The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-31
COUNTY CONVICT
CONTRACT SIGNED
County Obtains Best Terms
Ever Known in South
LARGE REVENUE INCREASE
Contract Is So Advantageous to the
County That Board OF Revenue
VIII Probably Work Roads
With Free Labor.

tract insured for the county the pest
terms ever known in the southern states
and that the revenue from the convict
lease the next four years to the Tennes-
see company would be 100000 more than
It was in the last four years under the
sloss- Sheffield lease.
I Mr. Reed and Mr.. Crook said that the
contract was so advantageous to the
county that they would oppose reserving
fifty convicts for work on the county
roads, the reason being that it would be
more profitable for the county to i'm
prove the roads with free labor
The Contract.
Following is the full text of the con-
tract:
Copy
State of Alabama, Jefferson County.
Whereas, the honorable Board OF Rev
enue of the county of Jefferson, afore-
said did at a term thereof, held on the
Goth day of December 1904. determine by
an order regularly made and entered
upon the minutes thereof, to let to hre
all convicts sentenced to hard labor tor
said county during the term OF -FOUR
years commencing January l, 1905;
And, whereas, by further order OF
said court, John I. Reed, president oil
the Board of Revenue of said county was
duly and regularly appointed the agent
and representative of said court ana OF
| said county. in and for the hire of such
convicts;
And. whereas, the said John T. Reid,
president of the Board of Revenue, agent
as aforesaid, acting for and in behalf and
to the use of said county of Jefferson,
and in compliance with the terms and
| conditions of the orders aforesaid OF
said court, has hired to the Tennessee
Coal Iron and Railroad company, cor
pration all of the convicts who may on
| and after the first day of January, 1905
within the term covered by this contract,
be sentenced to hard labor for said
county; each convict hired until death
or legal discharge.
Now, therefore, this contract, made and
entered into this Both day of December
| 1904, by and between said John L. Reed,
president of the Board of Revenue, agent
aforesaid. acting for and to the of
said county. party of the first part, and
Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad COM
pany party of the second part:
Witnesseth:
l. That the party of first part will de-
liver to the party Of second part each
and every one of the convicts sentenced
to hard labor for the county of Jeffer-
H.
uary, 1905, and until the 31st day of De-
cember 1908; the said convicts to be en-
ployed by the party of second part in
| the work and labor of mining and work
| in and around the mines, manufacturing
plants and works Of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company in the said
county of Jefferson.
Provided however that 1t is under
stood that the said county of Jefferson
hereby reserves and shall have the right
| at any time during the term of this con-
| tract to work not less than twenty-five
nor more than fifty of said county con-
victs in building repairing or improving
the public roads of Jefferson county. And
| If the said county shall determine to ex-
ercise said right, such number of con-
victs as 1t shall elect to work on said
roads shall, during the time they are
working on said roads, be excluded from
the operation of this contract. And the
| party Of second part will at any time,
| when the said county of jefferson de-
sires convicts above stipulated for
work on the public roads, deliver same
according to the instructions of the Board
| of Revenue of said county, and II at
any time the county of Jefferson should
decide to quit working convicts on the
| public roads, the party of second part
will receive said convicts back under the
terms of this contract. 1t is understood
| that this reservation on behalf OF the
| county shall not be used for any other
purpose than for working said convicts
on the public roads; all convicts delivered
during the term of this contract to be
held until death or legal discharge even
| IL term of sentence extends beyond De-
| cember 81, 1908.
2. That the said party of second part
| shall pay to the county of Jefferson as
hire for each one OF the convicts deliv-
cred hereunder as follows
| For all male convicts sixteen years old
and over whose sentence for crime is
twelve months and over, $24.90 per capita
per month.
| For all male convicts sixteen years old
and over whose sentence Tor crime Is
less than twelve months, SIS per capita
per month.
For all boys and female convicts, 1920
per capita per month.
PAYMENT to be made as follows:
| ID All that part of the hire of each
| convict which accrues from so much of
| the term of hard labor as is imposed for
| the costs of conviction shall be paid in
| advance on the delivery of the convicts,
respectively, and credit therefor shall be
allowed the party of second part on the
next, or IL need be, any subsequent set
| Element
co The hire under this contract shall
be paid quarterly on the first days OF
| April, July, October and January in each
and every year during the term Of this
contract. And IL default should be made
| in the payment of said hire or any other
payment required by this contract and
suit to recover the same be instituted, 20
per cent damages on the amount as to
| which the default occurs shall be added
| thereto and be recoverable as a part
thereof.
8. That this contract is entered into nm
der and in contemplation of all the laws
of the state of Alabama, heretofore or
hereafter enacted, in relation to the bir-
ing. management and treatment of county
| convicts hired out of the county of con-
| viction. and also of all the rules and
regulations of the board of inspectors of
convlcts now existing or hereafter to be
| adopted, which are applicable to such
convicts and all said laws and rules are
| hereby made part of this contract as
| though here fully set out.
| T. That said party Of second part shall
receive all convicts who may be assigned
to 1t under this contract at the jail of
the county of conviction and shall pay
| the expenses of their transportation to
| the place at which they are to be put to
hard labor The hire of each convict to
begin after forty-eight hours after party
of second part receives written notice