The News and Observer.
VOL.XLVII. NO. 32.
leads ill north Carolina dailies oi hews aid circulation.
BILL DAY I’UYBD FOB TIME
Directors Gave Him Till November First
to Make Out Required Report.
ALL SALARIES PAID AS PROMISED
Summerell Matter to be Taken up by the
Board This Morning.
CONVICTS WILL NOT BE WORKED IN MINES
The Tillery Farm is the Subject of Some Criticism
—Dr. [Rogers Will Get his Full Salary-Day
Very Unselfish When it Comes to
Giving Out Offices.
The penitentiary directors met yester
day in special aession. The object of
this meeting was three-fold:
1. To get from Captain Day, the su
perintendent, some sort of reiHtrt of the
condition of the penitentiary.
In this the board, after an all-day
effort, failed, giving Day until Novem
ber Ist to submit his report.
2. To finally dispose of the Summer
ell matter.
This will come up today.
3. To make plans for the future farm
ing operations of the penitentiary.
This also will be considered today.
Yesterday’s meeting, though not a very
fruitful one, was exceedingly interest
ing.
TIIB SVjIMBRELL MATTER.
The board was called to order a t 10:30
o'clock by Ghainman Young. The roll
call showed eighteen of the twenty mem
bers of the board present, only Messrs.
Osborne and Sigmon : being absent. Sec
retary Ballard read the proceedings of
the last meeting, which consumed half
an hour.
On adoption of the minutes Mr. Travis,
of the special committee appointed to
investigate *he charges of cruelty on
the Northamp o:l farm, stated that the
committee had been unable to agree
ami Supervisor Summered was present
with counsel and., witnesses and wanted j
n hearing before the board, before fur
ther action was taken.
Mr. Weddington said Urn board was
here to transact other business; this mat
ter had been rtfered to a special com
mittee and he saw no rclvson for the
hoard to go into it i new. And cer
tainly it was foolish to talk about hear
ing testimony on any side until the spe
cial committee made its report.
Mr. Travis —“The committee will re
port that it is unable to agree.”
Mr. Weddington --“Then perhaps the
board can agree.”
Mr. Newlaml —“But Mr. Summered
baa liis testimony her**.”
Mr. Weddington- -“Who has testimony
on the other side?”
“We have ad of it here ready. It
was taken down.”
“You heard both sides, didn’t you?”
“We did.”
“Why introduce that on oue side lien*
again then?”
“He says it’s addivonai testimony.”
“Any reason why he didn’t introduce
that testimony before jou?”
“He gives no reason.”
Mr. I>’grand—“I move Mr. Travis lie
instructed to notify (apt. Summered
that he canndt he heard today. if at ad.”
Mr. Newlaml—“But he is here with
witnesses on exp'use.”
Mr. Wwddingtour—“Well, we are here,
too, on expense, and the State’s ex
pense at that; ami w t * have appointed
a committee to investigate this matter.”
NO REPORT FROM DAY.
Mr. Travis —“But suppose we adjourn
today. I know of nothing special be
* side this to take our time at this meet
ing."
Mr. Weddington—“Yes, there is. Has
the executive board a detailed report ?”
“We have not.”
“Did the committee not know that
the lnuml expected one?”
“A report is being prepared, but not
a detailed reisirt.”
“Has any effort been made to have
this report ready?”
“Yes, 1 have a partial report and the
book-keeper is now preparing a balance
sheet.”
“But no detailed report will be forth
coming?”
“It might Im* made cut, if sufficient
time were allowed.”
“Do not the rules require a written
monthly report front the superintendent
to the executive board?”
“It does, but the nports have not
been made.”
“'Have you requested it?”
“1 have.”
• Have you had no report at all from
him.”
“Not for August and September, ex
cept that Mr. ArendeJl. manager of the
Central Prison, has submitted has bank
book which lie ways contains all his
I transactions.”
I “Have you any reports from the
larms?”
