The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
CARMICHAEL MAKES HIS ANNUAL REPORT Convict Department Will Net State Over S250,000 MORTALITY IS VERY LOW Practically All Deaths Among convicts Are Due to Tuberculosls-speig-
 ner Mill Does Fairly
 We'll.
MORTALITY IS VERY LOW

l report to the Governor for the quarter ending May Sl, Judge J. M. Carmichael, l president of the state board of convict inspectors. shows that the earnings for the fiscal year will go past quarter of million dollars net. For the three months mentioned they were gross $1S4, . 1892, nth expense of s72,119SS, leaving 1 net receipts for the time S62016.A
 He reports that the eonvicts are in good condition, with mortality for the | quarter three-fourths of 1 per cent. due mainly to tuberculosis, that disease" 1 the president says, "'to which is due the 1 death of most all those in the depart ment who depart this life.' The absence of friction in the depart ment is noted, and the work of the asso- oiates is commended During the time the state has taken 1 over the direct management of the con- victs at the camps of the Henderson Boyd Lumber company, at Richburg, the Hand Lumber company at Dolve, and ] the Union Naval Stores company, at Wal 1 lace, the new contracts yielding $50 per 1 month for each man. l The cotton mill run by the state at Speigners is doing fairly well, with pros | poets for better returns, and the farm | ing operations promise reasonably fair | return.
 It is also noted that contracts have | practically been agreed upon for the hire l of conviets to the Sloss-Shefheld com 1 pany and the Tennessee company, which will not be materially different from | those made in 1902
 Full Text of CarmlchaeI's Report. The full text of the report is biven be- l low:
 May Sl 1905. Hon. William D. Jeks Governor of the State of Alabama, Montgomery, Ala: Dear Sir-ln compliance with section 4439 of the code of Alabama, and of my duties under said section, and generally, l beg to submit hereinafter, the quar- terly report of the quarter ending May 31, 19O5
 It affords me pleasure to state in re- lation to the conviets, that their cond- tion is moderately good, better l think than it has been for any quarter during the incumbency of the present manage ment.
 Since my last report for the quarter ending February 2S. the department has taken under its immediate control the prisons embracing the convicts laboring LOT the ltdnu IuTnDef company dl DOllNe, Ala, those laboring for the Naval Stores company. Wallace, Ala, and those labor ing for the Henderson Boyd Lumber com pany at Richburg, Ala. The contracts in these several cases are for about the same sum of money, that is to say $50 each per month. and the department to have the convicts entirely in charge in all respects, working thtin in accor- dance with the direction of the respec- tive companies endeavoring diligently to see that they have justice done them, that they be clothed, fed properly, medi- oated and cared for. This can, perhaps, never be done with absolute accuracy, but the department is endeavoring to approximate 1t as nearly as may be.
 Tuberculosis Is Rampant.
 The condition of the convicts at all the points in charge of the department may be said to be good. The mortality for the quarter is about three-fourths of one percent, due mainly to tuberculosis, that disease to which is due the death of most all thosa in the department who depart this life
 It is a difficult natter to manage business involving more than half mill lion of dollars, and embracing so many conflicting interests and to carry on such business without some degree of friction occasionally, but l am pleased to say that there is as little friction. ferhaps less at this time, than has been eon- neeted with the department at any tiiae during the incumbency of the present management.
 Guard Flights of convicts.
 Our desire is to so manage our bus mess as that the rights and interests, primarily of the convict shall be thor oughly protected and justice done to those persons for whom we are having labor performed.
 Each one of the inspectors, during the last quarter, has been engaged in the usual discharge of his duties, and no lack of diligence, so far as I am advised, has been manifest during the quarter.
 As your excellency has been informed heretofore. we have been running the cotton mill at Speigner, Ala, since the first of January.
 In the month of January there was used fifty bales of cotton.
 In the month of February there were used fifty bales of cotton
 In the month of March there wore used ninety-one bales of cotton.
 In the month of April there were used eighty-seven bales of cotton.
 In the month of May there were used 125 bales. making in all 403 bales of cot ton used There are up in the ware house 1O1 bales 223 bales of goods have been shipper, l23 bales are waiting in- structions for shipments four bales re- main unsold: $50 bales all told have been produced since the work began.
 Ii may be observed that the last month involved two and a half times as much cotton consumed as the first month. The expenses have been large involving main lv repairs, etc. of the mill.
 Candor compels me to say that l am not looking for as great profits resulting from our operations of the mill as some persons might be inclined to think. trust, nevertheless, that our operation Of the mill will be successful.
 The farming operations under the inn mediate control of the department prom ise. at this time, reasonably fair re- turn.
 If will be remembered that in my last report. March 3l 1905, there was em- braced the following statement taken from the treasurer's books:
 Receipts.
 From hire of convicts and sales
 of sundries .................. .szVO,z65. .9o Erroneous payment on w. L.
 Rogers salary by R. C. JelEs. 250 % Over-payment court cost refund-
 ed by circuit clerk Coosa coun-
 ty ........ ...... ................... 25.53
 Total receipts ...... ........... .S2OO 545. 43
 Disbursements. Salaries of officers and
 employeS .,...,..$ 5,Vob6 Salaries in tne mining department ...... 13,033.l0 -n