St. Paul daily globe., 1892-12-30
STATE PRISON PAROLE.
The System in Vogue at saltwater
Iudorsed by State In
spectors.
Their Seventh biennial Report
Shows Decrease of Crime
in the State.

The seventh biennial report or the
inspectors of the state prison at Still
water, now in the hands of the gov
| ernor, makes comprehensive showing
of the workings of the new parole sys-
| tenn, which was inaugurated by Gov.
| Merriam, also a showing of the new in
dustry instituted lhere-the manufact-
ure of binding tWine.
After saying some very compliment
ary things of Albert Garvin. as war :
den, and of Warden Henry Wolfer, his
successor, the report directs the follow
ing remarks to the governor:
"The new plan of conditional pardon
and parole inaugurated by your excel
lency for this prison, after much con-
Sideration, with high aims in the great
question of how better to induce the
erring to reform their conduct, would
seem to commence new era in prison
management. Your courage in being
the leader in this new advance in prison
reform has been favorably noticed in
prison circles the country over. it being
far ahead of any yet in operation.
The evidence of the diminutlon of
crime in our state, verified by the de-
creaSng number of inmates in this
institution, Notwithstanding the rapid
influx of people from all parts of the
globe, is one Of the most gratifying
things in this report. We believe this
will lead many young man, who has
been suffering for his first Offense, into
honest occupation, and reduce to min
imum the chances Of relapse into
crime. As such agent, Col. Clarke
Chambers, of OWatonna, has been ap-
pointed by the action of the joint boards
of the reformat0ry and state prison,
because of his peculiar fitness for the
position, his well known kindness of
heart, great acquaintance in all parts OF
the state and true friendships.
| The report reciteS how the binding
tWine industry, begun on a small scale
! in 1890, proved to be SO successful that
| the facilities for manufacturing the
article were enlarged. The legislature
OF 1891 appropriated sufficient funds for
the purchase of additional machinery,
| and instruced the inspectors to pur-
chase what is known as the Longtime
! fiber machine to manufacture manila,
Sisal, etc. A committee of the lnSpeC
tors, composed of MeSSrS. Dunn, O'Brien
! and Temple, were unable to purchase
these machines, for the reason that they
are controlled by The National Cord
age company" and this company will
not sell them unless the purchaser will
give bonds to protect the interests OF the
| company. The committee then pur-
chased two additional sets of hemp ma
chimes, which had been used little, at
cost of little over $4,000. The ma
chimes were in excellent condition. and
the product of twine, the report states,
finds ready market. The future of
the twine plant would seem assured,
and at the same time stimulate the fur
ther production OF hemp fiber in the
state, thereby supplying the twine fac.
tory from our domestic product.
At the end of this season about 1,000,
600 pounds of tWine was manufactured
and sold to the farmers at cents a
pound, without loss to the state. The
plant contains three full sets of machin-
cry, now turning out $500 pounds OF
twine daily. No additional appropria-
ton will be needed for this purpose.
| Seventy prisoners are engaged i'll the
! twine factory. These, with the neces-
| Sary help for domestic purposes, leave
from 80 to $50 men unemployed and
! available to lease on contract. These
| have been leased, together with the
shops and machinery OH the grounds, to
| the Thresher company for two years
| from Oct. l, 1891, at rates more favor
able than any previous contract
Finding the labor in other directions
to be more profitable to the state the tub
and pail factory is not in operation.
"By extending the limit of time for
| which this LABOR can be contracted to
| eight or ten years, more favorable terms
for the state can possibly be made. The
inmates are employed in useful indus
tries and are as happy as persons can be
under restraint"
The inspectors recommend that the
legislature make an appropriation of
$1,000 per year for five years for perma-
nent improvements.
Warden WOfer, in his report, pays a
high tribute to his predecessor, Albert
Garvin, and gives him credit for the
highly satisfactory condition of the
prison when he took charge. He COM
mends the parole system, and discusses
the educational efforts which have been
made. lie favorS the state account
| system.
The most fashionable Hat for men is
the Fedora" or alpine" Soft Hat.
THE BosToN, on Third street.