The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-07

should not have been allowed to sit or
 recline on the damp ground while await
 ing transportation.
 'sThe clsss of convicts we have to deal
 with are as a rule 50 ignorant as to be
 entirely oblivious to all rules of sanitation, and it Is only whore these rules are strictly
 enforced by those in authority that we
 can hope for the best results. The offi- cials inform me that it is almost impos-
 sible to prevent their drinking the water In the mines, which Is necessarily com
 taminated with the accumulated filth of
 years. This, in itself, is a fruitful source
 of intestinal troubles as well as of the
 more serious diseases. There is no com
 pisint to be made on the score of diet.
 which find Is of sufficient quantity,
 quality and variety.
 Thin Seam Mines Dangerous. ..
 "In conclusion. I will say that from a
 sanitary standpoint. my opinion is em-'
 phaticaily against the working of con-. victs at Coaiburg, or in any other mine
 where there is less than a three-foot vein
 Of coal. and I must reiterate that this
 location Is entirely unsuitable for prison,
 that its environment is such as to invite
 disease and that If the prisoners are con-
 fined there during another winter, we
 may expect repetition of the past
 troubles.
 Mining in itself is not particularly
 Injurious to heslth, if done under proper
 conditions. but with such environment as
 10 presented in some sections of the min ing districts it is menace not only to
 health but to life. The conditions at Coal
 burg for the present are fairly good.
 There is but little sickness and no epi-
 demic or endemic disease is probably to
 be apprehcnded before another winter.
 The SIoss Company Is opening a mine
 at what is known as Flat Top. which
 shows. a thickness of nine feet of clear
 coal. With proper built prison and modern sanitary arrangements. this
 should be a suitable place for the working
 of convicts. I am reliably informed that
 within short period they propose nov. ing the convicts leased by them to this place. Respectfully submitted, Shirley Bragg, Physician Inspector" Attached to this report of Dr. Bragg is a personal letter directed to him by Dr. F. P. Lewis. the physician employed by the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Com pany at Coalburg.
 The letter of Dr. Lewis Is as follows: 'Coafburg, April B Dear Doctor-From an observation of
 seventeen years as physician to convicts at Coalburg, I deduct the following facts: "First--The health of the convicts from May 1st to January 1st of each year is better than from January 1st to May lst. This, think. is accounted for, first, by
 the fact that from about November lst
 to about February 18th, the men work
 ing in the mines scarcely ever see day light except on Sundays and while this
 commences in November the effects are
 not felt until some time later.
 "Second-The cells are not as open in the winter as during the summer months, |rop hn ri IaAf af al is not as great.
 "Third-The men are transferred from and through the mines in cars. They come out in the enclosure at the mines and wait often from one to two hours for the train. They come out of the mines where the temperature Is about e degrees into the cold temperature of the winter evenings always more or less wet from
 water or precipitation, laying about after working all day in warm mine. Free miners put on heavy coats before leaving the mines and go home at once. Though this does not altogether account for the
 increased sickness and mortality as the same increases of sickness exist among the outide men and this may be account ed for to some extent at least by the fact that during the winter months, the jalls are more shut up than in summer and the men, do not get enough fresh air, The convicts received during the winter are not in as good condition in the summer and the new men and weakly l ones are the ones put on the outside. As regards the recent epidemic of pneumonia which has prevailed here among the convicts. l will state that 1t existed also among the free population and. in fact. 1t has been also in other localities. and I would also state that it l n q mo at tho lime of year when we always have most of our sickness and deaths. nd also the time of the year when all | epidemics which have ever visited this place have occurred as can be seen by my reports to the Board of Inspectors fror1 1886 to 1900
 Yours very truly,
 "F. ?. Lewis. M. D.. Physician to Convicts at Coalburg.' There are 200 State convicts and 3OJ county convicts at Coalburg. Governor Jelks announced yesterday that the State convicts will be removed from Coalourg at once. Until the Convict Department makes provision for these convicts 1t Is impossible to say to what point they Will be transferred Judge J. M. Carmichael President of the Board was absent from Montgomery yesterday. The Board Will probably meet today to consider the dues- ton of making provision for the convicts to be removed from Coalburs.
 Asked what disposition Will be made or inc county convicts Governor Jeiks said it was believed that the reduction Of the number of convicts at Coalburg by tho removal of the State convicts would improve the conditions there and that for the present the county convicts will re- main there The company proposes to remo,,e them to Flat Top as early as