The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26
No. 2 Stockade Leased and
Portable Prisons Will Be
Added to Equipment
ABOUT 400 MEN ARE
AVAILABLE PER YEAR
Expense for First Year Will Be
Rather Heavy Because so Much
New Equipment Has to
Be Purchased
ny CHARLES II. MANDY

The board of revenue of Jefferson
county is making the preparatory
plans to take the county convicts from,
the mines and work them on the coun-
ty roads. At this time the most i'm
portant step taken has been the leas-
ing Friday of the prison and stockade
at No 2 mines formerly used by the
Tennessee. Coal. Iron and Railroad
worked by them. 1t will be the head
quarters hospital and storehouse and
will remove the necessity of spending
large sum of money for the erec-
ton of a permanent camp.
The next step 20 be teken and one
that the board has under considera-
camps or prisons on wheels" to be
used by the convicss and guards white
working the roads CT the county. The
board of revenue has decided that the
portable camp is the most practical
for a county as large as Jefferson
with its 1900 miles or roads.
The board has several makes of port
able camps under consideration, all
of which are on the unit plan which
can be. added to or decreased as the
occasion requires. These camps have
a kitchen car. commissary car, guards
car. supply car and all other neces-
stiles for permanent camp. The cars
H. 4 oaI 81 efa
are well lighted and have all sanitary
connections and other conveniences.
When the location of the camp is de-
cided upon the cars are formed into
a hollow square" and can be set up
or made ready for travel in a short
space of time. The cost of these move
able camps complete will approximate
$4,000, and when the system gets in
full working order the county will
need about four
Will Not Move Present Prisoners
1t is not the intention to take any
of the county convicts out of the mines
on April the dase set for the sys-
tenn to be inaugurated--but after that
date no more prisoners will be sent to
the mines. Those, convicted and work
ing out their sentence will, under con-
tract with the Pratt Consolidated Coal
company, complete their term of I'm
prisonment at the mines. This action
was taken because of the extent of
the problem before the board of rev.
enue and it will give them an oppor-
tunity to gradually work out the best
system possible for working the con-
victs on the road.
The expense of working the roads
under the present system will aver
age 100000 per annum. This includes
the building of new roads 1t will
be necessary to work at least half
of the present road force even with
the convicts on the roads, as there
are so many miles of dirt roads that
have to be worked from time to time,
but with new conditions the board eX-
poets to be able 10 build these roads
permanently. At the present time it
is difficult to tell how much the new
system will cost the county and with
the revenue from the hire of the con-
yicts cut off the problem is a serious
one. However, the board is proceeding
with caution and Is giving every prop
osition that confronts it careful con-
sideration. The members feel 1t is best
to make haste slowly" and by that
means secure the best results.
About 400 Conyicts
Tie number of county convicts for
the year will average possibly 400, but
when the women and cripples are elm
mated and the dope fiends and the
physically unfit, it is estimated that
not more than $50 will be available for
work on the county roads. With this
number however. much work can be
done and it is the object and pur-
pose of the board to inaugurate a sys-
TEN that will be economical and ef-
ficient. having in view however. the
proper care and treatment of the con-
victs.
The first year of the system will
necessarily tax the resources of the
county. The purchase of the equip
ment and camps and the many other
things necessary will be heavy drain
on the treasury. but with these equip
ments and camps on hand the sys-
tenn possibly worxrd out and the ma
chinery well oiled and going next year,
the question will lie practically set
tied as to the BENEFITS of the use of