The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-11-25
CONVICT LABOR
IN ALABAMA
Will Be Used in the Coal Mines of
the Great South State.
SOCIALIST PLAN OF OPERATION
Rules Governing Contracts PromuI-
gated by Governor JeIks-Removes
to Great Extent Competition With
Free Labor.

Montgomery, Ala, Nov. 15.-The
mine operators nave gracefully ac-
cepted the proposition of the state to
mine coal with convicts at so much
per ton.
Seven companies were at the con-
ference today with the governor anu
convict board. The state submitted
a written memorandum of it's scheme,
which was discussed in detail. Later
the state formulated another with
by operators, the principal one being
that coal is to be delivered by the
state at mouth of the room in the
mine instead of in railroad cars.
Governor Jelks made it plain that
the state must be in precisely the
position of free miner as to what
this labor will furnish and do. The
bids must all be in by Tuesday noon,
and the competition promises to be
spirited, as five new concerns are
Sloss companies, which are the only
employers under the present lease
system, The states written terms
furnished all the operators on which
bids are to be made are as follows
The state asks for bids per ton for
mining coal and carrying the coal to
the mouth of the room, the contract
to run for three years, and an addi-
tional one or two years, at the option
of the bidder at the time the contract
is executed. The conditions are that
the state furnish the tools, explosives
and such other things as free miners
now furnish in mining coal, the state
to have entire charge and expense of
the feeding and clothing and general
maintenance of the convicts, includ-
ing the care of the ill, the state to
otherwise control them in the mines
and out, and to work them by it's own
agents. The contractor is to furnish
and operate the tramways, cars ana
hoisting apparatus and such machin-
cry as they now furnish in their
mines operated by free miners, the
state to have its own mine foremen
or pit bosses, subject to the general
direction of the company's mining en-
gineer. Where the coal runs into a
fault exceeding four feet in depth or
height, the mine owners are to pay
the usual price for cutting through
such fault.
The declared purpose is to put the
states convicts in exactly the posi-
ton of free miner in SO far as the
labor is concerned.
Where a contractor is working or
desires to work county convicts the
same agreement will hold as above,
| with this additional agreement, that
in separate rooms from the county
conVicts and are to be housed under
different shelter and fed in differ
ent place. In this latter case also the
mining company and the state must
agree upon a division of the costs of
the guard.
The contractor to furnish the pris-
ons, the hospitals and the equipment
Of the hospitals; also the beds and
bedding for the convicts and such
bathing arrangements and wash
houses and water as the physl clan in
spector may require. The contractor
is to agree to pay all necessary mar
row work at an agreed price and to
keep up the capacity and output of
the mines. The contractors mEsu
furnish without cost to the state
such conveniences, machinery and
appliances for mining coal as are
now or may hereafter be furnI she'd
without cost to free miners. The
contractor will furnish all things nee.
essary for the proper ventilation and
drainage of the mines.
The contractor must furnish au in
closure for garden of sufficient size
OF tillable land on which the state
may grow the necessary vegetables