The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-15
CONVICT SYSTEM
 IS PAYING WELL Gratifying State of Affairs at
 Pratt Mines MEN ARE WELL CARED FOR Hospital and All Neeessaries Are Provided for Their comfort-A Great Improvement Is No
 tieed at the Mines.
MEN ARE WELL CARED fOF
BY E. R. NORMAN.

The convict problem has confronted every form of government in all ages. Alabama, through the efforts of a busi- ness like governor and a practical con- yict manager as mine superintendent, has solved the question both wisely and well. Mony were the doubters when Governor Jelks informed the lessees of the convicts that he would not renew their contracts for 1908 but that the state would mine coal for 73 cents ton. The practIcability of his plan was fully realized, however, when Superintendent W. L. Rodgers sub mitted his report for 1908, which showed that from one-third of the states con- vlcts worked in the mines. s144676.0 more had gone into the coffers of the state un- der the new system than in any previous year under the old plan.
 The quarters where the convicts are kept at Pratt City were built by the Ten nessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company, and are leased by the state. The prison is said to be one of the best arranged in the south.
 Located a mile and half from Pratt City, on the sides of three hills, where the drainage is perfect, the yards present the appearance of a well kept plantation, so common in the south in the ante-bellum days. All the buildings and fences are alweys freshly whitewashed and every thing around the premises is as clean and neat as a pin. In the yard directly in front of the main structure flowers and shrubbery grow.
 vta ufa tuto fpo md fu Ovyr1 water works, electric light plant, tailor ing establishment laundry. hospital, dairy, stock farm and truck farm. The Mess Hall. One of the most interesting departments of the prison Is the large mess hall where the eonvicts are fed. There are now A75 convicts at No. 10 on the states side, where there are accommodations for only 500. Long tables extend across the dining room but no seats are provided. Each man Is given tin plate, tin cup and knife and fork.
 Two meals are served day, one In the morning at o'clock and one m the even ing at 5. The midday lunch Is eaten in the mines. The rules in the mess hall are very strict, absolute silence being en- forced at all times.
 Adjoining the mess hall Is the kitchen,
  ovens. The vats in which the vegetables and meat are cooked, will hold 100 gallons each The coffee pot has capacity of seventy-five gallons. The hot coffee Is conveyed from the kitchen to the dining room by means of pipe. At each meal 356 pounds of meat is cooked, 16 bushels of meal, 1R barrels of flour, 15 sacks of salad, barrels of turnips. A pounds Of coffee and 30 pounds of sugar. On every Tuesday 900 pounds of beef Is boiled. Grits and rice are given the prisoners twice a week.
 In the tailoring department all the clothes worn by the conviots are made, The men in charge of this department are prisoners who have been injured or who are unable to dig coal.
 At the mouth of the slope is located the
 bath house. The men are required to take a bath every afternoon immediately on coming out of the mines.
 The Hospital.
 The hospital is equipped with all the nedica; and surgical necessities and the
 wards are kept very clean and neat Twice day the floors are mopped with
 water and disinfectants. This depart ment Is in charge of one skilled surgeon two assistants from the medical college at Birmingham, students in their senior grade, and trained nurse, who is gradu-