Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-12
Report of the Observation-Disclosures for JAN
IarY.

Report of the hysician-Inspector for JAN
nary.
Speigner, Ala, Feb. l, 1896
Col r. Fl. Dawson. President Board of
Convict Inspectors. Montgomery,
Sir: | beg leave to hand you herein
my report for the month of January
During this month / have visited and
inspected carefully every prison and all
the convicts in the entire system.
AS a rule l found everything in good
shape, and but little friction anywhere.
There is one trouble that is complained
of a good deal throughout the entire sys-
tenn, and that is fighting amongst the
convcts. They sometimes cut and Grip
pie each other badly-and they have been
known to Kill in some instances OF
course, it Is strictly against the rules for
them to have knives or any other kind
of weapons-and they are often searched,
also their beds and private boxes, etc,
and everything of the kind taken away
from Them still carrying knives seems
to be a passion with a great many OF
them, and they will secretly get every
old broken case knife they can put their
hands on, and pieces of iron hoops that
come around Kerosene barrels, or irons of
any kind and put razor-like edge on
them, and then sometimes proceed to
carve each other very brutally with them,
and that too. in the face of the knowl-
edge of the fact thatithey will be punish
ed for it, In fact good many of them
seem to care but little for punishment
they are bad men aud are reckless.
Another trouble complained of, espe
cialy at the mines, is their frequent and
desperate attempt to escape, and in some
cases they are successful. AS a remedy
l have advised strict discipline Oncuding
guards) and the prompt punishment of
fragrant offenseS.
And trust you will not think the in
duty IL the contractors monthly reports
to your office indicate frequent and Sc
we're punishments for these offenses. The
state. as well as the contractors, lose
money every time fight enSueS and a
man is dsa bled.
There is one consoling thought, how
ever that comes to my mind in thinking
of this matter; men who are not in pref
ty fair physical condition do not waste
their strength and energy in lighting and
trying to escape.
In fact, the health of the convicts and
their general physical condition in some
places is splendid-and in all reasonably
fair.
The condition and general treatment
of the convicts at both the prisons al
this place and 1.-The Walls at Wetumpka,
and at the new prison on the Tallapoosa
river--all under the direct control and
management of the state, is as good in
every respect, in my Judgment as any
convictS IN any prison In any state
without any exception.
The situation the mining prisons
while very fair indeed, cannot equal, for
reasons heretofore pointed out, the
places / have named.
They never will until VIC take away and
keep away from them more men unfit
for mine work than we have yet been able
to do.
We are, however. doing oil in reason
under existing circumstances that can
be done. About LIS, as you know, were
sent from Pratt mines to the cotton
fields last fall, and soon we will send
fifty or seventy-five more from there
to the farms, and perhaps others also
to the brickyard at this place, which we
are preparing to run again this year at
a different and better place for clay.
And then there is our cotton factory,
which as yet has the appearance of an
lair CASTLE but which we are going to
erect in substance and have in opera
ton by the end of the year.
There is one consideration in favor of
Pratt mines that covers a multitude of
faults"--that is where the bulk of our
surplus money comes from.
/ will not in this report mention what
outlet has been made at Coalburg for
the relief of the county convicts at that
prison who are unfit for mine work. as