Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-05

How the Convicts are Managed.

AAO@ the COnV1ctS are MahaSeO'
On Thursday evening the joint conf
mittee appointed by both Houses to visit
the Sewanee Coal Mines and ascertain how
the system of convict labor worked there,
left Nashville by the o'clock train Of the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. The
party consisted of Gov. Brown, Senators
Hughes and Warren, Messrs. Snipes, Nc
Glothlin and Enloe Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and Judge WhitwOrth and son.
sleeping car was provided for their
accommodation and when they woke on
Friday morning they found themselves at
Cowan, where their car had been detached
from the train in the night. AT sunrise, they
proceeded to the mines, twenty-three miles
distant, by the regular train. This portion
Of the road is steep upgrade Of from $50
to 20 feet to the mile and winds the greater
part of the way through the mountains.
On arriving in the vicinity of the mines the
party were Hospitality entertained at the
residence Capt. Shook, where they break
tasted, and Immediately afterwards pro-
ceeded to the mines. They were CON
Quoted to the principal entrance,
which is horizontal cut into the
mountain, extending for about half a mile
into the very heart of it. This horizontal
entrance enables the miners to remove the
coal without the use of shafts. 1t also
serves to keep the mines comparatively dry,
and there is less of the unpleasant moisture
pervading them than is usually to be found
in coal mines. A tramway runs from the
entrance to every ''room," and over these the
coal is conveyed in small dump cars, drawn
by mules, to tile entrance, whence it is
shipped by train to market.
There are two classes of labor employed
in the mines-free labor and convict labor
but the convict never comes in contact
with the lowest workman. They are
employed in different parts of the
mine and never come together. The
Governor ard the committee proceeded
to inspect the system of working
the convicts. They were first taken to the
stockade in which the convicts, all negroes,
to the number of 115, are confined when
not at work. The area enclosed is little
more than an acre of ground, and the pail
SADIE is of stout timbers sufficiently high to
prevent escape. Inside of this enclosure
are the cells and the various buildings re-
quired for the use of the cOnvicts. They
cook their own meals, preparing in the
morning sufficient food for their dinners.
At sunrise they are taken to the mines un-
der guard, each man taking his dinner with
him. They are distributed through the
mine, two to work in each chamber or
''room,r and certain task is allotted to each
gang, usually sixty dump carloads per
week, though the task varies according
to the nature of the ground. Where the
vein is small or there is much wastage, a
less amount is required. For all coal taken
ont in excess of the task, the cOnvicts re-
ceive pay; if they should fall below the
amount requiredOf them, and there should
appear no good reason such as a difficulty
in the nature of the ground, or a large per-
centage of wastage, they are punished for
it. Thus far, however, there has very rarely
been found any necessity for inflicting pun
ishment, while, in the majority of instances,
the convicts have exceeded their tasks.
Care is taken not to apportiOn as much
labor to unskilled hands as to expert and
active men. At $50 p. NJ. they knock off
work and are taken to their barracks, leav-
ING their implements behind them in the
mine. After cooking and eating their sup
per they are allowed to clean themselves
and dry their clothes, and then are locked
up in their cells for the night. The roll is
called Immediately afterward, each prisoner
being required to show himself to the guard
at the bar of his cell when his name is call
ed. While they are at work in the mines
two guards are stationed at the entrance
with shot-guns, loaded with buck-shOt, and
this is found sufficient to prevent escape.
Every Sunday morning the cOnyicts are
taken in gangs of ten at a time to the wash
or bath house, and are required to wash
themselves thoroughly and to change their
clothing. With these regular baths, whole
some food, and medical attendance when
they are unwen, they are kept in good con-
dition.
After completing the inspection Of the
mines and the arrangements for the cOnvicts,
the party were entertained with a capital
dinner by Capt. Henry.
At o'clock they left the mines on their
return to the city, arriving here about y
O'Clock on Friday night. The report Of the
committee viii be submitted to the Assem-
bly, tomorrow.