GEORGIA. 



101 



colored men in the State worth over $10,000, 

 so that the property of $5,182,898 is divided 

 in small lots among the colored people of oil 

 classes and all sections. 



Tlu- Atlanta University is the college for 

 colored students, and is in a prosperous con- 

 dition. Tin- School Superintendent of Bibb 

 County states that some of the most efficient 

 and coii-rrv:itive teachers in the county were 

 educated at tliis university. Of the 61 alumni 

 of the institution, 42 have engaged in teach- 

 ing as a profession, while three are pastors of 

 churches, two theological students, ami one is 

 pursuing the study of law. Of the teachers 

 four only have located beyond the limits of the 

 State, in addition, over 90 of the more ad- 

 vanced pupils employ their time during vaca- 

 tion in teaching. Its students number 240, 

 representing ten different States and forty- 

 seven counties in Georgia. The trustees hold 

 sixty acres of valuable land adjoining the col- 

 lege edifices, which is in itself a splendid en- 

 dowment. The other revenues cover $8,000 

 per annum from the State of Georgia,' tuition 

 fees (only $2 per month), and donations usu- 

 ally amounting to $2,500 from charitable insti- 

 tutions at the North. The library of the in- 

 stitution comprises 4,000 volumes, with a bal- 

 ance on hand in cash of $700 for further aug- 

 mentation, derived from the interest on the 

 permanent library endowment, which is $5,000. 



The law for the punishment of the crime ot 

 murder was amended at a previous session ot 

 the Legislature, by providing that, on a recom- 

 mendation of the guilty to mercy by the jury, 

 the penalty shall be changed from death to im- 

 prisonment for life. The effect of this amend- 

 ment has been virtually to abolish capital pun- 

 ishment in the State. In a recent case, in 

 which a father murdered his son, he was 

 arrested and his guilt was clearly shown ; but 

 he was "recommended to the mercy of the 

 Court," and under the law the death-sentence 

 could not be passed on him. Judge Wood, 

 who presided, said : " I am satisfied that we 

 have seen the last of capital punishment in 

 Georgia until this law is repealed. It is im- 

 possible to escape the recommendation." 



The management of penitentiary convicts in 

 the State is in some respects unusual. They are 

 leased for a period of twenty years. The law 

 to this effect went into operation in the spring 

 of the year. It was passed by the Legislature 

 in February, 1876, to take effect on the expira 

 tion of the lease then 'exist ing. This act pro- 

 vides for the leasing of the convicts to three 

 companies, who are to pay the State $25,000 

 per annum for twenty years. This sum is pro- 

 rated between the three companies according 

 to the number of convicts which each is work- 

 ing. These three companies are as follows : 

 Company No. 1 is composed of J. E. Brown, 

 Julius Brown, John T. Grant, and W. D. Grant. 

 Company No. 2 is composed of B. G. Lockett, 

 W. B. Lowe, JohnB. Gordon, and C. W. How- 

 ard. Company No. 3 is composed of W. W. 



Simpson, W. D. Grant, and the heirs of Thomas 

 Alexander. These three companies control 

 and operate all the convict camps in the State. 

 Of these there were under the old act one at 

 Augusta, one at Old Town in Jefferson Coun- 

 ty, one in Greene, one at Albany, two in Wash- 

 ington County, and one at Dade coal-mines. 

 Under the new lease some of these camps will 

 he abolished, and there will be but three di- 

 visions of the convict labor, though there will 

 be several minor camps. Company No. 1 will 

 operate at Dade coal-mines, No. 2 at Albany, 

 and No. 3 in Greene County. The last two 

 companies use the convicts in farming opera- 

 tions, and the first companies use them in the 

 mines. This lease is to a certain extent a specu- 

 lation on the part of the lessees. If the num- 

 ber of convicts decreases, they lose; if it in- 

 creases, the profit will increase. There were 

 1,200 convicts early in the year, the term of 

 many of whom expired before its close. The 

 convicts generally are said to work well. If 

 their number remains as large as it now is, the 

 lessees will probably find their investment well 

 made. The State will get a million clear, and 

 it is doubtful if the old penitentiary system 

 paid so much in any twenty years of its exist- 

 ence. Under the new lease the Dade Coal Com- 

 pany will receive 300 " long-term men," as they 

 are called. The other two companies will re- 

 ceive about 375 each. As soon as the term of a 

 convict expires his place is filled by another, if 

 the State has him on hand ; and, if he is not 

 forthcoming, the lessee has to lose the services 

 of one hand until the necessary criminal ap- 

 pears and takes his place. In order to trans- 

 fer large numbers of them by railroad, they 

 have to be chained in box-cars, which are well 

 ventilated and made as comfortable as possible. 

 Two guards well armed are put in the doors of 

 the cars. Thus any shrewd fellow who should 

 slip his chain would be powerless to do any 

 harm or to help the others loose. All three of 

 the new companies are chartered, and are dis- 

 tinct organizations ; and the question has been 

 raised whether this status does not place them 

 heyond the reach of the Legislature. The les- 

 sees are acting under the new lease, and their 

 rights have become vested. 



A series of questions relating to sheep hus- 

 bandry in the State was addressed by the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture to men engaged 

 in the business. Their answers presented these 

 results : Of those who have tested crosses in 

 Georgia, 98 per cent, report the cross of the 

 merino and the native most profitable. The 

 average annual profit on the capital invested 

 in sheep in Georgia is 83 per cent This pre- 

 sents a very marked contrast between the 

 profits of sheep-raising and cotton-growing. 

 The average annual cost per head of keeping 

 sheep is only 54 cents. In answer to a question, 

 the average cost of raising a pound of wool is 

 only 6 cents, while the average price for which 

 the unwashed wool is sold is 33^ cents, or 27i 

 cents net. An average of 74 lambs are raised 



