The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-06

should A
iour-candie-power electric light in each CELL"
We believe that an additional electric light
pant iarse enough to supply all the possible
needs Oh the penitantisry for years can be nut
IN operation for s7,53o There 10 an abundance
Oh steam power Available to drive the dynamos
All the water used at the penitentiary, for all
purposes' IS bought OF the company which sup
piiss the city OF Wallis Walla Tho present cost
Is sio per month. In the summer time the
supply Is deficient Only by the practice of
nsio economy In the use of water can the actual
needs OF the prison be obtained during the hot
months II the present rate of increase in prison
POPULATION Continues, ana 1t equals If il does
40. exceed the increase Of the population of tho
stare, II viii not he many years before water
wiz De more precious than any other article OF
oehy use at tina penitentiary. We are not ad-
siseo OF the intentions of the water company,
Dur We have reason to believe that at the ex-
piratiou OF the present contract 1t will exact .
greater rental than Is now paid. To con-
struct system of water works, to be supplied
py any OF the many living streams in Wa!la
"alla valley, would require an expenditure of
very many thousands of dollars In the purchase
OF rghts-oi-way. riparian rights, the construc-
tion oil dams, the building of reservoirs and the
purchasing and laying of pipe. In the iudg-
ment OF the board an ample supply of water can
De obtained by boring an artesian well. If flow
ing water cannot be obtained, body of water
stitufion BY pumping can De easily obtained by
boring two or three hundred feet The neccs.
sary machinery for boring TO a depth of 1000
Feet can be put in place on the peni:entiary
grounds for $500
There is an abundance of steam power and IN
limited manual labor available for operating
the boring apparatus, while the skilled
engineers, who are indispensable for
the operation of the jute mill
and other machinery, can very readily devote
enough OF their time to the well machinery TO
Insure Its proper working.
The appropriations by territorial and state
legislatures to establish the manufacture of
grain bags and other fabrics of raw jute were
expended in the erection of q one-story brick
building. e6x204 feet, with cement foor, fre-
proof roof and grated windows, and the pur-
chase and placing therein of ffty-loom plant
OF the latest and most improved machinery for
working raw jute, which is propelled by pair
OF engines OF 80 horse power. run by steam
from two upright boilers, of great steam gener.
atng capacity.
The average number OF convicts employed
daily In the various divisions of the iute mill
since 1t began operations has been 200,
the output of the mill being an average of 5000
bags per working day.
In the prison population are experts in all
trades. In order that these conyicts 'may be
employed in the performance of
work for the state, or the manufacture of any
article or articles for the state, or the manu-
facture OF which is sanctioned by law" as
greeted by section Is, act approved March Z,
1891, we purchased various kinds of carpenters.
blacksmiths', sipsmiths', mason, machinists'
and other kinds of tools for skilled artisans.
By these purchases and the employment
of the skilled artisans among the con.
victs we have been able to erect
buildings and stockades, and to repair
old ones. besides being enabled to repair
ali the machinery and tools used at the peniten-
tiary, and to make new tools and machinery,
with small cost for free labor& The convicts
have also been employed In making brick, grad
ing roadways, building walks, improving tho
grounds. making clothing, shoes, soap, ETC.,
farming and other hard labor.
During the past year the brickyard has
turned out 2,555,756 common and ll0.S2S re-
press brick. In performing this labor aver
age Of ninety-eight convcts were employed
daily
Most of the briekyard machinery was second.
hand when bought by our predecessors, and
nearly all OF it is worn out by constant hard
usage. In our opinion quality of pressed
brick equal to the average pressed brick
brought from the Eastern states can
be made at the penitentiaIy if the
can be laid down at the brickyard for 5000 We
believe that the demand for pressed brick is
great enough TO warrant the investment. New
machinery for the making OF ordinary trick is
an absolute necessity. This viii cost 500
While iute makes good grain and other sacks,
1t does not make good binding Irvine or Irvine
for sewing sacks
With the machinery in the jute mill binding
and other twines can be made. But under the
provisions OF the revolving fund law the direct
ors are not at liberty to purchase fax or other
material for the manufacture of Irvine. By that
law they are restricted to the purchase of 'jute.
IL TT
used in the manufacture of jute fabrics and
brick"
We believe the state would be benefited by
amending the revolving fund law so as to allow
the purchase of material for and the manufac-
ture of binding and other twines used by the
farmers.
The constitution provides that an appropria-
ton shall lapse in two years from the first Of
May after II is made
The revolving fund appropriation, xp-
proved March 7, 1891, will lapse May /,
1s93 This constitutional provision and
the uncertainties OF legislation caused
tue board to decline to take advantage of
the present low prices OF iute and purchase
large supply, which could not bs delivered until
alter the pit of May, 1893.
Alter many annoying delays, consequent upon
the importation OF a large amount OF intricate
machinery from Great Britain, we were finally
enabled to start up the lute mill in April and
u GIN teaching tlG COnFlcls now 10 operate the
fifty looms, ETC.. used in the manu- iacture OF
lutte fabrics, a labor that consumed several
weeks and destroyed considerable raw material.
The first few Thousand grain bags turned out
were hand sewn. This was speedily found
slow mode OF turning them out, aud We pur-
chased the most improved ana latest patent
power sewing and hemming machines. By this
addition we have been able To turn out about
400 complete bags each working day.
The jute mill aud its necessary attachments
gives hard labor TO al average OF 2i5 convicts
per day, aud requires the undivided time of two
expert citi1sns.
When we placed grain bags on the market in
July, 1892. the selling price in Walla Walls was
81. cents q bag We offered bags of better quail
ity than the best Calcutta al = cents each. The
dcalers dropped 10 cents AMI gave purchasers
credit. In order 10 make sa. les Tor cash, as re-
ouired by Jaw. we were compelled TO drop 10 8
cents, at which price the market remained firm
to the close OF the season. Had the dealers
dropped their price below ga cents we would
have teen unable to sell bag, because the re-
volving fund act requires US % add to the cost
OF raw material, ski led labor, etc, interest on
the lnyes lment st per cent" This interest
charge was, after consultation with the
stste auditor, figured on the total appropriation
of $4,000 for the iute MILL equaling
about cent per bag That is to say, the
monthly interest chaEse 10 be added is $3.50 AS
ii is very ifiicult TO make al average OF much
more than 75,o00 bags per month, because of TN
ayoidabie delays short days, holidays etc. il is
very evident that tie interest charge is, III
round numbers, cent bag.