The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-17
PRISON INSPECTOR
 WILL CONFER WITH BOARD OF REVENUE
Understood He Will Ask Improvement in Conditions at County Jail-Discusses
 the Situation

Dr. W. H. Oates. state prison inspector, is in the city and will confer with the members of the board of revenue this morning and ascertain from that body. representing the taxpayers of Jefferson county, what Is to be done about the county jail, commonly known as eThe Carbuncle." The presence of Dr. Oates in Birmingham gave rise to the rumor yesterday that he was to tell the mem- bers of the board of revenue that the time had passed when any more delay would be permitted in connection with correct ing the unsanitary ana unfavorable con- ditions at the county jail
 It was said that perhaps Dr Oates. who has complete authority, would no longer permit the county jail to be oper- ated as it is and that unless some action was taken looking to the correction of the situation there he would cause Jeffer- son county to suffer the humiliation of seeing the prisoners removed to some other county, where better conditions ex- ist. pr. Oates would not go into the mat ter yesterday to the length of saying that he had some jolts in store for the county adtAitiititS, Dul llt i1u1tdItu very point edly that the patches that have been placed on the jail in an effort to keep it from being condemned were "about as futile as trying to cure a cancer with linaments."
 "Dr. Oates, 1t is believed, will insist this morning that some permanent ar arrangements be made looking to d complete correction of the situation that has ex- isted at the county jail for some time
 pr. Oates at the Tutwiler said yesterday that he fully approved of the plan ad- vanced by some citizens here to remove the jail
 T agree with some of the citizens of Birmingham that the county jail is an eye sore to some of the most valuable properties here" said pr. Oates For instance, here you have $2,000,000 hotel within two blocks of the county jail I desire to this county equipped with a jail which is sanitary, which is hy- gienic and which will afford the unfortu- mates incarcerated therein some fresh air and some of Gods own sunlight. As it is they are denied this under conditions that do not appeal to me in the slightest
 
 on before is not the fault of the sheriff, but must be corrected. will confer with the members of the board of revenue to- day. l do not know at this time what I will ask them to do I believe the best thing is to build new jail. Birmingham is too big, Alabama is to proud of this city to suffer this business section to be ruined or retarded by the presence of the county jail in it spresent position. I am told that the county could get fine price for that land If that is true, the mem- bers of the board of revenue should be men of sufficient stamina to say they will take this great move and build a jail that will be in keeping with the phenomenal growth of this section.
 ''I have thought that the fee system will be abolished. which it will and that such action would cut down the numbers imprisoned However, this city is to con tinue in it's growth you have the prisons about here and the jails l believe will all ways be crowded. They have too many prisoners in the jail now and I believe the members of the board of revenue would be doing great thing to sell that land and build a new jail They could build one where it was sanitary. where the prisoners could cultivate a garden and where they would enjoy some fresh air and sunlight. As it is, they are cooped up in that dingy prison and are denied all those things that men are now placing such great value upon.
 q am in full sympathy with the move ment to move the Carbuncle', as it is called. I hpoe it will be done. I have not exercised my full authority In con nection with this situation, but I will certainly join in this movement to build in great Birmingham prison in keep ing with the progress of this com munity."
 pr. Oates inspected the city prison, the city stockade and the Hillman hospital yesterday. He requested the commission CTS to place some screens at the prison, which will be done. He was very much pleased with his trip to the Hillman hos pital, and complimented the operations of that hospital very much.
 During the day Dr. Oates went out to the Southside jail and inspected the fly screens which the city commissioners re- gently have had placed on the Jail.
 pr. Oates was much pleased with the work, stating that the Jail had been much improved thereby. He stated, however, that no screens had been placed on the windows of the hospital ward and that this should be done at once.