The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-04-03

drove to the tuberculosis Hospital and
gave heartfelt talk to the patients,
who were brought out into the yard to
hear her. There are comparatively
few tuberculosis patients, fewer than
ever in the prisons history.
At night, most of the party rested
from the long day of activity, but the
preachers and several others joined in
a service at the chapel, intended for
the resident officers and their families
Monday morning, drive of fifteen
miles was taken over the plantation,
in order that the visitors could see the
levee and drainage work that has been
done since the food of 1912. For the
most part, the drive was along the
top of the new levee, SO wide that a
perfect driveway was afforded. These
immense levees show prodigious
amount Of labor in conjunction with
the deep and wide canal for drainage
purposes, the new land cleared, and
the vast fields, already intensively cul-
tivated. The camps all had clean
whitewashed buildings, with every
thing as neat as new pin. The vege-
table garden, which not only supplies
Angola but the levee camps as well,
Is little backward on account of
the severity of the season, but was
green, fresh and promising neverthe-
less. In word, the impression one
receives at Angola Is of capably plan
ned and faithfully executed labor, the
conscientious effort to conserve the
States interests and care for the
States prisoners. When it is remem-
bered that boil weevil and food have
both devastated Angola in recent
years, necessitating the abandonment
of cotton and the planting of sugar
cane, which in turn was largely de-
stroyed by unfavorable weather re-
quiring repfanting at great cost; the
building Of a refinery with railroad
switches, etc.; the putting-in of COM
plete levee and drainage system entail
ed by the food of 1912, one is not
astonished that the Board of Control
is in debt, but that the officials have
kept up their courage and with un-
RENTING effort have sought to retrieve
loss, after so many disasters, due al
most entirely to natural causes alone.
No one who reviews the situation
with a dispassionate mind and eyes
willing to see and appreciate honest
effort, under a series of trying circum-
stances, and in the face of superhuman
difficulties, but must accord praise and
appreciation to the Board of Control
for what has been accomplished In an
economic way on Angola. From sta
tistics, compiled by Col. Parker for
the State Probe Commission, of the
entire penal farm system. 1t will be
seen that for 1914 at least the earnings
were larger than the expenses. If this
can be continued, the bonding Of the
debt for the refinery, etc., into long
time notes as Col. Parker suggests,
will be the proper means by which the
debt can be borne by the institution
itself and gradually liquidated. To
this end, Col Parker recommends that
the State go into cotton farming and
sawmilling in North Louisiana also,
as it has the labor available.
A visit to Angola informs one as to
what is being done with and for the
States prisoners, and broadens the
view the private citizen should take Of
this vast enterprise, particularly one
of sympathy with and interest in all
concerned, from the humblest prisoner
to the highest official. At least these
were our feelings in leaving Angola,
with it's broad fields, its mighty levees,
its neat quarters for man and beast,
and withal the human tragedies OF sin
and sorrow gnawing at the heart Of it's
smiling landscape.