Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-10-16
Trustee Matthew Report.

Cxfort, Miss, Oct. 8, 1913
To the Honorable Board Of Trus-
tees of the State Penitentiary:
Gentlemen-I have the honor
20 submit to you, pursuant TO law,
my monthly report.
As you know received my ap
pointment On Sept. 26sh, 1918.
Since that time have been I'M
able to make a detailed investi-
cation OF all the pehitentiary prop
erty,. but report herewith such ia
vestigation as the limited time
would permit.
was able 10 spend only n part
Ct one day on the Rankin farm.
All crops on this farm seem to be
good except cotton, which was
almost totally destroyed by the
boil weevil. The convicts SEEM
ed to ba healthy and well clothed.
Sanitary conditions fairly good,
but had not the time To investi-
gate thoroughly. The beautiful
new hospital is nearing compile
ton. Discipline of convicts was
good, | was very much struck
with this feature. All stock in
good condition and | found some
pretty good stock on this farm.
Good progress is being made in
harvesting.
| was abe TO stay on the Parch
nan farm only about three days,
this time WIS entirely too short to
make any sort OF detailed investi
CATION OF this large farm which
extends the distance of about u
miles. There are II different
camps on this farm and so the
time necessary TO investigate in
detail each Of these will take con
siderable time. Found convicts
well fed, clothed and apparently
in good health, there were few
cases OF chiils and fever, but no
sickness of a serious nature.
Sanitary condition OF camps good
except in two or three instances
and this was for want of better
cages, new cages are being built
and will be installed as quickly
as possible. All new cages are
being built as nearly fire proof as
possible with adequate IRE es-
capes. Some punishment nfiict.
ed, but necessary to proper dis
cipIine. so far as | could Judge
All stock seemed in good condi
ton, fairly good supply OF hogs
on hand. The crop was especi-
ally good, especially cotton and
picking of cotton progressing
Equipment for ginning cotton Is
inadequate. Tuesday. Sept. 80.
we sold 552 bales of cotton which
brought satisfactory prices and
buyers seemed satisfied with meth
DDS of sale.
At Belmont | spent only part
or one day. Prisoners seemed 10
fairly good shape, but some chilli
and fever and some clothing for
them. Clothing will be furnished
at once.
l recommend that a better
grade of clothing be furnished |
than formerly, this will mean |
economy in the end. Crops il
fairly good condition, but cotton
cut off something like one third
by boil weevil. Stock in good
eonditionsaud fairly good supply
of hogs on hand.
found Oakley to be 4 beauti-
full farm, small number of con
victs, but about 100 has been
transferred from Parchman L
gather cotton, some white men
from Rankin transferred here and
seemed pleased with the change
Several consumptives in the hos
pital here, these are kept separate
from the rest. Sanitary condi-
tons seemed good. sleeping de-
partment clean, heard no com.
plants. Am pleased with the
stock here, especially the mares
and colts, shall recommend that
several new mares be bought for
this farm Immediately. Very lit
tie cotton on this farm, other
crops good.
desire to thank my co-labor-
ers, Messrs. Thames and Mont.
gomery for their uniform cour-
tesies. | found inithese gentle
men officials who are competent
business men and very DESTROYS
to see that all parts of the peni-
Tertiary business is properly look
ed after. | am also grateful to
Supt. Gathings who was exceed
ingly courteous and nice to me.
was favorably impressed with
ms business system add manner
Of attending to his work. While
did not have the time to fully
satisfy myself as to each sar-
geant and others in authority, yet
50 far as | could ascertain, each
man was filing his place with
fidelity.
oazro<ts,,ft.. L ...s