“Only for the months of August and
September. We expected a rc]K>rt from
Capt. Day in July ami wrote a letter
to him requesting reports. He has
made none yet.”
“Have we any power to obtain those
reports ?”
“\Ve can prefer charges against any
e”” who lias wilfully disregarded the
iniles.’* JiHW *•! ’iu*
Capt. Day had complied with these
ruins would this ime 1 ring have been
necessary?”
“I hardly think so, unless to make
plans for the future, tin* State having
pamfhased its own farms.”
THE AIEETINGS A FARCE.
Air. Legraml—“l think the principal
busitn*ss before this board is to have
these Tot Kurts and examine into the
conduct ol this institution. The statute
requires that we have these rojairts Iwrth
from the superintendent and (he execu
tive board, and some one ought to noti
fy Capt. Day that these rei*>rts must
is* promptly laid before the board or it
will he grounds for us to prefer charges
againisi him and ask for his removal. If
he wants more time I’m in favor of
granting it. But we must have a re
jKurt.”
Air. Perry—“l’m not. He knew these
reports were required and expected, sind
I see ho use fooling over the matter
longer.”
Air. Travis explained that the reason
the executive board did not have its
report ready was that it could not pre
pare it on account of the failure of the
superintendent to make bis report.
“I will state further that we were
some time in getting .Capt. Day to
comply with the resolution requiring him
to deposit his money with the State
'1 rerasurer. Finally, on the first of
September, we did got him to so disuse
rtf his money and now no money can
be paid out except through the Treas
urer. Up to that time he put it in hunk
and clucked on it himself.”
Air. Weddington—“Mr. Travis, What is
our recourse under these circumstances?
We meet here and pass rules and regula
tions. They are disregarded. We can
get no information. I'm not in favor of
lh*Liig a party to a farce. I’m going to
do something or quit. I'm .tired of com
ing down here at tin- (State's expense
and doing nothing. I'll know something
4'naui the institution I’m put in charge
oi or I’ll resign.”
Air. Travis—“We can make our re
port as far as we can get it. The
book keener can’t make his hooks bal
ance. lie complains of the lack of in
formation from the superintend! tit in
his work to enable him to keep his
books correctly.”
A FORMAL DEMAND .MADE.
Air. Denmark—“l move that ihe
(snird formally call on Capt. Day for
his report.
Air. Travis —“lie has been repeatedly
called on by the executive Ik nerd for
these reports and we have always fail
ed to get them. At the August meeting
tin* executive board passed a formal
resolution asking this report. Ip PM hat
time we had asked for it in writing.”
A committee of four, consisting of
.Messrs. Gotten, Legrand, Travis and
Newland. was appointed to notify Capt.
Day that the hoard was now ready to
hear his written report made as the law
directs.
The committee returned and Capt
Day with them.* Chairman Young said:
“Capt. Day, the board desires to have
the reiwiits from you provided for Dv
law and the rules of this institution.”
HAD ONLY A VERBAL REPORT.
Onpt. Day—“ Mr. Chairman, I have no
written report at this time. 1 didn’t
think it necessary, because it would have
been only a partial report. I can. how
ever, make a verbal report. I will an
swer any questions you care to ask. '
With this Capt. Day launched into
a statement of the financial condition
of the institution.
“We are in debt today $30,002. We
have expended the $50,000 annual ap
propriation made by tbe last Legislature
and the $5,000 special appropriation.
Os these amounts SIO,OOO went for
mules and $5,000 for the shirt factory—
permanent improvements. To meet our
indebtedness we wit 1 have 2,500 bales
of cotton, 30,000 bushels of peanuts,
30,000 barrels of corn, 0,000 bushels of
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 18, 1899.
rice, a targe quantity of cotton seed,
2,000,000 brick and $4,000 due by the
United States Government. If there is
no mistake the institution is in
condition and will pay out this year.”
Thus began (’apt. Day's play for time,
which he finally won,
‘•But,” objected Mr. Young, “this
ihoa.nl expects an itemized .statement of
receipts and dish arse incuts from, you,
Capt. Day.”
