The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1915-07-31
THE COUNTY'S CON-
VICT AND POOR FARM
An Unexpected Visit Made by Report
er and What Was und-The
Crops, Quarters, Etc.

CrOpS, quarters, EtC.
A Leader representative visited
the County Convict and Poor Farm
on last Saturday and became more
greatly interested in affairs among
the unfortunate peuple under Mr.,
6. H Williams care-the crimi'
nal, the poor and the afflicted.
improvements suggested by
County Health Officer Frizell sev.
eral weeks ago were about COM
pIeted. except for the wbite-wash-
ing anticipated for the two jails
which had been better ventilated
by the addition of lights and
the raising of the roof on the Jail
for coIored people. The manage
ment went DR.. FrizeII six inches
better-making the raise forty-two
inches instead of three feet. which
will greatly add TO the comfort of
the place The dining room under
the direction of the Board of Sup
ervisors and Manager Coleman is
now supplied with a long table
with Individual plates. cups and
spoons, with benches for seats.
The victuals are cooked at the
managers home and have to be
carried some distance to the Jail,
which is certainly inconvenient to
the management and most especial.
Iy Objectionable in the winter time
to all concerned. The cots and
bedding seemed comfortable for
such place.
The negro quarters are larger
and better ventilated than the
whites across the way; but the
coIored prisoners always outnum-
ber the whites At present there
are q negroes and 4 white men
paying the penalty for crime.
Six colored women are on the
farm.
In one of the cottages the Davis
family alluded to by DR. Frizell
still resides, as among the county's
poor. This family consists of
man and wife and five children,
three of the latter. a grown son.
younger daughter and boy about
nine years. being driveling idiots.
We're the county able to share the
misfortunes of all it's people. this
afflicted family would probably
head the list The father and
mother we're absent during our wis
it. There are 7 colored and 4 white
on the poor farm. not counting the
idiots.
The general manager. Gabe"
Williams as his friends like to
call him directed the attention
with some pride to the immense
barn. still holding some of last
years corn. which was erected,
something like two years ago. The
building is 124 feet long and wide
in proportion and is we'll construct
ed for the care and feeding Ut
stock.
There are 230 acres in the finest
corn to be found, the drowth not
affecting it as much as in other vi
cinIties There are 4 acres in sweet
potatoes and the Irish potato crop
has been dug after contributing
materially for table use during the
season
More than 200 head of hogs are
on the place. 81 we're killed in the
spring. There are also % heaG of
mules. 40 head of cattle and l
horse A boar weighs 700 pounds
and is fair representative of I'M
proved hog. Water was being
pumped for the famished stock in
the hot sunshine of the afternoon
which suggested the use of gaso-
line engines and machinery that
would greatly facilitate labor and
perhaps decrease the yield of the
farm in food-stutfs. etc. But this
seeems to be no time to plan for
spending money that is still in
the bush
The fact is that taking matters
as they are on the Farm, they could
hardly be improved upon in the
manner in which they are kept and
the way the business is conducted
with what is at hand Every
thing is neat and sanitary. There
we're no bad odors or disagreeable
sights on our visit other than thuse
expected where human life is expi-
ating crime
A feast Of watermelons had just
been enjoyed and vegetables every
day are upon the tables. 1t was
with some eagerness that men
awake to outside interests. examin-
ed magazines and papers taken out
for their pleasure. Failing to find
any, one bolder than the others
said Amy Leaders? Didn't
you bring some of them?" And SO
we are sending out the paper to-
day to cheer the prisoners on the
farm.
We are indebted to Mr. Will
| Iiams who has been the faithful
manager for six years past, for
courtesies extended
Back Of Mr.. Williams is the
Board and superintendent G. G.
Coleman, whose interest and at
tention during the past year to
matters on rhe farm as they relate
Ia kho no.trFuJc vuofFowo 0nd fhn