The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-04
STATES CONNECTS
 IN GOOD CONDITION Report of President of Board Makes Excellent Showing  ADVERSE COUNTY SYSTEM Attention of Governor Jelks Called to State of Affairs at Flat Top-con-
 vlcts as Rule Are We'll
 Pleased.
ADVERSE COUNTY SYSTEM

Montgomery, July s.-(speciaI.)- )-The quarterly report of the president of the board of convicts shows the condition of the state convicts to be excellent but an adverse report as to conditions of the county convicts is made, especially those employed in the mines at Flat Top. Just what the trouble is President Carmichael does not state, but indicates that it will be made the subject of special report to be issued within the next few days. Physician Inspector Bragg Is making an examination of the conditions at Flat Top.
 The financial conditions of the depart ment is in good shape, net earnings of little more than s1oOOOo being reported for the past six months from the oonvicts be- ing worked in the mines. Sixty or sew enty more of the state convicts, thrown on the hands of the state by the termin- ation of the lease of the States cotton mill, are to be placed in the mines dur ing this week Following is the full text of the report:
 Tho Report.
 Hon. W. D. Jelks, Montgomery, Ala,
 Dear Sir-Please allow me. in pursuance of my duty under section 443s of the code, to submit my report for the quarter end- ing June so 1903 First. desire to state that the condition of the state convicts throughout the system is entirely satis- factory Their health is good; they are well fed; the mortality among them is small: they are apparently well satisfied and in good spirits. A large number of them are life prisoners, and many of them are already prisoners of long stand ing and are well inured to prison life, and seem to have become fixtures. Neverthe- less there is scarcely one among them who does not expect at some time, to be a free man again.
 'Each of the inspectors has during the quarter just ended performed the usual work. The president has been engaged in office work. and in a general supervision of the affairs of the department. Hon. Shirley Bragg, physician Inspector, has given attention to a general supervision of the medical department of the system, classifying mine workers. visiting a num- Der of camps and the like Hon. Thomas Bradford, associate inspector. has given attention to visiting the camps where convicts are located. inspecting the con tvicts and their general conditions. All of the inspectors have attended the monthly meetings of the board and given attention to business matters connected with the department, not convenient to mention at length.
 County Convicts Need Attention.
 "The condition of the county convicts, especially at Flat Top mines, Is far from satisfactory, but to that your attention will be called in a special report to be made by Hon Shirley Bragg and myself in very few days.
 Tt may not be amiss to state that the agricultural operations of the department at Wetumpka. Speighner and No are reasonably promising The grass crop at No far surpasses our expectations and seems to settle one auest t'on--that the overflow in the grass far does not re- suit in killing the plants.
 The contract between the state and Messrs. Clark & Son for the lease of the cotton mill and seventy convcts at Speighners, terminated at their option on yesterday. When the board contracted with them something over two years ago everything necessary for the support of the convicts working in the factory was much cheaper than now and hence the net profit to the state in the trade was much better than towards the close or termination of the contract.
 Convlcts to Be Exchanged. 'The whole number of convicts thrown back upon the care of the department will be exchanged in the farms for those inured to hard labor, or labor in the open air, and the stronger ones nearly equal in number to those recently laboring in the cotton mills, will be placed in the mines operated by the state, and with contractors at other labor during the week at prices which will place the de- partment in better shape financially than 1t would have been if the factory had continued to run Nevertheless for the sake of giving the convicts working in the mill an opportunity to acquire a trade. or vocation, the members of the board would have preferred to have continued the operation of the mill. and in this con- nection 1t may not be amlss to say that there Is a chance for leasing the mill again as soon as the cotton famine ceases I have had the machinery connected with the mill thoroughly examined by MT Montgomery. a practical cotton mill man, and he reports that he finds 1t in good condition.
 "The mining operations of the state have now been carried on for a period of six months and we find that the depart ment has realized for the state the net sum of $100.S4069. True, several of the items making up this sum, amounting possibly to 5000. are predieated upon esti- mates. but of character to be reason ably safe
 "All of which is respectfully submitted