(’apt. Day—“ Mr. Travis gets that ev
ery month.”
Mr. Weddington*—“A resolution was
passed by this hoard at its April meet
ing requiring you (to make a report to
this board. No report lias yet been
banded in.”
WIM HI ST I DIDN’T WORK.
(’apt. Day—“ That if port, is made to
the directors by the chairman of the
executive board. Up to September un
der the direction of ,tlie executive hoard
the money was kept in bank and check
ed out. On September Ist wo began the
voucher system. The bank accounts
have lteen handed to Air. Travis, and
1 take it that is what you gentlemen
want.”
Mr. Weddington—“Have you tried to
have the report ready for the commit
tee 5”
Day—“ Tire book-keeper commenced
oaiily recently properly keeping the ac
counts.
“Wasn’t Wimhish here til! September
Ist V”
“Yes. but he didn't keep any books.”
“What did lie do?”
“Nothing. He was here pretending
to work.”
Mr. Dockery—“Wasn’t he here ready
to do whatever he was (old to do?”
“1 supisise he was. ’But we were
beginning a new system, (’apt. Ramsey
was sent to Joliet. 111., to learn it.”
Mr. Legmiid l “llow long will it take
you to make that report. If you can’t
make it now? We must have it and if
necessary we will adjourn till we can
get it.”
BALANCE SHEET REPORT.
Capt. Day called in the book-keeper,
Mr. Pearson, and asked him how long
it would take to make an itemized state
ment. rtf all receipts and disbursements.
Hi? said it ufmld take a month to do
8*).
Mr. Weddington—“Mr. Pearson, have
you ever Ik*cii requested to make out
a report for tbe board?”
“I have not,”
Capt. Day requested Mr. Pearson to
read his balance sheet.
Mr. Legrand: “I object to (hat. We
are getting at this thing by piece meals.
Yon know. Capt. Day, what we waht.
You knew what the statute required. If 1
you haven’t got it. then I’m in favor of
adjourning until we can get that re
port.”
Capt. Day: “I have complied with the
statute of 181)9 and have made a re
port. monthly to the executive hoard.
This information has been furnished Mr.
Travis every month by the manager of
the Central Prison and the superinten
dents of the farm.”
'“But we want a report from yon."
“Oh, it will give nw* the greatest plea
sure to make the report.”
On request of Air. Weddington the
rule requiring monthly reports from the
superintendent was read for Capt, Day’s
edification.
Air. Weddington: “Now if each mem
ber of this Ixmrd had the information re
quired by that rule we would be satis
fied. We know nothing of the condition
or financial standing of tin* institution
except what we see in the Raleigh pa
pers. And when people ask nw* about
how the penitentiary is getting along, I
feel like a fool.”
Capt. Day insisted on reading his
balance sheet. Mr. objected on
the ground that it was not Capt. Day’s
report.
AREN DELL’S BANK ACCOUNT.
Air. Travis, chairman of the executive;
board, displayed such reports as had
beeu handed in to him. They were
simply bank accounts, he said, signed by
nobody and certified to by nobody. They
were handed , him by the manager, Air.
Aremlell. The statement of purchases
simply shows the amount of each pur
chase, no prices are given, or other par
ticulars. This, he said, the board had
been able to get only by reference to the
original bill.
The superintendent was given till 9
o’clock this morning to get his report
ready.
Air. Travis presented the report of the
executive board in regard to the ex
penditure of the $50,000 appropriation
as follows:
For mules SIO,(MXMM)
For fertilizers 4..>24.97
Pay rolls to July Ist 11.9< 1.2.5
Current expenses 1.000.00
Pay rolis.* n. 000.00
Pay rolls and accounts 9,482.89
Total $50,000.00
Air. Weddington: “What is your pay
roll i«*r month?”
Air. Travis: “About $4,500 a month
or about $55,000 a year.
“As best I can come at it, the expendi
tures from January Ist to October Ist
are $41,8517.30. This includes* every
thing.” \
TILLERY FARM SCANDAL.
