St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-19
SAVE THEIR HEADS.
Board OF Prison Managers
Find Themselves in a
Quandary.
A Year Ago They Declared a
Irvine Factory Imprac-
ticable.
To Keep Their Positions They
Are Likely to Back
Down.
Irvine Commission Demands
a Factory Established
at Once.

Gov. Merriam arrived at the capitol
early yesterday morning, upon his re-
turn from Lake City, where he reviewed
the Third regiment of the state guards.
He at once devoured the contents OF the
report of the Irvine commission, and
gave it out for publication. The report
reads:
To His Excellency, the Governor Of the
State of Minnesota: Your committee ap-
pointed for the purpose lof visiting Eastern
cities to make necessary investigations, and
report upon the feasibility OF the estaDllSn-
ment of binding twine manufactures IN the
state of Minnesota desire to submit, without
entering into elaborate details at present, the
following summarized statement of the re-
suit of our observations While in an oflclal
capacity, we were in behalf of all the people
of the state, your committee did not 1all 10
bear in mind that the duties assigned IL were
of more direct special interest to the farmers
of our state With this knowledge of condi-
tons we prosecuted our experimental re-
searches, aiming to find a system by which,
Though the manufacture of binding tWlne,
the greatest amount of profit could be Cd
tanned by the producer of the raw material,
while at the same time the manufactured ar
ticle could be returned to him at the least
possible figure.
We visited number OF the leading manu-.
factories and made critical observations OF
various kinds of machinery, having been
permitted ample opportunity to witness the
practical operation. We find machinery that
will manufacture binding twine OF GOOD
quality from jute. ais from hemp, flax aud
other fibers peculiar to the agricultural re-
gions of Minnesota.
The net cost of each set of machinery put
into position and ready for operation III the
state, with the capacity. if well operated, OF
about %, 600 pounds of tWine per day, would
be about $25, 600.
Jute, as it is well understood. is the cheap
est fiber produced. Hemp is known to make
good Irvine. an excellent article, and there
is no doubt that it can be prodused by our
farmers and sold for this purpose at goOd
profit. Flax, if properly cultivated, can be
produced with good profit and is undouDt-
eddy the best fiber we have for twlne, but the
raw material, excellency of quality consld-
cred, could be disposed of at greater profit to
be used for something else.
Your committee unite in the recommended
ton that the state purchase as soon as prac-
ticable one, two or three sets. OF machinery
for experimental purposes; that thorough
practical test of the manufacture of binding
Irvine be made by the use of all various fibers
that can be raised in the state of Minnesota.
Without this practical demonstration 1t is
impossible to arrive at any conclusion bear
ing upon this important subject that can be
regarded as at all definite. 1t is due our ag-
ricultural producing classes that their inter
ests be regarded to this extent, and in this
view we respectfully submit our recon-
j. S o'BnIEN,
f. W. TEMPLE,
r. j. HALL,
JOHN LATHRoP.
AS stated in yesterdays GLOBE the
| report was made unanimous by Messrs.
Hall and Lathrop conceding certain
small details to Messrs O'Brien and
| Temple. This is the reason the report
differs slightly from the one published
| by the GLOBE a week ago. The con-
clusion of the report is, however. the
same, and that is the recommendation
for the establishment of a Irvine factory
be undertaken forthwith. Gov. Merriam
will bring this recommendation before
| the prison manager, and, it is said, will
urge them to at once introduce the man.
ufacture of Irvine into the state prison.
| 1t would be interesting to know what
the prison managers think about this
report Within twelve months these
self same managers adopted report,
which was presented to the governor.
declaring that the manufacture of
Irvine in the state prison was imprac-
ticable. How they can reconcile their
action then with what it is understood
they are now prepared to take is fiji
cult TO conceive. The farmers of the
state will watch the result of this twine
| busine SIS with considerable interest.