The Forrest City times., 1913-10-17
ID BUY FARM FOR
 WHITE CONNECTS
PENiTENTiARY COMMISSION 40. VERTisES FOR OFFERS OF
 SUITABLE TRACTS.
WHITE C0UNTYlAND OFFERED
J. H. Hand of VeIIvilIe Submits Omen Proposal to Sell Board 4,s98
 Acres for Sto1,225.

Western Newspaper Union News Service. Little Rock.-The Arkansas Peni- tentiary Commission has opened nego- tiations for the purchase of separate farm for white convicts. Bids have heen advertised for by the commis- sion, members of which are T. P. Murrey, J. V. Ferguson, and J. Al Brasher. The specifications call for a farm of not less than 2,000 acres in one block and November 10 has been set as the date of the formal pur- chase. This purchase will be in ac- cordance with law passed by the last legislature authorizing the peniten- tlary board to purchase and maintain d separate farm for white convicts. It is supposed that several bids will be offered, but only one has been made public up to this time, and that is the bid of J. H. Hand of Yellville, who says there is nothing to be kept under cover, and who submitted an open proposal to sch 4,898 acres in town snip z, range 5, on Little Red river in White county. for $101.225. with i'm mediate possession to the state, sub ject to fngress and egress until Octo- Der, 1915, to remove the balance of red oak and hickory
 MT. Hands proposal describes the property as consisting of 400 acres cleared, which has produced a bale or cotton per acre. the improvements consisting of large club house. two large dwellings and several small dwellings, two large barns and several small barns, all buildings in good re- pair His proposal sets forth that the cleared land has not been culti Vated Tor the past year or two, having been rented to teamsters for pasture purposes. but that the Improvements thereon cost $l5.00O.
 Lies Near Railroad.
 Ihis vast acreage lies four miles rom Bald Knob, is nearly all bottom land. and especially we'll adapted. the proposal says, to growing cotton, grain and hay crops. Four hundred acres are said to be in excellent condition -'SS HNA'oiV, I,UVV dCIeS nave Dcon cut over. but has 3O.OOO to 35 ,OOO ties yet standing. The red gum on tho land is estimated at 1OO0O, 900 feet. LOUD acres are In virgin white oak. | put the red oak and hickory have been sold and the purchasers are to have ingress and egress until October. 1915. to remove the same, but there Is to be no interference with the clearing and cultivation of land already cut over.
 MT. Hands proposal estimates the price of red gum at $750 to S10 Der thousand feet All the timber except what remains of red oak and hickory goes with the land. at the price of $lol ,225. State notes will be ac- cepted at the prescribed legal rate of interest in payment for all or any part of the purchase price.
 Law Authorizes Purchase.
 Speaking of the proposed purchase Of state farm, T. P. Murrey, member or the board, said:
 Under the state law. we are an. thorized to purchase a farm for white convicts. The law gives us the privi lege Of making the purchase on credit terms and it is probable that this will be done. The matter of the terms of the sale, however, depend wholly upon the conditions we meet when the pro. posals are opened. We will, of course. make the purchase in the best possible manner, and will be governed by the nature of the bids received from those who have land for sale.
 The penitentiary and farm, accord. Ing to the recent report from the of flee of the auditor of state, are in debt about s30,000. We have 5000 In cash on hand and our crops, which will bring approximately $120,00O. Thus it is seen easily that a cash purchase Of the farm could be made if neces- sary and if the conditions warrant cash purchase. The expense of estab- fishing the new convict farm will in l clude not only the purchase of the land, but stockades and buildings will have to be built. and the farm stocked. We are figuring on an approximate cost of s25,000 along this line"