The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-03
FIND RIVER FALLS. WORST PRISON IN. STATE, SAY SOLONS.
Convicts Work Long Hours at Hard Labor and Return to Crowded Quarters
 ProberS Find
By FRED II. GoRMLEY Montgomery Burens.. The Age-HeraId, 22t-2 First Natiohal Bank Building

Montgomery, October 2-The worst conditions in any state prison in Alabama were found at River Falls. where state convicts are worked in the pl aats of the Horseshoe Lumber company, by the legislative investi- eatins, committee which completed an insr cciion Sunday of all state prisons and convict camps in Ala bana. Tespite the fact that great imnre veinent has resulted from the activities of the convict department, members cf the committee were not satisfied with conditions
 This investigation disclosed the fact that the men are forced to leave the prison for the mill about 5:45 o'clock each morning and are never back in prison for the day un- ill o'clock. and the records. which ltssrs .ir1sE1 eteti showed toai the men returned as late as 6:55 o'clock in recent months,
 Quarters Are Crowded Nas
 In addition to the long hours, the committee found crowded conditions in the rooms for the white and ne- gro prisoners. In a room 30X60 feet 50 men are now confined during the night and during all hours when tket are not on the yard or at work. One hundred and eighteen negroes are forced to sleep in room 6oxS0 feet.
 Members of the committee let it he known that they will recommend that there be some changes at River Falls without delay
 One Recommendation will provide for the establishment of reasonable hours for work while another will provide that the lumber company. tl,t IA, hn1l lc h.a nn n frn ~ the labor of the convicts at River Falls, be required to construct addi- tional quarters, some members of the committee indicating that they will request that the quarters be dou. blcd in capacity. At present all swinging hunks, which have been re- moyed from other prisons. cannot be eliminated from River Falls because there is not room for single-deck beds.
 Conditions Are Better
 "We found conditions much bet ter at River Falls than they were when the committee visited the, place in 1919." said George Ross, representative from Jefferson. T believe every possible effort has been made to place the prison in good condition. Sanitation has been looked after as well as possible and there is no indication of bad treat- ment except through the overwork- ing of the men. This work is about hardest assigned to convicts in Ala bama and l believe there should be some limitation on the hours. An in- spection of the records showed that the men have been at work as much as l3 hours with one hour being al lowed at dinner time during which the prisoners must go to the camp, obtain their food and return to the mill in time 't trt work at the end of ths hoi
 "T e nhRe the prison is in bad pRastar sf will not be pos- sfblf 70 make thts camp as good as the others escats Y & great increase In the capacity and general over hauling
 acre can Ds Q criticism of the wofE Of the men employed by the stafe Indications are that they are doing evervthing possible to relieve tfa situaticb. We found sani- tarv bakery and ie facilities for the pro per care of ie men which we forad n atneT sons.''