The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10

mined by machines and shot down
by one class or set of eonvicts, and
loaded in cars by another class or
set. The work of shooting and ma
chine mining OF the coal is neither
difficult nor onerous. The work OF
shoveling the coal into the cars Is
simple. but perhaps more onerous.
o o o
Make Extra Money.
"Convcts frequently finish their
task early In the afternoon. but they
are not required to come out of the
mine when they have done SO. 1t is
optional with them to remain in the
mine and to load extra coal over and
above their task. for which they are
paid by the coal companies. That
many of the convicts have taken ad
vantage of the privilege Of remain
ing in the mines after their tasks
have been completed is shown by the
fact that in the month of April this
year the pay rolls for extra work by
convicts amounted to more than
$4,000. which is at the rate of more
than $4,000 per anrum. Many of the
convicts have made as much as over
$50 per month, all OF which is net to
the convicts 1t is seldom that the
ordinary free laborer, after deducting
living expenses, nets a S much as $50
per month. l dare say that the aver
age Alabama school teacher does not,
nor does the average store clerk or
office man. A considerable part of
the extra money earned by the con-
victs is sent by them to their families
and kin. A part of 1t Is spenGa as the
convict directs for his own personal
use. He soon becomes skilled
miner and when. discharged from
prison can always secure, If he cares
to. employment at high wages.
WHY
worked are inspected at regular in
tervals. and at such other times as
may be deemed expedient, by the
state mine inspectors. just as those
mines In which free labor is en-
ployed, and are In all respects as safe
rs all other coal mines in the state.
Coal Mining Not Hazardous.
The latest manual of the National
Council of Workmen's Compensation
Insurance, an impartial body engaged
in the business of writing workmen's
compensation insurance, shows that
there are 50 occupations engaged in
in the state of Alabama. rated as
more hazardous than under ground
coal mining. and employers are re-
CURED to pay higher insurance rates
for insurance for employees engaged
in them than for those engaged in
underground coal mining. Among
the dNOCatlOnS CldSSGu dS THOTe
ardous than underground coal min
ing are the well known occupations
of carpentry, cotton ginning. cotton
seed oil making, bridge concrete Work
and farm machine operations.
THE state now employs its convicts
in the following occupations:
Mining coal, working on farms,
working in garment factories, build
ing construction (Kiiby). working In
cotton mill, working in saw rtlls,
servants at the capitol, setting and
placing machinery (Kilby)
"Of the number engaged in mining
coal during the month of April the
average number excused by ply
sicians at the prison was 40, or less
than per cent of the whole number
so employed This compares most
favorably with the health conditions
of the convicts confined elsewhere in
the states prisons and engaged in
other occupations. The above num-
Der shown to have been excused by
the physicians includes those ex-
cused for all reasons. In this connec-
ton 1t should be remembered that
the wardens are without authority to
put at work any prisoner whom the
resident physician has excused for
any cause whatsoever; the resident
physician who is at the prison being
the sole Judge of the ability of the
convict to perform the labor re-
quired of him.
Summarizes Conditions.
Summarizing the convict prison
conditions in Alabama, ] find
"(a) That the prisoners employed
in mining coal work shorter hours
than those engaged in any. other
work, enjoy as good health, are
equally as contented, and make more
money for their own personal use.
and bring, by far, greater returns to,
the state:
"(b) That those working in cottI
limited return to tho state with
limited opportunity to make any
money for personal use:
"(c) That those employed as gar
ment workers are without any oppor-
tunity to earn for themselves, and are
returning nothing TO the state in
financial way:
"(d) That those employed on the
farms have little or no opportunity to
earn extra money for themselves, and
In some instances are not only earn
ing nothing for the state, but, on
the other hand. are actually not pay
ing their way:
@ "(e) That the convicts worked by
the state in coal mines are under the
sole control of state employees just
exactly as they would be IL employed
elsewhere. and that there can be no
r,i,irg coal tho which thew would
not be equally subject elsewhere:
.utn.,t 80 oor,icts ,hat h.yo coma
-. az go nav hased unnn the al
io iI antiors of tho emnloves Of the
go go 90 ~ ~ the coal commences
Ttt ~ nca..ar,Iv IN for No one
h,,t r,niowo ne Tho state has an
$3.50. sS,irtst.r rurjshn,a In
thoii.y ~ nm, sitHatad we
ms oiss,, respeT. . enuy worhed On the
e e as az ron Xii o. NJ Kjihv
~ /" T 49, nv, ' e. structions are that
~ e ~ state Sound guilty of
iI.,otan, - oonvict shall he
ihisti O." y, ~. sor