The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-03
CONDITIONS ARE BAD|
TREATMENT or HARD LABOR CON.
 vICTs AT FLAT TOP.
Alleged that the States Prisoners Re- ccive Better Treatment than Do ; Those of the County-Re-
 poFf of ward.
Advertiser Bureau,

atsf <tNNEAtiSNf puTEdU,
 Mobile, April 2
 County Physician W. c. Ward. at to- days session of the Board of Revenue and Road Commissioner. created some- thing of q sensation when he filed a report of his official visit and inspec- ton of the hard labor convicts at Flat Top. Jefferson County, where Mobile County conviets are now being worked. The report after being read created much discussion among the members of the Board. Commissioner Andrews wanted an inspector employed whose duty 1t would be to reside near the camp. make daily Inspections and re- port to the Board as to treatment of Mobile County hard labor convicts. Ac- ton was deferred, however, at the sug- gestion of President Holcombe and a copy of the report was ordered for warded to Dr. Shirley Bragg of the Convict Board at Montgomery.
 The report of pr. Ward was as fol. lows:
 ITO the Revenue and Road Commits
 sioners of Mobile County:
 .GentIemen-As directed by you, visited the Sloss- -Shefield Coal and Iron Company's mines at Flap Top. where the Mobile County convicts are em- ployed, and as the result of my visit I find:
 "First-That the county convicts are not worked by or under the direction of the State warden.
 ''Second-I passed through the dining room, just before supper; the State and county convicts are separated here by a lattice work. I noticed that the State convicts had a pan of beans and meat, tin cup of coffee, and two pieces of corn bread, one inch thick and about three by four square. Each place was provided with knife, fork and spoon l passed through the partition to the county side. There found a tin plate and two small slices of bacon. tin cur of water and wash tub half full of cooked rice, to be divided among 170 convicts. These convicts had to eat with their fingers, no knife. fork or spoon being provided. and no coffee. was informed that they got coffee once day. State convicts getting coffee morning and evening.
 ''Third--Water supply is very poor, and at the time of my visit very scant Convicts were bringing 1t in by the buckets full for bathing purposes, and was told that during the night, 1t was procured from the taps of sanitary closets for drinking purposes. The direct cause of the shortage at the time of my visit was due to river over- flowing the pumps, ana when the rlVeT is low enough, to use the pumps, they are out of water half the time.
 "Fourth-Sanitatfon bad. due to above causes. Closets in very bad or der.
 "Fifth-State convfcts go into the mines and stay ten hours at the time digging little coal, due to accidents to machinery, etc. In the county prison CTS case 1t is different. He has task to perform. first-class men getting out five tons: second-class, four tons: third class three tons; fourth class, two tons, and he must get out this amount, barring all accidents, or be punished. and his time of getting out of the mine Is very irregular. hence his evening meal is very late at times.
 sixth was advised to ask for whipping records for State and county convicts to make comparsion. The county convicts were whipped on the slightest provocation.
 'Seventh-County convicts do not get short time for good behavior if it can be prevented.
 "Eighth-Packages sent from their homes receive no care or attention and sometimes, when received, are thrown away. Very respectfully.
 w. c. Ward.
 County Physician"