The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-19
CONNECTS IN MINES EARN THOUSANDS
 OF DOLLARS EXTRA
Prefer to Work in Coal Mines in Preference to the Other Prisons of the
 State
By FRED II. GoRMLEY Montgomery Bureau, The ARe-Hcraid sst-2 First National Bank Building

Montgomery, June 1s.-(Speciai.) The oft repeated question, why do state convicts prefer the coal mines to the other prisons of the state, probably Is answered in report showing the total amount of extra earnings of convicts in the four con vict coal mines of the state for the II months beginning with July, 1920, which was made public by the state convict department today
 During the II months state con- victs earned and put in their own uses total of sss.65s.14. This IS the total they earned beyond their tasks for the state. the amount being paid to them and used as they saw fit, Flat Top prison led the other prisons with total extra earn ings of S2s.91Oso Aidrich came sec ord, With s21.o4s.s0; Banner was tNird with s20,595.70, and Belle EI- len was last. with s17l03.6O
 The greatest amount earned in one month above the tasks for the state was in September, 1920. when the convicts were paid S12,5S9.77. In October the total extra earnings were s12.13S37, while the smallest amount earned by convicts in any one month during the period covered by the report was s3.604.01 in April. 1921.
 Extra Amounts
 When state convicts complete the tasks imposed by the state. they are permitted to continue to mine coal aad are paid free miners wages for all extra amounts they mine Re- ports to the convict department show that convicts frequently com plete their tasks for the state dur ing the early afternoon and all earnings after that time are paid them. A convict is not required to work after he has completed his task If he so desires, he may leave the mine and return to the stockade tor the remainder of the day.
 The convict department has re- ports of many instances where con vlcts are supporting relatives with their extra earnings. There are other instances where extra earnings have been invested in Liberty bonds and in other ways. census Of state convicts who have bank ac- counts would be surprising
 Supports Two Sisters
 During the session of the state board of pardons this week the fact as developed that one state con vlct, who Is serving 10-year sem tence for the robbery of bank. is ] supporting two sisters with his earn l ings Each month he mails his ex- i tra earnings to his sisters. The con vict department is attempting to en- courage the men in prisons 10 earn extra money and to save 1t in order 1 ttat they may have funds with which to start life anew when their | terms have expired. It has been found that when a man is earning extra money and Is saving 1t he IS better satisfied than the ones who 1 do no more than complete the tasks imposed by the state. A close su- pervision is maintained by the state ! with the view of seeing that no mans task is greater than 1t should be Regular inspections are made by prison physicians and mans task ! is based on his physical condition i and Ion hls experience In coal min ] ing Letters are received daily by l the convict department from con victs who plead for the privilege or i working in the coal mines rather than the lumber camp or on the | farms.