The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-06


 hogs are better than ever before, and as I understand, the stock at every prison Is as promising, sheep excepted, there being no sheep except at No. 4. as they have ever been,
 Leveeing.
 It will be remembered that some time during last year the question of leveeing certain portions of the farm at No. was discussed, but nothing substantial and practical was ever done until the present year. Within the last few days a levee has been constructed across the worst inlet to the plantation, and an- other one still across the next worst IS under course of construction, and in short time. within the next twenty days, perhaps, everything along that line can be done, and will be done, Providence per- hitting. to improve the condition of the farm. Many persons doubt the propriety of the step, and 1t Is conceded that 1t IS an experiment, but one which ought, per- haps to have been tried long years ago, But. however that may be-, 1t Is now be- ing tried with the impression that good results will follow
 The lands at No. are so exceedingly valuable, that it Is not at all certain that the whole place might be successfully leveed so as to keep the water out in any ordinary freshet, but at any time whatever If this were done, and am inclined to think that 1t can be done, no more valuable place could be found in the state of Alabama.
 Improvements.
 Within the last twelve months kitchen and dining room, worth about sl0o0, at Wetumpka, was consumed by fire. The insurance upon 1t was duly collected, and the buildings have been replaced. Some time during last year lightning struck large and commodious stock shelter at No, 4 and set 1t on fire and consumed it. That has also been replaced with good and substantial shelter, suitable for all necessary purposes. A new roof has been placed upon the cotton mill at Speigner and other repairs have been made, which were necessary in the running Of the mill. There have been expended in the construction of the roof, and in other re- pairs, the sum of s216s.1o. which Is a part of the net proceeds during the last twelve months. Numerous other improve ments, smaller In amount than those named, have been made during the year, costing considerable sums of money. which are not embraced in this report.
 It will be observed from this that the actual cash paid into the treasury was S540.S39.SS
 The amount paid out as expenses of the department amounts to $251 ,1S065.
 The less subtracted from the greater amount shows the net income In cash of the department to be s2S9, 9,659.23.
 In order to show the whole net earn ings of the department 1t Is necessary to show the following amounts for twelve months which have been paid out or in- vested by the department. to-wit:
 Amount expended in repairing cotton mill, $216S.10.
 Amount of stock on hand, material and goods manufactured, undisposed of, and indebtedness to the cotton mill, $6371.
 Amount earned within the twelve months named and not paid into the treasury. s953164
 The total net earnings for the year ending with this day, $305. .562 28
 It will be observed that the net re- ceipts into the department are much larger since they began to feel the in- fiuence of the new contracts, to which reference has been made heretofore. The net income is perhaps less than might have been supposed 1t would be upon casual consideration, but when it is re-, membered that the several new prisons established have not fairly gotten upon their feet and that those economic prin- ciples which must be applied to every business to make 1t successful have not had fair application to the business at those points up to this time.
 I may be permitted to express the hope that the success of the department during the next year will be something superior to what 1t has been during the past year, and I trust I may be par doned for saying that the success of the department for the past year is six times as great as any year in the pre- vious history of this department before the beginning of the present administra- tion.
 All of which is respectfully submitted Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
 J. M. CARMICHAEL.