The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-09
CONVICT BIDS
 ARE MADE PUBLIC Judge Carmichael Sets All
 Speculation at Rest WHY SOME WERE LEFT OUT Some of the Contracts Were Refused, as They Did Not Comply With
 Recommendations of State
 Mine Inspector
WHY SOME WERE LEFT OUT

Montgomery, December S.-(Special)- Judge Carmichael president of the con- vict bureau, has received letter from one of the bidders for convicts who did not get a contract making some question as to his bid. In response the judge gives to the public the contents and terms of all the bids received. with the reasons for awarding the contracts as was done. As is already known, the Tennessee bid 73 cents for coal over the tipple and the Sloss 43 for coal at the mouth of the room.
 The Speneers bid 55 cents, flor meI- chantable coal, such as we can sell, ouf trade will accept and demands" at the mouth of the room. They also put in a bid of s1 per ton for such coal as above described over the tlpple, the state to furnish everything like hospitals stock ade and outside help, to put up the ma chinery and keep 1t in repair Another bid offered 93 cents for coal over the tipple, under the terms of the printed proposals
 Some of the Bills
 The Tutwiler Coal Coke and Iron com rany offered 5o1s cents for coal at the mouth of the room and 70 cents for coal over the tipple.
 The Little Cahaba bid S21s cents at the mouth of the room and 621h cents over the tipple. Also s2O for frst-class men end $15 for second, If the state preferred to hire them that way.
 The Bessemer company offered 55 cents on the cars over the tipple and 42 cents at the mouth of the room. Also $35 per month for first-class men, s25 for second- class and SIS for third-class men.
 The Hillman bid fer the Pratt Coal company was 35 cents at the face of the room, S61s cents at the mouth and 55 cents over the tipple.
 A. J. Riley for unknown parties offered 231a cents at the mouth of the room and 45A cents over the tippie.
 It will thus be seen from the bare state IT ent of the prices that the only other bids besides those of the Tennessee and the Sloss which were up for considera- tic n were those of the Spencers and the Tutwiler company.
 Mine Inspectors Report
 The report of the assistant mine in- spector, MT. James IIillhouse, who in- spected the mines of all the bidders, said of the Echols mine of the Spencers: T will preface my report by saying l do not consider 1t desirable to work con- victs In thin coal under four feet thick or in steep, pitching seams. This would eliminate the Echols mine." The bureau on this report did eliminate that mine from further consideration, and they regarded the stipulations as to the quail ity of coal from their mine as a further obstacle.
 The reports of the inspector showed the thickness of the Tutwiler seam to be four feet and two inches of coal, while the Sloss was seven feet. This dif- ference and the exceptional advantages of the mine at Flat Top were more than sufficient to overcome the greater bid of the Tutwiler company, which exceeded that of the Sloss by 7h cents. At the Tutwiler mine the task would have been four tons, while at the Sloss the task is five tons for first-class men, a large difference in favor of results from the bid accepted.