The record-union., 1893-01-25
THAT CORDAGE FACTORY.
VIGOROUS OPPOSITION To THE PRO
PROSED FOLSOM PLANT.
The Tubbs Company of San Francisco
Fears Ruin-Labor OPP
posed, Too.

There was lively meeting of the SEN
ate Committee on State Prisons yesterday
morning.
The bill that occupied the attention of
the committee was the one that provides
for an appropriation of 100000 to estab-
lablish a cordage factory at Folsom to be
operated by the convicts on the same
plan as the jute mill at San Quentin is
conducted.
The bill is meeting with vigorous OPP
position from the laboring world and
also from the Tubbs Cordage Company
of San Francisco. w. w. Foote, the re-
cent aspirant for Senatorial honors, was
before the committee as the attorney for
the latter company.
Warden Aull, of the Folsom Prison.
was the first witness examined by the
committee. He explained in detail the
contract between the State and the Fol-
som Water Power Company. The con-
victs, he said, We're at present engaged in
constructing new cell building and
We're making other improvements about
the place. The State in 1888 had entered
into contract with the power company
to erect the power-house, and, after it was
completed, to divert the waters back into
the American River again. Work on the
canal was now in progress. In his iudg-
ment, there was enough work mapped
out TO keep the convicts busy for over a
year, and he thought it more than prob
able until the next meeting of the Legis-
lature, two years from now. In view of
this fact, he thought it ill-advised to erect
any more buildings at Folsom at the pres
ent time.
\. y. Peach, foreman for the Tubbs
Company, testified that cordage factory
at Folsom would deprive him and his
fellow-workmen of employment, as il
would drive the Tubbs Company out of
the business.
A petition signed by 112 ropemakers
employed by the Tubbs Company was
also presented to the committee, asking
that the bill be rejected.
&. W. Kellogg, Secretary of the Tubbs
Company, said that that corporation was
not trust. 1t was an independent COM
pany and had nothing to do with any
pool or combine.
Mr.. Kellogg said in the territory COM
prising California, Oregon and Washing
ton, and extending to Utah, the annual
consumption was 10000, 900 pounds. The
business of the Tubbs Company had been
crippled by the establishment OF a cord
age factory in Oregon, which supplied
oregon and Washington with cordage,
but that the principal competition came
from the East. For the past five years
the annual output had averaged a little
over 100000 pounds. In 1892 it reached
the highest point, being 600, 900 pounds.
The company did not by any means sup
ply the whole demand in California. 1t
made no tar cordage. The full capacity
OF the company's plant was 1900, 600
pounds annually.
The Secretary was positive that the
Tubbs Company would have to 90 out of
business should cordage factory be es-
tablished at Folsom.
Several ropemakers in the employ of
the San Francisco factory were examined
as to the effect Of prison factory upon
free labor.
Mr.. toote asked that at the next meet
ing OF the committee he be allowed to ex-
anime the members of the State Board of
Prison Directors. He understood that
several Of them who were at first in favor
OF the state erecting cordage factory at
Folsom, after more thorough inyestiga-
ton of the scheme, had come to the con-
clusion that it was impracticable. The
committee then adjourned to meet at the
call of the Chair