The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-06
COAL OPERATORS
 DO NOT APPROVE
 M0NTEVALLO PLAN
Claim It Is Not Province of the State-Doubt Ability to 0p- crate Coal Mine Econom-
 icaIIy and ProfitabIy

Further opinion from coal opera tors and dealers of the Birmingham district shows that the proposition of the state in the Montevallo Min ing company bankruptcy case, in which Governor Kilby and the state board of control have offered to pur- chase the entire properties of the Montevallo company for the state, shows almost a unanimous disap- proval of the proposed deal
 The expressions hinge on the con tentions that it should not be a prov lnce Of the state to engage in op- erations of that kind and the ques- tion of employment of state convicts as opposed to free labor
 In referring to the state of Ala bama-Montevallo Mining company proposed deal the following were in- terviewed as follows:
 Not Real Economy
 T do not think that it will be of value to the state" says J. W. Lewis. president of the Borden Coal conf- pany and secretary Urea surer of the Isthmian Coal and Trading company
 'lf the mining people cannot op- crate with success under experienced operators l don't see how the state could do so.
 Tt would require economy, some thing l think difficult under convict labor. It naturally stands to reason that guards are required and that it IS expensive to get results from con Vlct help, to whom there is no occa- sion for economy or interest in the welfare of their enforced employer Working as they do and under. the conditions they do they have more occasion and opportunity to be de- structive rather than constructive.
 Looking at the proposition from another angle. The income from the coal properties is great to the state There is a 3-cent tonnage tax. which will probably be on 15,0000o0 tons this year.
 Instead of helping the operators along, when the state goes into the market with coal-and this would be the best coal in the state1they are tearing down the house we are build ing and are wrecking our ship.
 "1t does not look right It tears down the playhouse of coal and iron. the most stable of Alabama's indus tries. It is using the misfortune of the convict to hinder free people,"
 UnfavorabIe to Plan
 There are so many angles to a proposition of that kind that I would not look upon 1t with favor" says Edgar l.. Adler, vice president of the Corona Coal and Iron company.
 "It doesn't look to me off-hand that 1t is desirable for the state to take over that sort of an operation
 e"Let the state go to it." says W. Carson Adams of the Adams, Rowe & Norman Coal company.
 q say Ahat with the qualification that after one year of operation the state have an accounting with a rec ognized firm of public accountants to see what the convict labor had netted the state.
 "The convicts have their task as- signed The warden designates how much per day they must dig, which is impossible with free labor. It is with the stipulation of such an ac- counting mentioned that I would say go to it."
 T don't think it. is a good idea and don't believe the state ought to do it." was the concise opinion of J. B. McGlary, president of the To- lande Coal and Coke company.
 Hampton S. Smith, president of the Red Eagle Coal company, stated he had not given full attention to the matter as yet and did not care to be quoted.