On motion of Air. Weddington the
hoard heard reports of the committees
appointed to visit the penitentiary farms.
Mr. Gotten read his report of a visit to
the Roanoke farms on September 25th.
This report appears elsewhere in this
paper. 1
Mr. Gotten said at tin* conclusion of
his report that lie was making an at
tack on nobody, hut he found a very
beautiful road —“the prettiest I ever saw
in my life —around this farm, greatly
enhancing its value. I learned on in
query that this road was built by the
State. About 40 convicts worked on it
5 days during the busiest season, when
the fodder on the other farms in which
the State owned the entire interest was
wasting for the lack of labor to gather
it.
“I asked who ordered this. They
told me Tillery ordered it. I asked what
right Tillery had to give orders. They
told me Capt. Day had ordered that ail
orders given by Tillery la* obeyed. I
was surprised at this, especially as the
board had expressly declined Air. Til
lery s offer of service free of charge.”
WHO OWNS THE FA RAIS?
Capt. Day: “Don't you know, Air.
('often, that Dick Tillery does not own
that farm?”
Air. Legrand: “He has a mortgage on
iit and gets the profits.”
Air. Weddington: “Who owns it?”
('•apt. Day: “Air. Tillery’s brothers
own it.”
Air. Gotten: “No matter who owns it,
it's wrong to keep convicts there im
proving this farm in which we have only
half interest, while the camps on the
farms in which the State owns the en
tire interest are going .to waste.”
Air. Gotten further stated that he had
beeu informed that when it was desired
to put up a telephone line on his farm
by the State, Tillery* would not grant
tihe right of way desired and charged
$2.50 for each pole. Since the line had
been put up along another route, Air.
Tillery, he had been told, had put up
a line also and had strung his wires on
the State’s poles.
Capt. Day: ‘‘Air. Tillery is one of the
best farmers in North Carolina!. If I
were to fill every requisition that Rhem
and Alclver make here, I’d break this
penitentiary in six months. I ought
long ago to have discharged these two
men. They want to obey nolxnly, but
their own hard heads.”
Air. Weddington: “Why do you keep
them?”
“Oh, well, they are good men.”
On motion of Air. Weddington the re
port of Mr. Cotton was accepted and
lih*d.
At this point the board took an hour’s
recess for dinner.
BILL DAY’S TIME EXTENDED.
On re-assembling of the board after
dinner, All*. Weddßaigtom moved that
Capt. I Nay he requested to furnish to
each member of the board, on or before
November 1. and each month thereafter,
an itemized statement of tin* receipts
and expmlitures of the penitentiary, as
provided by law and required by the
rules. This motion prevailed.
Air. Legrand gave notice that ho
would make a motion, before tin* board
adjourned, to abandon all the farms ex
cept those owned by the State—the An
son farm and the two Caledonia farms —
and the Tillery farm* on which the State
has a lease for two more years.
Air. Gotten, said he had recommended
retention of the Northampton farm, and
he would like to know whether or not
such a proposition would be entertain
ed. This farm, he said, was one of the
finest in North Carolina, and it could be
bought. I,»i()0 acres, for $20,000,
Capt. Day said lie would acknowledge
all claims as to the fertility of the
farm, hut it was needless to talk about
it as there would not be convicts suffi
cient to work it.
No action was taken on this matter.
NO WORKING IN THE .MINES.
Capt. Day stated that Air. Barnes, of
the Cumnock mines, was in the city
and had a proposition he wanted to
make for a number of convicts to work
in tin* mines.
Several mein'l»ers expressed their op
position to working convicts in any
mine, and on motion of Air. Travis the
lswird passed an order that no convict
shall he worked in a mine at any price.
This includes the Castle Hayne mines.
Sujiervisor Reinhardt, of tin* Anson
farm, appeared 'before the hoard and
made a statement in regard to a mis
understanding with flu* former adminis
tration in regard (o his salary. He
claimed $21.50 a month from May Ist,
1899, to September Ist. He was, he
said, elected for a year at $71.50 a
month and on May Ist it was reduced
to SSO a month.
