The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-08
LARGE INCREASE
 IN CONVICT FUND Earnings of the Past Quarter
 Show Rapid Strides GAIN OF S1OO,OOO A YEAR President Carmichael Files Quarterly Report Showing Earnings Under the New system--eiyes Many
 Interesting Figures.
GAIN OF S1OO,O0O A YEAR

earnings of each quarter of the year equal those of the first the state will receive more than $10O,000 from the con vict fund for the present year over last.
 The quarterly report of the board of convict inspectors, filed by President Car michael today, shows that the earnings for the quarter ending March 3l, 1903, are in excess of the 1902 earnings correspond ing by more than 100 per cent
 Thee full report quoted is full of in- terest:
 Hon ". D. Jelks, Governor.
 "sir:-In pursuance of my duty under the law, I beg to submit the following report for the quarter ending March Sl' 1903:
 '',rhe condition of the convicts at all the prisons, both under the control of the convict department and of the contrac- tors, is as good, perhaps better, than at any time in the past.
 ..The percentage of deaths. I think, is smaller than 1t has been In the spring time, for the last several years. Most of those who die are men and boys who have tuberculosis and would probably die' many of them, if they were not convicts.
 "A considerable percentage of negroes l convicted and sentenced to penitentiary imprisonment go there with venereai diseases which, if not remedied, develop rapidly into tuberculosis, and in many l instances result in death. These things are guarded against as closely as may be and many of those afflicted with them are rescued. Hospital conveniences are being steadily improved by contractors and 1t may be said that many or thein are now very good.
 "The usual work of the department has been done by each inspector during the quarter. The first part of January was devoted to getting the new departure properly upon its feet, which, think was | done, with a reasonable degree of success. During the quarter the prisons have been inspected and the well being of the con victs looked after as carefully as we have been able to do The office work has been considerably increased in amount by the manner in which the con- victs are being employed at the mines, nevertheless we meet the exigencies day | by day.
 ''The farming operations, under the | supervision of the department are being pushed with a moderate degree of suc- cess, considering the unusual character of the spring.
 "The sawmill at Spigners has been run l during a large part of tne quarter and | the lumber has been used at the sev- eral prisons In making permanent im- | provements, which were much needed. | These Improvements all told would ap- proximate in value $500 or $2O00 The | work, however, has been done by the | cohvicts and the actual cost in money 1 has been small, consisting in wire, nails, hinges sash, tools and the like. The state mules, cattle, hogs and sheep have come safely through the winter, and, everything considered, are in first rate condition.
 ''The first quarter under the new methods of working the convicts at the mines has terminated and I am able to give you the | approximate results tor the three months. The reason I cannot give the exact re- | suits is that some small bills, for pur- chases made for the mines have probably not been presented and some small mat ters for work done have not been adjusted. "In this connection, and before giving a comparative statement. which I shall do. I may remark that at the outset, we had no equipments for mining and had neces- l sarily to expend a considerable sum of money to put things fairly in operation.
 "For the three months, from January 1, 1902, to March 31 1903. the department realized from the Soss- Sheffield Steel and | Iron company and from the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company the net sum of $23500.15.
 Operating for the same companies for the quarter just terminated, the state has earned as follows:
 At Pratt mines, slope 10 In gross. .$63, ,121 fl | Expended for the same time in the same place .................. 24, 3S2S S9 Net amount earned at Pratt No.
 10 ............................ .s3S, 52 1 Gross amount earned at Flat Top .....,..................... .$13, 47210 Expended in same time at same place ........................... LESLIE Net earnings at Flat Top ..........$ 5,632. .% Net amount earned at Pratt No.
 10 .................>...... .s3s, 7ss. .52 Net amount earned at Flat Top. 5,ss2. ss To which may be added cost of mules. wagons and tools for equipment ........................ 3,0000O Total earned in three months ...s47, 1.50 Total earned in three months last
 year ........................... 23,5OOlb Excess this year over last year. .s23.S .S71. 5 | t'It will be observed that the net income from the mines under the new arrange ment Is a little over 100 per cent greater than it was last year for the same length of time.
 "Considering the difficulties under which we have labored in getting the business fairly launched and the net in- come realized. 1t Is reasonably safe to say that the chances are more favorable for better prospect In future than for worse.
 "All of which is respectfully submitted.
 'very respectfully, your obedient ser want, - | "J M CARMICHAEL.
 .President Board of Convict Inspectors"
 The state railroad commission held regular monthly meeting yesterday with a full attendance of the members. The commission did not have any matters Of l especial importance on the docket except the matter of adjusting the rate on grain | and hay This course, however, had been | previously set for hearing at the May l meeting.
 1 The session today lasted for about six | hours and several matters were discussed | at length. The new law governing the | commission was gone over, and the mem | bers agreed upon an amendment to It's | former rules of practice changing the | time for notice of petition from twenty | one to ten days.
 l The following cases on the docket were | acted upon as shown:
 | W. IT. Pitts ct al vs Seaboard Air Line; 1 complaint inadequate depot facilities at | Pittsboro. Referred to Commissioner Smith for investigation to report back | to board recommendations. 1 J. D. Backer ct al. vs. Alabama Great | ties at Hulls, Ala. Referred to Commis- | <o~