The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-05-04

by number Of important considera-
tons. Among the first, was the deter
mination to supply the farmers of Min
nesOta with the best possible article of
Irvine at tho lowest practicable cost.
Second, to protect the interests of the
state, by guarding against possible loss
on account of the establishment of the
Irvine industry in the prison. Third,
the prices of raw material in former
years as compared with the outlook for
the future. After full deliberation.
viewing all things from a business
standpoint, the prices for the present
year were fixed on the following cash
basis, purchaser to pay freight:
In car load lots 10000 to 80 ooo) cts. per pound.
In less than car load lots. g cts. "
It is found from actual figures that
the cost of production, including raw
material, labor, repairs, etc., is some
what in excess of the minimum price
| fixed as above, while the quotations for
raw material for the present seasons
manufacture are gradually on the in
crease. Last year raw hemp was pur-
chased at an average cost of $40 per
ton, while this year the quotations are
from $115 to as high as $118. The
management, however, expects to pro-
cure the hemp at even less than $115
per ton. 1t is believed that the prices
fixed will produce return of about
SIC. per pound on an average of the
years business. This average would
insure the state against loss, but it
must be understood that in fixing the
prices as they are, no account has been
taken of possible losses from fire, or
other disasters. Nor, in figuring the
cost of production, has interest or in
vestment, clerk hire, drayage, on many
other incidentals, been included. Loss
from bad debts, are, of course, not con-
Sidered, because sales are made only
for cash. The management has made
prices that it believes equitable and
Just for all concerned, and thereby the
farmers of the state are enabled to pur-
chase binder Irvine at less cost to them
selves than from any other source.
3. NO LONGER AN EXPERIMENT.
The manufacture of Binder Irvine
in the Minnesota State Prison has
passed beyond it's experimental stage
1t is clearly demonstrated that Irvine is,
and can be, manufactured and sold to
the farmers at prices that enable them
to make large savings in the cost of
this indispensable article. Whether
this state of things will continue de-
ponds entirely upon the farmers them
selves. If they insist upon purchasing
Irvine from the trust companies, who
import from other lands every pound Of
raw material used i'll manufacture, and
sell at an immense profit, then little
reductions in the prices of prison Irvine.
On the other hand, if the farmers man
ifest reasonable degree of unity in
patronizing the industry established at
the prison for their benefit, and the de-
mand shall in time increase to such
proportions as to justify the largest
possible production, then gradual re-
ductiOn in prices yearly may be expect
ed. At all events, the matter is in your
hands, gentlemen, farmers of Mime
sofa. The binder Irvine plant in the
state prison is your founding. You
may nurse it to full maturity, if you
will, or you can permit it to lapse into
a decline for want of nourishment.
6. A HOME INDUSTRY.
It is well known that this Irvine is
manufactured from American hemp;
that is. hemp raised and cured in our
own country. The raw material for all
the MANILA and sisal Irvine is imported
from foreign countries. Naturally,
those engaged in the production of
hard fibre Irvine are jealous of any in
dustry producing from American hemp.
1t will not be surprising, then, if the
firms controlled by the trust make an
effort to break into the soft-fibre bust
ness by reducing their own prices. tenn
porarily in the hope of pressing out
the industry your foresight and good
Judgment have caused to be established
at the state prison. But, without doubt,
it will be found that the farmers of
Minnesota are too thoroughly alive to
their own interests to permit any such
a condition to be brought about. There
are possibilities for Minnesota in the
production of hemp, which should be
fully considered before permitting a
foreign product to interfere against our
state industries. 1t may be stated here
that every pound of Minnesota hemp
offered for sale at the prison has been
purchased and used in the manufacture
of Irvine, not with the best results as
yet, it is true; but this is because of a
lack of perfection in the matter of cur
ing the raw product.
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