Air. Travis said Warden T. B. Rus
sell had a similar claim of sls a mouth
ior four months, which claim he desired
presented to the Vs>ard.
“And 1 want to suggest,” continued
Air. Travis, “that if wo allow this claim
to Mr. Reinhardt we should make a sim
ilar allowance to all the other supervis
ors. I believe in (treating them all
alike.”
Air. Legrand said that the others were
not in the same position as Air. Rein
hardt, that the State had a contract
with him and in consideration of this
fai t he moved that the claim lx* allowed.
The motion prevailed, as did also a mo
tion to allow Warden Russell sls a
month for four months.
A motion was also passed authorizing
the executive hoard to settle all similar
claims, founded on like grounds.
On motion of Air. Gotten the follow
ing order of business was adopted:
1. That a committee of five be ap
pointed by tile chair to consider sug
gestions and recommendations made in
re) >< >rts.
2. To consider the dismissal and ap
pointment of employes.
3. To inspect the cells and quarters of
convicts.
4. To consider how the convict camps
isliall he closed and what disposition
shall Ik* made of the property.
5. To consider and dispose of the
Simunerell matter.
On adoption* of this rule of order the
committee of five provided for in it was
appointed as follows: Messrs. Gotten,
Gwaltney. Davis, Dockery and Clark.
UNSELFISH BILL DAY.
Air. Legrand—“And now in view of
tin* adoption of that rule of order I
suggest that tin* superintendent 4k* re
quired to furnish the hoard with a list
of tin* names of employes whose time
expires and also a list of those whom
he proposes to appoint in their places.”
. Capt. 'Day—“Now, gentlemen, there
:is no use 1 adhering about that. I’ll put
in just whomsoever you all may want.”
“Now, he’s throwing in raw meat to
make us close up our claws and keep
quiet,” whispered a member of the
hoard. “Rut he’s mistaken his men.
We are determined to have that report
of his.”
“Os course,’ 1 the Captain continued,
“I nave a right under tin* statute to
appoint, * but I'll not do that. In all
I the appointments so far I’ve made only
one —that is Supervisor Sherron. All
j the rest were made by you, gentlemen.
There is one more I want to make here
in the office as soon as I edn find a
vacancy. Then you all may take the
balance.”
“And who is that?” was asked.
“An old Confederate soldier from
Halifax county—shot half in two •lur
ing the war.”
“Then I’m afraid he's not able to
discharge the duties of the position.”
“Oil, yes he is.”
Air. Newland: “How about the ap
iMiintment r,f Dr. ALM >e.”
Capt. Dray: “Yes, I appointed him,
too.”
Air. Gotten: “How about the discharge
of I)r. Rogers. 1 should have supposed
from the manner in which it was done
there would have been charges.”
“Well I thought D*\ AlMvee the best
doctor —in fact.the last doctor I ever
knew.”
“Wasn’t Dr. Rogers competent?”
“Well, he didn’t manage the hospital
as I thought he ought.”
DR. AI’KEE NOT PAID.
Air. Weddington—“That being so do
you think you dismissed hint in the right
manner? I’ve heard some criticism of
that.”
Capt. Day—“ Well, be had notice and
he kept coming and I told the gate
keeper not to let him in again.”
Air. Legrand—“l understand that when
this matter conies up Dr. Rogers and
his attorneys desire to be heard. There's
a question of salary invoiced, for Dr.
Rogers was .elected for a year and the
year didn't expire till September Ist,
ami he was dismissed July Ist.”
Mr. Newland —“That is true and for
that reason we have not paid Dr. Mc-
Kee. AVe have held the money and paid
it to neither.”
Air. Young—“ Under the order just
passed to pay such claims we’ll have to
pay* Dr. Rogers from July Ist to Septem
ber Ist.”
Capt. Day—“ Air. Aremlell gave I)r.
