The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1917-10-26

the county. and these families are
paid an average of S6 per month to
helm with the care and maintenance
of these paupers.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
At the beginning of my term of
office | found that it would be neces-
sary to make extensive repairs on
the Courthouse, in order to preserve
the same and avoid the necessity of
building a new Courthouse or making
more extensive repairs within the
next few years. The entire down
stairs has been gone oyer-new
floors have been laid and all the
woodwork repainted The walls have
been plastered in places where it
was apparent that the plastering
would soon give way And all of the
walls have been painted or con-
tracts let therefor. The court room
has been overhauled and the walls
and ceiling repainted. The wood
work on the outside has been gone
over and on the whole the court
house presents a very pleasing ap-
pearance.
The present county Jail is in a
very dilapidated. unsanitary con-
dition and shortly after assuming
office steps were taken to repair
build additions to-and provide
quarters to the end that the races
might be separated and the male and
female inmates might not be con-
fined in the same section of the
jail The plan also contemplated
modern sanitary arrangements and
a hospital room wherein the sick
prisoners could receive proper atten-
ton. Mr.. c. N. Houck was appoint
ed commissioner and plans and
specifications were prepared by an
architect embodying the above i'm
provements Advertisement was made
for bids but when the bids were
opened il was found that they were
so high and so out of line with the
estimated cost of the improvement
that all of the bids offered were re-
jected. The plans have been sent
back to the architect for revision
and we feel that we can obtain the
desired improvement at a very much
less cost than indicated by the form
er bids. 1t is estimated that the
improvement will cost in the neigh
borhood of 100000 and we trust
that ere long the actual work will
be under way
COUNTY FARM
The County Farm is under the
management of Mr. L. j. Brown
who is paid a monthly salary to
look after the work on the farm
and to assume the management
thereof. No authority whatever is
given the manager of the farm to
buy supplies for the County, nor
does he buy rations for the prisoners
on the County account On the other
hand he is paid a monthly wage for
the management of the farm and is
allowed the sum of $500 per month
for feeding and taking care of each
prisoner. | have found this TO be
far more economical than the meth
cd formerly in force.
The soil has been considerably
run down" and much of the ground.
this year. has been planted in peas
and beans for the purpose of re-
claiming the soil All of the stock
on the farm is in good condition. At
this date ! am unable to state the
amount that will be realized from the
sale of the crops, as they have not.
as yet, been harvested The farm,
while not money maker. is a self
sustaining proposition.
Last October there was approx
mately sS,5S0.00 in the County
Farm Account or the Misdemeanor
fund. Since that time there has
been a sufficient fund derived from
the sale of produce and fines col
lected to bring this sum up to ap-
proximately $4,000 00-$10.0 100000 of
which has been transferred to the
County General fund and there is
now to the credit of the Misdemean-
or fund approximately 100000
Respectfully submitted,
j. A. PLUMMER,
County Judge.