TEXAS. 



837 



The population of Texas by counties, as as compared with the returns for 1870, is as 

 finally reported by the census for 1880, and follows : 



On the 9th of November the State Capitol 

 was destroyed by fire. Nearly all the State 

 records were saved, as were also the plans of 

 the new Capitol which was about to be built. 



The number of penitentiary convicts in the 

 State, as shown by the report of the commis- 

 sioner, is 2,157. The number in December, 

 1878, was 1,738. The present distribution of 

 convicts is as follows: 



In the penitentiary walls 842 



On railroad construction trains 156 



Engaged in prison construction at Rusk 256 



In wood-cutting camps 215 



At Kelly's Iron-furnace 104 



On plantations 1,088 



Miscellaneous 89 



The lessees pay for each convict $3.01, mak- 

 ing for twenty-three months a sum total of 

 $136,321.65, more than $5,000 per month. The 

 amount to be paid out by the State for im- 