Rogers verbal notice that he was not
wanted any longer and I gave him writ
ten notice. But he kept coming.”
Mr. Dockery—“lt seems that Dr. Rog
ers is on trial and I move the matter
lie postponed till he can he heard.”
Capt. Day opposed this, as he thought
nothing but a question of salary was
involved.
“And as far as that is concerned, I
don't suppose it makes a row of pins dif
ference with anybody,” Capt. Day con
tinued. “I know it doesn’t with Jim
McKee.”
DR. ROGERS TO BE HEARD.
On motion of Air. Dockery the clerk
was directed to notify Dr. Rogers that
he would he given a hearing at 19
o’clock this i Wednesday) morning.
On motion of Alt*. Newland the board
decided to meet at 9 o'clock and take
up the SuunnereU matter. The clerk
was directed to notify Captain Bmn
merell to Ik* present at that hour.
Captain Day said he wanted instruc
tion from the hoard in regard to the em
ployment of convicts on the railroads.
The road to be built to Wakefield, he
said, would want a Large number, and
the new road from Ashpole was after
some of them.
“There are now fifty convicts work
ing on the railroad,” he added.
Mr. Gotten —“Those men ought to Ik*
on the farms gathering the crops now,
instead of employing free labor. I
think this institution ought to hi* run
so as to come in conflict with free labor
as lift It* as possible. The farmers of
Eastern North Carolina are complain
ing bitterly that we are taking their
hands and paying higher prices.
CONVICT VS. FREE LABOR.
Captain Day said he was not going to
It t tiu* croivs rot in the fields, and as
to the fifty men on the railroads he
could get seventy-five cents a day for
them there while on the farm they would
earn only forty or fifty cents. “As to
coining in conflict with free labor the
whole farming system of the State
does thus.”
“We are raising peanuts. This puts
us hi conflict, with free labor). We are
going to sell this year from 40,000 to 00,-
000 bushels of corn. This keeps down
the price of corn in that section and
conies in conflict with free labor.”
Air. Travis presented hills from the
attorneys of the board in the Day ease
as follows: Shepherd and Busins*,
S2OO, and It. O. Burton, S2OO. He stated
that Captain Day had paid his attorneys
out of the penitentiary funds and tin*
amount was $750.
“Yes, yes,” broke in Captain Day,
“and 1 had the advice of the best law
yers in the State.”
After considerable discussion the mo
tion to allow the hills prevailed.
SELLLING THE COTTON CROP.
Capt. Day—“l want to have some in
struction about selling cotton.”
Air. Gotten!—“Do we owe any bills?”
“About $28,000.”
“Then sell and pay your debts.”
Some of the members thought cotton
would soon Ik* higher and it would Ik*
better to hold the crop. Others thought
it better to market the crop as gathered.*
Air. Gotten—“l am told that the peni
tentiary is buying from Dick, Tom and
H arry on a credit —buying meat by the
box and paying half a cent a pound
higher than it can be bought in quanti
ties for cash. We are losing more by
buying our meat on a credit than we
can save by holding the cotton.”
Mr. Young for tin* special committee
appointed to make a contract for opera
tion of the shirt-factory, reported that
a five-year contract had been made with
Lederer A Bloch, of New York: the
penitentiary to receive 50 cents per
dozen shirts and furnish labor; Lederer
A* Bloch to furnish all material and put
in all new machinery that may be
come necessary. The contract may be
terminated upon violation) by either side. 1
A bond of $5,000 is required of the '
contractors. The contract specifies ox* ’
actly tin* style and make of the shirt.
No action was taken on the report, the
board adjourning at this point lid 9 '
o’elx*k this morning.
SECTION ONE—Pages 1 to 4.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
COMA 01 FARMS
M.fHOUT SHOES
Men Worked in the Cold
Barefoot.
NEED BETTER QUARTERS
DIRECTOR GOTTEN RECOAI
- CHANGES.
BOOKS ARE BADLY KEPT ON THE FARMS
A Number of Ways in Which the State’s Con
tract is Being Violated on the Tillery
Farm. Bills that Ought to
be Collected.
