence of brick clay or hard wood
would be about the same thing as for a
farmer who was buying a farm on which
he intended to make living by farming
to make the presence Of some hard wood
OF brick clay out OF which he could make
hoe handles and build his house of more
Importance than the character and guam
THY Of the soil adapted to farm purposes.
Wimberly Place Not Suitable
Fifty dollars a year would buy all the
hard wood necessary for the manufac-
ture OF farm implements for a prison
farm occupied by $50 men; 5000 would
buy all the cement needed to make con-
crete from sand for all ths buildings re-
quired upon the farm; 5000 therefore
would cover the value Of the brick clay
to the state and 5000 a year the proba-
BILE value Of the hard wood for manufac-
turing purposes under the law govern
ing the conduct of the farm.
DID NOT INSIST THAT THE LAND
SHOULD BE ADAPTED SOLELY To
FARMING. 1 DID INSIST THAT AS
THE LAND MUST BE USED CHIEF
LY FOR FARMING. ITS VALUE FOR
FARM PURPOSES SHOULD NOT BE
SACRIFICED SIMPLY FOR THE USE
WHICH WAS INCIDENTAL TO
FARMING.
examined the Wimberly place. 1 do
not consider one half the property suit
ed for farming by convicts. The west
ern end OF the property consists of
swamp lands near the Ocmulgee river.
The Southern railroad runs through the
western portion OF the land. Nearly two
lanu lots are west Of the Southern rail-
road and certainly subject to overflow.
East of the railroad the Wimberly
place consists of a strip, extending east
over two and one-half miles. between and
upon the banks of two creeks. About six
hundred acres OF this land lies above the
overflow from creeks and other waters
and consists of sandy loan which can be
cultivated. but which Is not a high class
agricultural land. 1 DO NOT BELIEVE
ANY ONE WOULD DENY THAT IT
WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO THE
HEALTH OF CONVICTS TO LOCATAE
QUARTERS UPON THIS LAND.
The land then stretches south about 3
miles. the southern end extending west
something over a mile. This land is called
the Glenn and Hunter places. and con-
tains eleven land lots. large portion Of
which is excellent agricultural land. 1t is
high and upon IT quarters for the pris-
oners could be established on a location
which I would consider entirely healthy.
but II would be at a distance of at least
three and one-half miles from the rail-
road, and nearly four and one-half miles
from the western end of the entire tract.
The location for convict quarters would
be separated from the railroad by Savage
creek. which rises rapidly and covers.
when at high water. a large area, be-
coming necessarily very difficult to cross.
Other Objections
Northeast OF the southeastern portion OF
the land Just described are five additional
land lots which are high, but very rolling.
In the original Wimberly recommendation
of purchase this land was cut offfrom
the other land by three and one-half land
lots. II is now proposed to buy this ad-
ditional land for S13 an acre.
The tract is not connected up i'm any
way with good roads. Portions OF it are
very rolling and streams divide il, rem
dering access difficult from one part to
another. There are practically no roads
suitable for travelling on the land, and it
is not adaptaed to the construction of
good roads.
The only building upon the farm which
would be valuable is the residence on the
eastern side of the property, two miles
from the place where the headquarters
should be.
In my first letter to the commission
pressed the following view with reference
to making this proposed purchase:
81 think the prime thing to be consid-
cred is a valuable piece of agricultural
land, suited for the development of a
high class farm. The mere presence OF
timber to be cut of and sold is a tenn
porary matter. 1t would AFFORD one in
come and then it would be through Good
land should yield constant income every
year
Out of the entire six thousand acres
which the last report OF the commission
recommends for purchase at a cost of
$40. OOO probably not over one-third, GER
tainly not more than one-half. would be
adapted TO farming by convicts.
The inaccessibility Of the railroad from
the place at which the convict headquar-
tiers would be located, and the genera
conditions causing difficulty in transporta-
ton by private conveyance, make a seri-
Gus drawback IL this land. when consid-
cred as a whole, for a single farm to
be operated by convicts.
Greer Place Better
I visited also the Greer farm. It is sit
uated in the northern part of Turner
county in a section perfectly healthy. It
consists of six thousand acres OF land
Through the center of ii the Georgia
Southern and Florida railroad passes and
depot is located, with a station agent
and telegraph operator. There is a first
class gin, a sawmill and grist mill upon
il. There is a stockade in which convicts
were once kept. which is represented as
being sufficiently large to accommodate
two hundred convicts. There are also at
least six houses upon IL suited for superin-
tendents and guards. From its center ex-
cellent roads, either public or private,
reach all parts Of the farm. making IL en-
tirely accessible from the central point.
Out upon the farms are located quar-
ters for the protection of the hands and
stock at the noon hour and in case of