The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-21
NEW CONTRACT IS
VERY GRATIFYING
New Convict Board President
is Raising Prices
GAME LAW SITUATION
Governor Conner Qualities as an Auto
Driver In Monteomery-He Will
Come to Birmingham
Today.
GAME LAW SITUATION

Montgomery, March 2O.-(Speeial.)-
There Is much talk about the capitol
Of the new contract for state convicts
let TO the Hand Lumber company at
Dolive, wherein the rate for good men
was increased from $50 to s43 a month,
more than one-third. This is regarded
as phenomenal price to receive, run
nine many times over what was secured
a few years ago. Ii is also important as
indicating the policy of the department
under the management of the new presi-
cent, j. Craig Smith.
A few days ago Mr.. Smith said that he
thought many of the contracts were too
low. that the nen were worth more than
they were bringing even though the prices
now received are far better than at times
in the past. The next company to come
under the rack is the Henderson Boyd
Lumber company at Riehburg, which will
have to make a new contract on June /,
and it is expected that the price will
be set up about the figure received from
the Hand people.
The suppositon now is that the state
is going to demand very much moro
from the mine owners than is now being
received, on the double theory that men
are worth more than when the old con-
tracts were made and that the mineral
district has to have them. The yield
from that source is very large now and
If it should be sent up in the same ratio
as the lumber people money would roll
In like water.
Game Law Situation.
Alabama sportsmen are taking out
hunting licenses in great number in or
der to help out the new game law, over
forty state permits at So each havin &
been issued in Montgomery county. In
this way the legitimate sportsmen help
along the law and force every other
kind to get in line with the state pro-
Game and Fish Commissioner
John Wallace says that his desk is full
Of letters from men who are enthusiastic
about the law.
Representative J. Lee Long of Butler
and Senator IL. =. Merritt of Macon
were here this week and both spoke
highly Of the provisions. The only birds
that can be shot now are snipe and
plover, others having been withdrawn on
March J. These two run TO May /.
The following county wardens have been
appointed by Mr.. Wallace: Blount. j. b.
Sloane; Chiffon, j. w. Il. Gulledge; De-
Kalb, A. b. Greene; Escambia Rufus
Dixon; Perry, j. b. Hendon; Randolph,
j. ]. Huchabee; Wilcox, w. Il. BoylSin:
Winston, +. NJ. Wilson.
Murdoch Alive.
Clifford Murdoch, the young man who
was shot by Miss Eddie Bayzer a the
home of her mother Tuesday night, is
very low at the hospital, but it is hoped
that he may recover. The shooting was
purely accidental and the young woman
was not held by the police She and
Murdoch had been out shooting with his
pistol in the afternoon and thought they
had used all of the cartridges. Late in
the evening he put the pistol to his side
and said he was going to shoot himself.
She said no, let her shoot him. She
pulled the trigger and the gun fired, send
ing a bullet through his arm and into
his side, piercing his liver.
When seen after the shooting Murdoch
was particular to tell the officers and
that the lady was blameless. She had
no more idea the pistol was loaded than
he, and is Frustrated with grief at the
result Of the mistake they both made.
Murdoch is a fireman ON the Central of
Georgia railroad and we'll known young
fellow His mother, who lives at Clio.
has been summoned and will be with him
until there is an issue to his case There
is hope that he may pull through. though
he is very badly hurt. The shooting has
created a great deal of talk about the
city and more discussion of the need for
some law that will stop the practice of
pistols.
Alabama News Notes.
Gov. b. b. Conner has met all the auto
of the city and is now au-
thorized to do business as a driver of
any sort of car in the city. Just after
he received his handsome new machine
he left the city and when he returned
he found notice from the city to qualify,
which he did, as a man fit and proper
to own and run a machine of the kind he
owns.
The Southern Express company has
filed rate schedules with the state rail-
road commission in response to the new
law. There are said to be 131 900 express
rates In Alabama.
Several more banks have asked for
money and number of new deposta-
rles will be decided upon in a few days.
These doctors have been appointed for
service in the convict camps OF the state:
j. W. Watts, North Birmingham; j. c.