The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-30


mingham, was one of the principal ad-
yisors of the evening and gave the Jas
per people expert information on the line
of boosting and building up a town. Mr..
Radcliffe came to Jasper in response to
an invitation from the industrial club ana
his expert advice was heartily approved
by all who heard him. He gave the
members of the club the assurance that
he would cooperate with them in every
way possible to build up the city and
miners and partly men from lumber
camps
oakley declined bid. He had mines
examined thoroughly and examined
company's cost accounts at Banner and
other mines. The average cost, accord
| ing to witness, had been about a67
| cents a ton at Banner. The company
was to furnish, under the contract,
mine timbers, lumber for brattices,
rails, trans, wires, coal cutting ma
chimes. etc. Witness knew of no other
convict mines that were worked with
| machines
| Mr.. Mccormack explained in detail
the work of the coal cutting machines
| describing the manner in which coal
of the cost to the company of mining
coal.
Referring to the making of the con-
| tract with the state for the operation
| of Banner mines. witness said oakley
| refused the company's offer of 621s
cents. He said Oakley wanted 65 cents
/ per ton This was finally agreed upon
! by the company. The consideration was
paid for this contract. "No influence
was brought to bear upon any member
! or official of the convict bureau in any
shape or description" said witness.
The contract was prepared by the
convict bureau though the company
made few minor changes.
! Prior 10 the making of the contract,
kOakley came to office and asked wit
mess if his company would take more
state convicts, which were to be re-
! leased in north Alabama That was in
August or September. 1911. Witness
told oakley that the company would
arrange to take some of the con-
| victs.
"T again saw Oakley in November"
said witness, 'and he told me that in
stead of giving me convicts from the
mines he would let me have convicts
from south Alabama"
| Referring to the making of a new con-
tract, witness said the points of difference
! between the new and old were minor
guarantee clause to the effect that the
| state should receive as much for the
convicts at Banner as had been received
under the Tennessee company contract.
| The state was given the privilege of se-
| lecting the superintendent of the mine.
The new contract was prepared jointly.
| by Attorney General Brickell and John
| H. Bankhead, Jr.. attorney for the COM
pany. Witness thought the contract a
most profitable one for the state. He read
a comparative statement showing the
earnings of convicts of various mines.
| The average net earnings at Banner
mine for - months was s26.s4 These
| figures represented the net earnings with
out the guarantee.
A comparative statement showing the
average per man per month to the state
after deducting all expenses was as fol-
lows: Banner, s27 81: Lucille. s27 .65; Belle
| Ellen. s27 Al Flat Top. $2731. According
| to company's statement, the state in Oc-
| tober. 1912. earned s37.5S per man net.
| The first four months the earnings were
| low. owing to the fact that the opera
| tions at Banner were new. The last
| eight months of the year the average net
| earnings per man to the state was $50. II.
| The average for the same period at Flat
| Top was S2S 6S. Other mines were lower.
Witness read letter from Inspector Nes-
| bitt to Governor ONeal, under date OF
December 19, 1911, submitting report of
| the cost of production of coal at Ban
ner and other mines. The witness also
| read the company's statement showing
the cost per ton of washed coal for several
years The cost per ton, with the state
convicts, in 1912 was 91.3 cents.
County convicts were maintained by the
company and paid for on per capita
basis.
When the company first took state con-
/ vi ari H.
ployed for two months after which the
state employed its own superintendent.
This resulted in more harmonious ad-
justment OF matters. according to wit
ness. He testified that so far as he knew
convcts were we'll fed and well treated.
Referring to the scales at Banner mines
witness said the company had nothing
to do with them The company had moth
ing to do with the selection of weighers
of COAL said witness. He declared that
the weghers We're all sworn officers, and
that no company mad anything to DO
with the selection of these men. The
whole matter is in the hands of the south
ern weighing inspection bureau" declared
| witness All complaints relative to any
weigher would have to be taken up with
the southern bureau.
| Witness testified that cars from the va
rious mines were weighed at Mineral
Springs, and that statement of these
weights were turned over to the Of
fees of the company. A comparison be-
tween the weight of coal at the mines and
at Mineral Springs could be seen by re-
ferring to the statement rendered by the
mine and that rendered by officials at
Mineral Springs.
| Witness testified that the scales in the
mines were used solely for the purpose
of checking up the work done by each
mine. The company settled with the state
on the basis of the weight furnished ny
the southern weighing inspection bureau.
Examiner III. " Brooke asked witness
If the scales at Banner mine were set ~
per cent under weight, would it not orfset
the companys guarantee to the state.
Mr. Mccormack said If the convicts
earned the amount guaranteed by the
company ii would not be responsible un-
der the guarantee.
/ Mr.. Brooke reiterated his statement
that he found the scales at Banner mine
20 per cent under weight when he made
an examination February 25 State Mine
| Inspector Nesbitt will bear me out in
this said Mr.. Brooke.
4 A list showing many cars loaded at
| Banner mines between March and 26 was
| shown by Mr.. Brooke, who said no re-
/ port had been made on these cars from
! Mineral Springs. This was to show the
| absence of a thorough checking system
| Mr.. Mccormack said when the yard at
Mineral Springs became congested coal
was weighed at other points. Letter from
| railroad to Mr. Brooke showed 1000 tons
| unaccounted for. Witness said il railroad
| records showed more coal shipped from
thu ,, comma p1-'S ,aoarl,