Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-01-21
STATE CONVICT FARM DEPARTMENT
 TO LINCOLN GO.
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signed by Chairman Bradsher. The railroad people are now complaining, because the stone is piled on their right of way. Three times myself have brought the matter up with the commissioners, twice with Commits sioner Ferguson and once with MT. Bradsher. But nothing has been done.'
 Property Loses Value.
 Dr. Dixon stated that since the state farm was established at Cum mins about twelve years ago, prop erty within radius of five miles from the farm has depreciated in value, due principally to the fact that the convicts are allowed free range through the country whereabouts.
 Day and night the convicts can be found prowling and ranging over the country" he said. "They go hunting, carrying guns and accompanied by dogs. Chickens are game for them, just as are rabbits and squirrels. Be- cause most of the depredations are committed against tenants on the farms, it is difficult for the planters to keep help: No man can stand to have his livestock continually killed off. without recompense."
 Dr. Dixon recalled that in Decem- Der, 1914, a trusty- convict killed a negro woman who lived short dis tance from the farm. The farm off cials refused to lock up the trusty, and it was necessary for residents of Lincoln county to start a newspa- per campaign, and to hold public mass meeting, before any satisfaction could be obtained from the peniten- tiary commissioners.
 "They all came running to Us af,er we let the people of the state know, through the papers, what the condi- tions were," said Dr. Dixon. T was acting coroner in that murder case, and I remember the facts clearly. The commissioners at that time promised that they would not allow any of the convicts to range over the country, except when accompanied by free guards That promise, like many others, has been forgotten; at least, it is not now being observed.
 County Loses Heavily. UT. DlAOu SpOkc luJcItStluSly Ol statistics which make it appear that Lincoln county is losing rather heav- fly in taxes. because of the establish ment of the convict farm in her bor- ders.
 There are 7,500 acres in the con vict farm,' he said. At low valua- I ton, this farm is worth $300,000. do not know what the state paid for the land but the $30O,0O0 valuation | is conservative. Lincoln county is being deprived each year of taxes on ! just that valuation, and it is quite a considerable amount.
 "A three-mill road tax is paid in Lincoln county. On the $300,000 val uation, the county is losing each year ! just $900 from its road tax collec- tions.
 Under a fair average, it would the same tract of land, giving about 40 acres to the family. We can esti- mate that there would be about 150 men in these families, subject to road duty in the county for four days each year, at $1 per day, an aggregate of $500. These two items alone aggre- gate $1 ,500 per year the county IS 1 losing because of the presence of the state farm. On these items, an aggregate of $1S,000 has been lost since the farm was established twelve years ago, not to mention other taxes that would have been collected on this convict farm property. nor the actual depreciation of property values in a large extent of territory around the far mitself."
 Plum Bayou Interested. Dr. Dixon made it plain he has no interest whatever in the Jefferson county and Plum Bayou proposition. now pending, in which it is under stood the penitentiary commission is considering the purchase of lands in the Plum Bayou section of this coun- I ty, for convict farm.
 Owners of property in this section who are opposed to the establishment of a convict farm in Jefferson coun- ty. have already called attention to the conditions said to prevail in Lin coin county and around the farm at