The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-26

cred, and speedy relief and satisfac- tion given. With a working force of 50 to 65 convicts to the camp, which is what should be maintained if possible so the grading may be carried on con tinually, which gives us about 45 men for the grade, and about 20 men for the crushing, spreading and rolling of our stone continuously, or in short 20 men can do the stone work for a mile. as fast as 45 men can advance the grading.
 Detailed Statement of Cost.
 On a basis of 65 convicts per camp we will put in charge one general superinten- dent at $125 per. month, three day guards at $45 per month each, allowing:
 One guard for every 20 men, practically would be $135.
 One night guard for the whole camp al $50 per month, $50.
 One blacksmith and machinist at $S5 pei month. $S5.
 All the salaries of superintendents and all guards and blacksmiths would be $39i per month.
 We will grade bridge, rock and com plete mile every two months, and as you will note our total salary expense fol
  months, or for one mile the salary ex' pense would be $790.
 5000 cubic yards stone for one mile al 50 cents per cubic yard, carted on the road by farmers as is our practice here, would be for one mile $l000.
 The cost to feed, clothe, tobacco, med ical attention, camp quarters, superin tendance and guard hire never have eX- ceeded 45 cents per capita per day pel convict. Now assuming the cost to reach 45 cents per day for everything.
 One convict for 30 days would cos' $13.50.
 sixty-fve convicts for 30 days would cost $S77.50.
 Sixty-ive convicts for 60 days. or for on, mile would be $S775O by two s1, 755. Cost of feeding 24 head of mules at B cents per head, per day, or 300 per month for 24 head, would be $2l6; or for 60 days or for the one mile would be $2l6 by $432
 Monthly repairs for gears. maintenance supplies for shops and camp incidentals $150.
 The total cash for superintendents guards, blacksmihts, stone, feed Of stock maintenance will not exceed per mlis $3S37.
 Deduct superintendance and guard ex' pense, $790.
 We have for necessary furnishings ano equipment per mile. $3,047. This is a standard cost per mile fol either convict forces or free labor, tol material and furnishings. Under Free Labor System. Now, suppose you were working under a free labor system. You see you would have a standard cost per mile for mate rial furnishings and maintenance of abou; S3047, on a basis of convict labor at 4 cents per capita for wet and dry, Sunday fever or lost time it could not exceed the amount given above. Now what about your free labor? I grant, for sake of arr gument and fairness, that your free labor force will not work all the time and grant that you would only have to pay them foi actual days work made, under favorable weather conditions. Let us compare cost on same working basis. l will figure against the convicts In favor of your tres labor and give them all benefit Of doupts as follows: Grant you would bear the ex- pense of your convict force for a perio1 of 90 days for 65 convicts at 45 cents (which 1t will not cost) to get your 5I working days in order to build the mile they would cost you 2,632.50
 Grant you can and will pick your work ing days out of the same period of time or 90 days as given the convicts, you will have 65 men for 50 days at $1.00, perhaps S1.25, but will figure $1.00 for the mile you will have 65 men by 60 days by $1.0O, $500
 Subtract 65 conyicts for 90 days at 4s cents per capita, $2,632.50.
 You have clearance in favor of convicts, $l, ,267. 50 per mile. Now, listen will you, specially note from the ahove have figured cost of 30 days