The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-06
PRISONERS IN BETTER
 SHAPE THAN EVER BEFORE
Operation of the Cotton Mill Has Been Satisfactory and Has Paid a Small Profit to the
 State.

| net earnings of the state convict depart ment for the twelve months ending Au- gust 31 were $SO5,56226 against s267965.75 last year. The gross receipts for the year just closed were s54OS39.SS, with expenses of $251 ,1s065, and amounts earned but not paid in of si5,9O303.
 It is shown that the convicts are in tho best shape ever known In the state and that the death rate has been reduced to less than three per cent. The county convict system is called the curse of civi- lization by Physician Inspector Bragg. 1 The operation of the cotton mill has been satisfactory especially as it takes care | of conviets who cannot be worked any where else.
 The full text of the report Is given below:
 Bragg Submits Report.
 August S1, 1905 Hon. William D. Jelks, Governor, Mont 1 gomery, Ala; Dear sir-With this day the quarter l embracing the months of June, July and August terminates, and also the year, 1 beginning on the first day of September, 1904, The fiscal year, so to speak, of the convict department, for what reasons | first day of September, and terminates on the 31st day of August. Therefore, this 1 day closes the fiscal year of 1905. The law requires me to submit quar- terly report, on this day, to your ex- cellency, setting forth the condition of the convlcts. and of the work done by each officer, and as will be remembered, a number of other things of interest in relation to the convict department, have | usuaIIv hpen submitted
 1 In making this quarterly report, l shall endeavor to make 1t also to some ex- tent an annual report, setting forth number of things connected with the con vlct department, which will doubtless be of interest to you, and also to persons interested generally.
 Condition Is Better. There has been general upgrade ten- dency in the condition of the convicts, from the beginning of the present admin istration, and I may express the opinion, without the probability of contradiction upon the party of any one. that the con dtion of the convicts today Is better than at any time within the history of the system. This is due to number of things, among them the fact, that the convicts are largely in the custody of the department and It's agencies, and, that therefore, their personal needs are more closely watched and cared for than at any time within the previous history of the system, and also to the fact, that although the agencies of the department have charge of the convicts, they are closely watched after and cared for in relation to their personal needs.
 The medical system in force in the de- partment, is perhaps superior to that at any time heretofore existing, and as result, the mortality among conviets is smaller than at any time within the h,s- tory of the department.
 Hon. Shirley Bragg, the physician in- spector has the general supervision of the medical side of the department and has under him, as his subordinates at each prison, a physician who seems to give due and proper attention to health eonai- tions at the place where he may be To- cated See report of Dr. Bragg hereto ap- pended.
 Again, the prisons are inspected ag least monthly, and some times oftener, in rela- tion to the conditions of tbe prlson the methods of managing coneicts and all that To this, the Hon. Thomas Bradford, until the termination of his term, and Hon. M w. Camper, since that time, have given due and proper attention, looking well after the condition or these helpless people See report of MT. Camper hereto appended.
 Each of the inspectors, for the last quarter, have discharged, faithfully, his duty in the manner suggested, and also at the monthly meetings of the board in the office of the President. and In con sultation at any time. with the presi- dent, in relation to the general manage ment of the department.
 The president has given attention dur the quarter to office work and to general supervision of the management
 New Contract Made.
 Na Der of new contracts have oeen mace, which may be named as follows. to-wit:
 With the Tennessee Coal, Iron end Rail- road company, for per cd of twelve months, at substantially the same price per piece. or per ton of coal mined, as that which has been In force wita thar company for the last three years.
 One with the Sloss-Sheffed Steel and Irsn company at substantially the same price, with conditions contained in tho contract guarding against friction and differences of opinion, arising from the contract heretofore in existence. | One with the Union Naval stores com pany, one with the Hand Lumber com pany, one with Sweatt Bros & Co.,, one with the Horse Shoe Lumber company, and one with the Henderson-Boyd Lum- Der company. All these latter contracts at s3O per month per convict the department to have the exclusive maintenance, sup port and care of the convicts
 These several contracts. saving and ex- cepting those with the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company and the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron company, have been made at a decided advance over the contracts heretofore existing with the companies named.
 The Cotton Factory.
 Beginning on the first day of January last, the cotton factory located at Speig- ner has been in continual operation, a period now or nine months. The most favorable consideration in connection with the factory is probably the fact that employment is furnished to num- Der of persons who would otherwise be practically without any employment There Is a small profit in connection with the cotton mill to the state. which in- duces the conclusion that there was no mistake made in operating 1t again. prac- tcally or substantially, by the state There seems to be ready sale for all it's products and a number of persons will complete their term of service with a knowledge of trade or vocation which will be useful to them in after life, and in the operation of the mill there will be no loss, as 1t seems to the state.
 Another consideration Is the fac. that