The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-18


limits OF the McAlester pcnitentiary
grounds, for 100000. Dr. J. j. Rutledge
ioI the federal bureau of mines, who was
assigned at my request by the federal
bureau of mines. inspected and reported
10 me ON this coal as follows.
"A producing mine can be easily had
by reopcning old No. Samples slope.
About siN months after reopeulug, this
mine should be capable of producing
rom two hundred to three hundred
tons OF coal per day. The cost OF pro-
duclug ton of run of mine coal
under the present mining scale, hand
mining, after the surface equipment is
PROVIDED, should not exceed 81. per
tom
The state is required every year to buy
coal for fuel for all of its state iustitu-
tions and the amount increases year by
year. The money with which fuel for the
state institutions is purchased has to be
collected from the taxpayers. The tax
payers have to pay for keeping up the
courts and manning the police force Of
the state to suppress crime, and men wlru
are placed within the penitentiary go
there on account of their own acts. Men
who have not been convicted of violating
the law voluntarily work in the coal mines
In these fields. The mining of coal by the
state for state use and for state insti-
tutiuns and state agencies is within the
modern plan evolved for the management
OF prisoners a great many of the pris-
onerS in the prison at McAlester are
money and help the taxpayers by mining
this coal. II might be provided that un-
der rules and regulations the board OF
prison control could provide reasonable
compensation, say one fourth or One-third
OF the usual charge for mining, and put
that to the credit of the convict and If he
has family remit that monthly to the
family. The days work for the convict
I'm the coal mine must not exceed eight
hours. When reasonable task is COM
nlrtcd, If II be done within half day,
then the miners days work should be
completed and he be permitted to return
70 his cell or. if his conduct justit.s
to 20 to the reading room and the library
Tor study and reading
am aware of the fact that some oppose
the use Of this labor in mining coal and
with the argument that 1t is dangerous
work II this work is of such "A danger
GUS character that a convict should not
be worked at ii every coal mine in these
fields should be closed to protect human
llfc. for If II is too dangerous for the
convict to work in, ii is too dangerous for
the free man to be permitted to work in
We are now planning to put as many
cOnvicts on the roads as we practically
can But it is not practical at any time
to work more than one-fifth OF the con-
victs on the public highways, nor can we
work them all on farms. The farmers
of the state seem to be willing for con-
ViCts to be worked on farms with the
view of making the penitentiaries self
taxation. The coal miners and operators
should be willing for the state to use con-
victs to mine coal for state use The
farmer should not be made the butt end
Of everything and to bear every burden.
am the friend of every class of labor and
to no class or interest in the
state. | believe that 1t is fair and Just
for the state to mine it's own coal for
state use, but for ii to be done under
regulations that will protect human life
and health.
| recommend for your consideration the
authorizing of the state board of public
affairs to acquire the necessary rights
)r leases. and enter into the necessary
as may be necessary for the
mining of coal for state use and that state
'onvcts may be employed under the
supervision of the state board of prison
control for that purpose.
TWine Plants.
Twine plants have been installed and
operated by means of convict labor at the
state prisons in Kansas, Indiana, Wis
'onsin, Minnesota. North and South Da-
lota.
The wardens of these prisons have
yiven me exhaustive reports on the sue
'ess of their twine plants,
The manufacture of twine by means OF
'onvict labor at a state prison is not out
# harmony with the state use" plan in
he management of prisons. Twine man
ot sold out of the state 1t is manu-
actured for the use of the farmers of |
he state. The agricultural interests are
o interviewer with the prosperity of the |
ntire state that the manufacture of twine, |
'hle apparently an exception, Is not an |
reception, but is part of the recognized |
state use" plan.
| recommend for your consideration the |
dvsability of making provision for the
of twine by means of con- /
let labor at the state prison in this state, |
nd that you make an appropriation both |
)r the installing of the machinery and, |
lso, to create a revolving fund by which |
he fiber may be purchased for use in the
liant.
Revolving Funds.
The Oklahoma Industrial Institute and |
ollege for Girls at Chickasha has "A dor
litory. Ii Is essential that n revolving |
Ind be established and prescribed for
his institution that the dormitory may |
e conducted and the proper accounting |
lade TO the state, the revolving fund to
e deposited in the state depository.
Such is the case with the medical de-
artment of the state university, on ac-
cunt of the hospital that is maintained
y that department. 1t is essential, too,
hat the hospital be maintained in order
hat the medical department may occupy
recognized place in the American sys-
EN- of medical colleges.
Such is the case as to the a. ~ Nj. COL
,ge and the subordinate agricultural
chools. That dairy plants, live stock in
ustry and farming enterprises may be
by these various institutions
evolving funds are essential and should
e kept in the state depository under reg
lations prescribed by the legislature.
hat the state home at Pryor. feeble
linded institute at Enid. the asylums at
orman, Vinita and Supply, the peniten-
AIRY at McAlester and the reformatory
Granite may carry on the various en-
erprises to help make the same self
lstaining revolving funds, TO be kept in
le state depository, should be provided |
nd the rules prescribed for the keeping Of
anne.
recommend this subject as TO the in
.itutions named for your consideration.
Vacancies.
Vacancies exist in the house of repre-
.ntatives from Latimer and Cherokee !
)untes and in the senate from the Caddo
nd Grady district and the Logan county
strict on account of designations. l
ave information, but not official advice,
lat vacancies exist in the senate from
lie Major and Alfalfa district and in the
Duse from Woodward county, occasioned
Y death.
on account OF the expense OF holding a
)ecial election | have been requested by
ANY not to order elections to fill these
acancies. The county attorney Of Lo-
an county visited me and advised me
lat to hold a special election in Logan
Junty to elect senator would consume
i their contingent fund and that they
referred that the special election be
yoided II possible. l decided to await the