The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-14
State Prison Farms
Report of Inspection by State
Board of Public Welfare

Columbia. Jan. 10.-Ghe State
Board Of Public Welfare is issued
today tie following report on the
state prison farms:
The Reid ard DeSaussure farms,
the state prison farms Of South
Carolina. consist Of 4i6S acres of
land in Sumter and kershaw coun-
tic$. This property is divided al
most equally between the Reid
farm managed by Mr.. i. II. Irby
and the DeSaussure farm managed
by Mr.. ]. p Harling. Both farms
are under the control and super
vision Of the superintendent and
the board Of directors OF the State
penitentiary, and prisoners are
transferred back and forth from
the farms to the penitentiary.
At the time of this visit the pop
ulation Of the Reid farm consisted
Of 81 negro prisoners and l white.
Five guards were on duty, although
six are usually employed. The
population of the DeSaussure farm
ers. The guards at both farms are
paid $500 per month and main
tcnance.
At both farms the foundations
have been laid for a water tank TO
be elevated 60 feet and to contain
10000 gallons. The wells have al
ready been bored and much of the
machinery has, been shipped. Thi2
Will provide an abundance Of wa
ter for the bathing and sewerage
systems. an Improvement that has
been long needed. AZ the time OF,
This visit the water supply ut the
Reid farm was 50 low that the
sewerage system had to be aban-S
. doned and the Use of soil buckets
instituted. Perhaps in no other
one way could money have been
spent so wisely for the improve
ment Of the health and sanitation
of these institutions. Those re-
sponsible are to be commended for
their interest and foresight.
~ the DeSaussurc farm an ex-
ccllcnt cottage has just been COM
plcted for the use Of the manager.
The construction Of a storehouse
Tor cotton and machinery is also
we'll under way
At both farms the food supplied
is varied and wholesome. but its
| preparation cannot be commend
ed Neither of the kitchens is
properly screened and even in the
wintry weather prevailing the
number of flies was very large The
! kitchen equipment did not seem
adequate for the preparation OF
food for sixty or seventy men.
The condition Of the prisoners
quarters and Of the bedding was
only fair 1t is quite difficult to
keep the beds Of such inmates in
excellent shape. but more frequent
| washing of the covering will do
! much toward improving them.
AS we'll as could be judged the
management Of both the farms is
excellent. The stores of hay and
grain are particularly impressive.
The livestock and machinery are
evidently we'll cared for. !.
One OF the most striking features
of these farms is that they are en-
tirely separate in equipment as wen
as in management The only ma
chinery used in common is a saw
mill. At present the grist mill Of
| the Reid farm is out Of commits
sion Yet its inmates do not make
use OF the one in operation at the
DeSaussure farm. It would seem
! that much duplication and the
consequent expenditure might be
avoided were there more coopepa-
! ton between the two farms.
The large herds Of cows at both
farms provide an abundance OF
milk and butter for the inmates
Should modern dairy barn be
erected it would be possible for the
| surplus milk and cream TO be sent
to the State penitentiary in Co
lumbia, where they are greatly
needed TO improve the variety Of
! the food SuDuEed