The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-23


 The practical working of the system has been greatly enlarged since then. The governor Is the legal head, as he is the mmander-in-chief of the armed forces of the state. He was. at an early period of his busy life, a contractor for farm convict labor, and is prepared by that ex perience to understand weighty matters in penitentiary conditions. The active conduct of the institution devolves on three citizens. They are devoted and highly practical men. A Board of of h. spectors will remain the central fact Of the penitentiary organization, but what manner of enlargement do conditions de- mand? The army Is the best organized body of men wherever the army is known. In the army there Is the inspector of cav airy, the inspector. of ordnance, the in- speetor of forts, etc, each with his spe- eialty The Alabama penitentiary ma J have use for a special inspector of farmss farms operated by the state and by con- tractors; 8 special inspector of mines and mills, etc. These enlargements of the board might be expected to simplify tho whole system so that the parts would support each other. The mill already supplies all the stripes; why should not the farm supply all the bread and meat wherever convicts go2
 The contractors, at least the main camps, are the Tennessee company, the Sloss-Sh heffield, the Red Feather, the Ala bama Manufacturing, River Falls, Hand, Henderson, Henderson-Boyd, Roberts dale, Enterprise, Sweatt Brothers, Walter Brothers, w. D. McCurdy, Lewis A. Mo- Curdy. Some of these maintain sub-dI- visions, miles apart. The contractors are coal miners, saw-millers, turpentine pro- ducers and farmers. In all these rami- fications of enterprise the common labor represented by convicts is eminently suc- cessful. The state cotton mill. operated entirely by oonvicts, white and black, is further evidence of the utility of that labor.
 The Board of Inspectors. @
 The president is Hon. J. Craig Smith, a practical farmer. a large employer of labor and the most extensive land pro- prietor in the rich agricultural county Of Dallas. He was several terms state treasurer and has been member of the legislature. The office is comparable only in weight of executive duties to governor. The items of daily business with which this officer must deal, are varied in ex- treme, complicated and innumerable. An equable temper, firm hand, wide in- formation and tireless energy are essen tial. It is the easiest thing In the world to throw the penitentiary into confusion and disgrace by the neglect of a con trolling head. Tt Is great to nave giants strength. but it is greater not tc use it." is an ancient axiom that must every day arise for consideration in the management of the penitentiary. Hon Hugh M. Wilson of Opelika, a gentleman of established character for enterprise and intelligence Is the associate inspec tor the title of his office indicating 1t: plan of action. Dr. w. A. Burns of Shef field is the physician inspector.
 The penitentiary proper consists of thre, farms. six to eight miles apart, two lying in Fillmore county and one in Montgomery county. One is situated on the Cooss river and one on the Tallapoosa. To gether they comprise about 1000 acres ane the land may be accounted of the average fertility of agricultural lands of the state They are all well provided with teams utensils, etc. They are designated off cially as Prison Nos. and at speigner