Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-09
TWO FARMS MAY
BOUGHTB BY STATE
PRISON COMMISSION STRONGLY
INCLINED TO PURCHASE TWO
FARMS INSTEAD OF ONE.
MEMBERS DECIDED.

Is the prison commission going to buy
two farms instead Of one?
1t seems probable, from the official an
nouncement that was given out by the
prison commission Saturday morning, and
from the rumOrs that were going the
rounds of the capitol.
Following is the official statement:
THE prison commission is considering
whether it will be best to buy two farms
instead of one farm. People who have
$500 acres or more land, should address
the commission at once through the mails
and submit propositions with complete
description Of land. Propositions OF
this nature will be received until Satur-
day evening, February IL
Commenting on this statement, Com
missioner Evans says:
. "It is by no means determined that
we will have two farms. BY this state
ment, we don't want to create that inn
preston at all. We are simply prepar-
ing for any event that may come, to
get the best proposition that we can for
the state.''
Commission Decided
General Evans further says that the
state will have to purchase land for a
reformatory sooner or later. and that
the commission may decide to buy two
farms at once and kill two birds with
one stone. n8
Commissioner Wiley Williams openly
favors the purchase OF two farms for
purely convict purposes, but in his adj
mission of that attitude he emphatically
states that it is an individual opinion and
cannot be construed to in any way COM
NIT the prison board.
1t is authoritatively rumored that Gov
ernor Smith also favors two farms in
stead of one. The governor has been' fol-
lowing the matter very closely since the
prison commission first started upon its
search for prison farm 10 meet the pro-
visions of the new convict law, and II IS
said has formed an opinion very clearly
in favor Of two farms In place of one. He
could not be seen for substanttation Of
this statement.
The announcement just published by the
prison commission is open to much sur
mise, in that in itself it is non-committal
and further inasmuch as the commissions
ers decline to assume the responsibility OF
stating what their board viii do,
Reasons for Two Farms
The reasons in support of double pur-
chase might be arbitrarily selected from
among many logical ones. For instance,
by the purchase of two farms in different
sections of the state the prison depart
ment would be prepared to meet bad
season on one farm with good season
on the other They would offset each 9TH
er in that respect.
Moreover, the number OF convicts
could be split and thereby admit of much
more convenient handling. Thirdly,
large tract of land under cultivation
would necessarily mean two departments
or stockades, as much time would be con-
sumed in carrying the men to work and
bringing them back to quarters Fourth,
a prisoner from the higher attitudes of
north Georgia could be committed to
farm in his own home climate, and
one from south Georgia could remain I'm
the warmth of that section.
inspectors Deadwyler, Burt and Ffan-
ders have gone out to inspect several OF
the more favorably considered farms Of
fered in various parts of the state. They
were delegated to that duty by the pris-
on commission, and left Friday, each with
his separate itinerary. They are expected
back, it is said, by next Saturday at the
latest. In their report the prison COM
missioners themselves will form further
opinion. This is the first definite action
growing out of the commissions con-
sideratiop of approximately 20) written
bids and its hearing. during the week
preceding last Thursday. of personal rep
reservations on approximately fourth
of that number.