The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-07
STATEMENT BY
REFORM SCHOOL
MANAGE MENT
LENGTHY REPORT MADE OF
MANNER IN WHICH THE IN
STITUTION HAS BEEN CON-
QUOTED.


house Journal of Wednesday, May 21st
1913, on page IS and following, falls 50
far short of doing justice to the re-
form school, that we are compelled -
comment on that report, and set forth
succinctly, but fully, such facts as will
do justice TO the reform school and TO
those responsible for it's management
and present splendid status.
We preface our comments, by stat
ing most adviSedly that this school
so-called must be regarded not simply
as such, but that 1t partakes largely
1t is each of these on a big scale; it
is no small institution, and it's man
agement must be looked at from the
larger and broader viewpoint, and not
from a narrow hypocritical position.
The committee, in speaking OF the
farm, summed up by saying ''it is a
good farm, but badly managed We
take issue with that statement and it
is to be depored that such a conclusion
could be reach from an examination
of this splendid farm. The quality Of
the land is not to be questioned, being
subSoil, capable of high cultivation;
1T is regrettable that the committee did
not state that a large part of this land
has been terraced, Stumped, and hori-
zontaled; that the fencing was good;
that the land had been well cultivated
and showed evidence of care and at
.ention, and that while the labor was
performed by young boys, the work
was not subject to just criticism.
Had the committee asked the SUI
perintendent for the data, they would
Gave ascertained that the acreage in
cultivation for 1913 will be closer to
400 than to $50 acres as they report.
Of this, in addition to the 200 acres
corn, II acres in cane, and so acres
III peanuts and velvet beans. 80 acres
III oats, Is acres to be put in potatoes,
And Is acres in garden, watermelons,
seaS, ETC., and outside of the replant-
ing of a part of the peanuts, we
chalIege comparison with any farm in
Jackson county, from any point OF
siew, feeling safe in saying that this
IS the very best $40 acre farm in
Jackson county, and that so far from
It's being a good farm badly managed,
1t shows in every particular the very
best cultivation, care and attention,
and we do not hesitate to invite in
spection of every foot of it and from
every viewpoint.
Further. having seen fit to state the
amount of fortified used of 1911 and
1878, 439.8S-it was the duty of the
committee to also state the crops for
1911 and 1912, rather than to state
simply a part of the crop for 1912-and
sum up by saying long on fertilizer
and short on yields"
BY referring to the annual report of
rue superintendent. lot 1911 anu 1Sl2
on page six of the report, it
appears that for 1911 there was pro-
duced on this farm-2,0o0 bushels of
corn. 1-2 tons fodder, 81 bales OF cot
ton, 700 bushels sweet potatoes, 5 tons
oats, tons hay, 20 bushels peanuts
gathered. 1896 pounds pork, $4,000
stalks cane, and that the school had
II cattle, horses IL mules, 95 hogs.
BY reference to the same page, for
1912. there was produced on this same
farm-1700 bushels corn, 6 tons fodder,
81 bales cotton, /, 100 bushels sweet po-
tatoes. $4,000 stalks of cane, IL 1-2 tons
oats. IL tons hay % bushels COW peas,
1858 pounds pork, 1913 barrels syrup,
while the school had on hand 40 hogs,
IL mules, horses, 10 cattle; and it is
a matter of general report that 1912
was very disastrous year, for crops,
both in the spring and in the fall.
We cannot but say most emphatical-
~ that, for the fertilizer used for 1911
and 1912, this is not by any means a
case of long on fertilizer and short
on yields" Indeed, we maintain, that
for the fertilizer used, the above crops,
not to mention the splendid garden
which the school always makes, all
along during the year, as outlined do
not show that this farm is badly man
aged; and it is certainly unjust and
ungenerous to this excellent school TO
have statement go out to the state:
and we most emphatically protest
against it, and challenge it's correct
ness with the facts a sgiven above.
Further for the committee to have
said that while there was a small
patch of corn for 1913 that "bids fair
to yield 20 bushels to the acre, (and)
the balance will not average Is bush
els to the acre." certainly does the
school grievous injustice. This corn
viewed either from the point of color
size, cultivation, stand. fertilization
heft, Is not surpassed by any farm in
Jackson county, we feel sure and bids
fair to average from 25 bushels of corn
to the acre, and up; and we invite
and demand the inspection of this
farm, at the hands of the official COM
petent to pass upon matters of this
kind.
1t is regrettable that. out of defer
ence to the judgment of Mr.. High, of
the board of managers. no cotton was
planted for 1913; and we are quite sure
that the school will lose about 50, 600 90
this year, for outside of the fertilizer
used, it costs the school nothing to
make cotton; indeed, to have no cot
ton to work after the corn is laid by
will give the boys practically nothing
to do for several months of the year;
and ii is TO regretted that Mr. High
was deferred to in this particular.
But aside from this, the corn, cane.
: peanuts, velvet beans, peas, melons,
and garden are in excellent condition
save the stand of peanuts. and we in
vite and demand inspection of this
farm by any one desiring to so inspect
1T, and do not hesitate to say that it
is the best all round farm in Jackson
county and an excellent farm.
Brick Plant and Syrup Plant.
While it was the opinion of Mr..
High, of the board of managers, that
the brick made were poor. and that
the steam grinding and steam boiling
method OF making syrup were worth
NJ 81
was better. 1t cannot but be pertinent
to say that for 1911 there were made
$50. 900 brick and for 1912 about 49,
900, to which no objection was regis
tered, while for 1912 we made 1913
barrels of excellent syrup; and for 1913
we expect to do much better in each
of these particulars; feeling sure that
the bricI~ Alant and the syrup Nant are