The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
new CONTRACT FOR
STATE CONV|CTS
Earnings Are Increased By
$4,000 For The Year
WAGE j SCALE IS LIBERAL
Some of the Men Are Paid at Higher
Rate Than Free labor-Money
for Spanish-American War
Veterans Still Unpaid.

montgomery January 1.-(Special.)-
Four hundred convicts leased by tire
state to the Tennessee Coal. Iron and
Railroad company of Birmingham will
earn, as result of the contract made.
$4,000 in excess of the amount re-
ceived for a like number last year. At
the same time 1t is announced that the
1000 state convicts employed in coal
mines are receiving moro pay than the
free miners in the same class of work.
In all the mines, save Belle Ellen and
lucille, the regular mine scale is paid.
but in these two, with leo and Ito men
is received.
Under the agreement today signed be-
tween the state and the Tennessee
company, the latter Is to have a mini
mum of 400 men, the pay, on basis of
AZ "a cents for COAL is as follows: First
class, s4s, increase from s42; second
class, sSs; third class. s2s, and fourth
class, $1,000. Since the instrument was
drawn up, however, the price of coal
has advanced, bringing the wage of
first class men to $3.50. with another
advance on the way nat will run 1t up
to s50.ee. 1t is also a fact that this rule
prevails at all the mines. so that there
is increase in the pay of every one of
the thousand thus employed.
Under the new contract the Tennessee
company guards the convicts while at
work, but the state has them the rest
of the time, feeding and clothing them
and providing medical attention. A
bond of $4,000, made in a surety COM
pany, provides for faithful performance
of the agreement. J. Craig Smith, head
of the convict board, regards this as the
very best trade ever made by the state.
Under plans put into execution by him,
the convicts, in spite of the high prico
of everything to eat and wear. have
| earned more and more net each year,
until today the high range is remark
| able.
Money for Spanish War Soldiers
Who will claim s2119677 held in Mont
gomery for soldiers of the Spanish
American war, who went out from the
state? This much is left from SEQ. 463. 10,
allowed men for time between the date
of recruit and date of acceptance and for
men who were held at posts and later
discharged. 1t was secured after long
delay in the courts of the nation and has
been paid out slowly to those who had
| claims.
Lawyers were allowed s12,043.75 and 1t
has been increased by 1904. II in interest
from the banks. So far s26,456.56 has
been paid to claimants, with $500 for clerk
hire and postage; s6S3.44 for disbursing
officer and s617 In warrants paid out but
not returned by the banks. The figures
are in a report made by H. Y. Brooke,
examiner of public accounts.
Fire Losses In December.
Fire losses in the state for the month
of December as shown by report of
Lorrie Rice, fire marshal were S33. 400 on
buildings and s2s 603 on contents. There
were rs fires reported in buildings valued
at $347,540 and contents at $2o5,671. In
surance on the buildings was s205,227 and
on contents $4,000. Reports were also
received OF fires In property worth SIT, 900,
but with no record Of insurance or extent
of damage. The reporting officers will
be instructed to get these details 30 that
the information can be kept more or less
complete.
Youth Deeply in Love.
A love-sick youth writes to William
w. Brandon, state auditor. and wants to
know how boy of 10 can wed without
his parents consent. If he cannot marry
in Alabama can he go to another state
and have the knot tied? He Is willing
to pay for the information, but wants 1t
by return mail. He seems to be wrought
up to a high pitch in his desire to take
into the bonds of matrimony some girl,
who is no doubt as young as he Is him
self.
Rate Hearings stenographers.
Messrs Stallings & Lacey. stenograph-
ers of Birmingham, have been selected
as stenographers for the rate hearings
testimony to be taken in the case OF the
Louisville and Nashville road, which
opens Tuesday in Louisville. There were
only three bidders in, B. o. Hoffman of
Mobile and John P. Evans Of Birming-
ham.