The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-05
TENNESSEE ACTION P[EASES FARLEY Glad to See COnvicts Re- moved From Mines PLACE FOR 300 MEN Former Leader Among the Miners Thinks Convicts of the State
 Should Be Used on the
 Public Roads
PLACE FOR 300 MEN

William R. Fairley, one Of the hesi known friends of coal miners Tn thls | district and former official of the Unit ed Mine Workers, yesterday paid the
 Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad con-
 pany a warm tribute for cancelling its
 lease on state convicts and determin- | ing to free it's coal mines of that class | of labor. He added in discussing the cancellation of the lease that the time was not far distant when the convicts would be taken out of the coal mines altogether and worked on the roads for the public good where they belong q am very much pleased to see the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad coni- pany add the cancellation of convict leases to its other steps of progress in this district" said MT. F'airley 'The
 move by the Tennessee company means that about 300 free men will be given
 work to do which has heretofore been
 the lot of the convicts. Again 1t marks
 change in convict coal mining in this section. I think the officials of the Tennessee company are to be commend ed upon this step. The company has taken many progressive steps since it has been here and while the others are commendable I look upon the giv- ing up of the convicts as especially epochal.
 "I believe that the time will soon
 come when the working of convicts
 in mines will be a matter of the past. The convicts as rule do not make
 good miners, being uniformed as to the work and again they are not anx- ious to learn. It is not every man that Is a competent miner The other
 companies which hold convict leases, hope, will see the tide turning and
 also give up their leases It may be a few years yet, but surely the time is past when the very critical task of
 mining coal will be put into the hands of convicts."
 It is stated that steps are being taken
 to bring about the transfer of the con
 victs from the Tennessee company to Banner mines January 1, where they will be worked by the state of Ala lama.
 The Tennessee company has one of the best convict barracks in the south for its men at No 12 mine but the convicts will find at Banner a rather comfortable prison. At No. 12 of the Tennessee company the whole five acres hich embrace the site for the prison are plotted with grass and multitudes of flowers grow there in season. The
 whole place is not only thoroughly clean but inviting in appearance The
 officials have exercised, 1t is said, ev- cry caution to keep the men well pleased. They have even gone to the extent of calling the prison barracks Rogers Hall" in order to keep the odium of prison" away from the men. Nothing is allowed that is suggestive and visitors to the camp @have been
 unable to find any armed guards pac-
 ing back and forth over the walls CT any glaring suggestion that No. 12 is prison. The mines are entered through high enclosed manway and every device provided to keep the men in good humor and bodily health.
 The mines at Banner now being rem ovated will be added to perhaps in order to keep up with the position maintained by the Tennessee company while the new Pratt barracks below
 Banner will be ideal in arrangements.