At the meeting of the penitentiary
directors yesterday a somewhat sensa
tional report was read by Air. Gotten, one
o>f tin* directors, in l regard to the condi
tion of affairs on tin* State farms on the
Roanoke. Air. Gotten has visited these
farms at the request of the board, ami
in his report of that visit he tells of
conditions there tluit. certainly should
lw* remedied.
The rcjxort submitted to the board
by him was as follows:
To the Honorable Board, of Directors
of North Carolina Penitentiary:
Gentlemen: In pursuance of a written
request from the chairman of the EXe-.
cutive committee of this board that I
should meet Air. Thompson at Halifax
op September 25th and visit, the State
farms on Roanoke River and report to
this meting, I herewith submit the fol
lowing:
. The date appointed found me in Hali
fax. but Air. Thompson failed to meet
me. to my regret. On the Northampton
farm I found about one thousand acres
in cotton which I estimate will yield
about six hundred hales; 1,150 acres in
corn, which is fine, and about 70,000
pounds fodder cured; 200 acres in Span
ish peanuts, fine; 75 acres in black peas.
1 found at this camp 141 convicts, of
whom about twenty (20) are infirm and
of little use on a farm.
Thirty-seven males were sent to this
cramp last spring, they now have 50
mules aiming them, six too old for active
service on a farm. Also 33 milk cows
and 10 calves. At this camp I found
a convict from Buncombe county serving
a term of five years, who is only thirteen
years of age. His system seems to be
full of malaria and the surroundings bad
for so young a person. I recommend
that steps he taken to have this ls>y
sent to the Anson farm. I found the
hospital and prisoners’ quarters clean.
Unless the supervisor can be furnished
more laborers, it is my judgment that
tin* crops on this farm will not be har
vested before February. It would seem
reasonable that the full quota of hands
which eudtivated the crops should be
held on the farm to harvest it.
As the lease on this farm will expire
next January, and the question of defin
ite action in this matter will come before
the board at this meeting I gave much
time to gaining an intelligent idea of
the situation. The present lease covers
•alwnft 2,780 acres, of which about 700
acres are subject, to over-flow. The
greater portion of that which is subject
to overflow is known as “Airs. Long's”—
about 1,100 acres in all. The remain
ing 1,000 acres, known as the “Urquhart
land,” I consider superior to any land
I have yet seen on Roanoke ißiver. It
is above any overflow known in the his
tory of freshets. No better cotton,
grain or grass lands can be found in
Eastern Carolina. The drinking, water
is exceptionally good.
All the wood and timber lies on this
land, therefore I would advise serious
consideration of this matter before a
complete surrender is made of this val
uable property.
HALIFAX FARM.
At this camp I found 30 male and 22
female convicts, fifteen convicts had
been sent elsewhere. Prison quarters
seemed to be fairly well kept. To save
the crops more labor will Ik* needed. At
the* time of my visit they had fifty hands
(free labor) picking cotton, in addition
to the convicts; had about 75 bales of
cotton picked. Supervisor Sherron seemed
to be doing all he could, but worked
under difficulties and much annoyed by
worn-out gin and engine, both unfit for
use. The gin was not running; stock
ade was in a dilapidated condition and
unsafe to keep convicts. Nothing hut
the utmost vigilance will prevent the
escape of convicts from this camp.
I found about 450 acres in cotton; 200
acres in corn (poorly cultivated); 200
acres in peanuts. Prospects in cotton
for alMiut 175 bales; 25 mules, 4 colts, 4
horses, 3 colts (one year); team generally
in good condition.
CALEDONIA FARM NO. 1.
At this camp l found about 900 acres
in cotton which I estimate will yield 500
bales; 1.000 acres in corn, fairly well cul
tivated; 70 mules pf which 25 are infirm
and unfit for work on this farm; 15
horses of which 4 are unfit for work
here, 39 convicts—lß just arrived
(Continued on Page Two.)