The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-01
OATES PLANNING ID DO GREAT WORK IN
 NEXT FEW MONTHS
Undeterred by Action of the Medical Association in De- posing Him, Prison In-
 spectOr to Work Hard

Montgomery, April -(specissl.)- With q view to obtaining the best results in the construction of a jail in Sumter county, South Carolina, well-known firm of architects in Charleston has writ ten t7 Dr. William H. Oates, state prison inspector to obtain suggestions as to out side cell arrangements and the best meth ods of entilation. Dr. Oates correspon- dents informed him that his name had been mentioned to them by Albert S Johnstone of the South Carolina state board of charities and corrections.
 ..if it is not asking too much of you and if you think your architect would not object, we would like very much to see your arrangements and to know how the cost compares with the cells being set In from the walls of the building, the letter said. Do you think the venti- lation as good as in this case?"
 The letter of the South Carolina arch fleets asking information relative to the best methods of constructing jails is not the first request pr. Oates has had for ideas on that subject. Since he assumed office as prison inspector in 1911, Dr. Oates has constructed g new jails in the state and has remodeled 13 jails and pris- ones. The construction and improvement work represents cost of approximately S600, ,000.
 His work on prison and child labor re- form in Alabama has attracted nation wide attention, and he is recognized as one of the leading sanitary and sociolog- ical workers of the country. Sociological and reform journals all over America have from time to time printed articles from his pen, and there is hardly a so- ciety in the country, organized for the purpose of improving prison and child labor conditions, of which he is not a member Moreover, he has on numerous occasions delivered important addresses in various parts of the country on sub jects relating to his work.
 Dr. Oates was recently depoSed as state prison inspector by the State Medical as- sociation, which is virtually the state board of health whose antagonism he had incurred through his efforts in be- half of more modern health system in Alabama. The board of health system in Alabama, including results accomplished along all lines, is said to be rated by gov
 
 bottom, hence there Is little wonder that Dr. Oates, considered one of the most eff flcient sanitary officers and prison re- formers in the country, should have used his efforts in behalf of securing an inn proved system.
 pr. Oates has until April g. 1917, to serve as state prison inspector He announced following the action of the medical asso- citation in deposing him as head of his department, which under his adminis- tration has reached it's highest state of efficiency and which was really of lt- tie account prior to his administration, that he intended to devote the year in the performance of the best work of his ca reer. There is much work yet to be done along prison reform lines In the state, and pr. Oates hopes to achieve greater results than heretofore accomplished dur ing the short time in which he will have the work of the department in hand