The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-11
TALK WITH ALONZO.
Twine Making in the Penitentiary A
Profitable Investment for Farmers
Raise Hemp, Flax and Rance.

halSe hemp, flax ana Nance.
At the last session OF the legislature
an appropriation of $1,000 was made for
the establishment of twine factory in
the penitentiary at Sioux Falls. As
this was q bill fathered and pushed
through the legislature by Alonzo War
dali, and az the appropriation seemed to
us too small TO accomplish anything di-
rectly, We questioned the champion pop
ulist while in the city yesterday in re-
gard to his object in the move. He re-
sponded very readily that the sum was
quite small, but it was very satisfactory
for beginning and as good as could be
expected for populist measure at the
hands OF republican legislature. Alon-
20 is an enthusiast on the twine question
and sees as great relief for farmers from
that source, nearly, as from his great pro-
jected railroad from Canada to the Gulf,
the passage OF bill to permit the build
ing OF which he also secured from the
legislature. With the $1,000 as starter,
to meet all current expenses and show
the earnest OF the state in the project,
he expects that machine OF limited ca
pacity will be put in by ]. G. Todd d
Co., of New York, to demonstrate the
feasibility of twine-making in the PEN
itentiary, and this once proven the state
will not hesitate to make make good the
outlay for the original machine but will
add others OF greater capacity. He cites
with pride the success OF the experiment
in the Saltwater penitentiary, of Mime
sofa, which be had no small part in help
ing establish. This year, it has an
.nounced, it will furnish 100000 pounds
of twine at 8 cents per pound, the cheap
est ever furnished farmers in the United
States. This is nearly 40 per cent. less
than formerly and will save the farmers
of the northwest hundreds OF thousands
OF dollars. He sees no reason why South
Dakota should not take up the enter
prise for the benefit Of its agricultural
population. To the farmers OF South
Dakota there are two sources OF profit
In this industry; first, the great reduc-
tion in the price OF twine, and, secondly,
the furnishing OF market for a very
profitable agricultural product. Hemp,
rance and fax OF the proper quality can
be raised for this purpose at profit far
exceeding the profits OF flax rails
ing at the present time. though even
this il more profitable than wheat Mr.,
Wardall outlined his plan OF operations
with the state appropriation, as above
outlined, to Gov. Sheldon on his way to
Madison the other day, and the governor
expressed his hearty approval OF the
plan and was much interested in the
subject. He hopes to see the project
made a success in South Dakota. In
this connection he suggests that farmers
of Lake county secure small supplies oi
the seed OF these plants from the agricul
tural department at Washington, oil
from Kentucky, or anywhere else where
the seed OF the proper kinds for making
twine are to be procured, and SOW, say
an eighth of an acre as an experiment to
see how we'll this soil and climate raises
such crops, and then they will be pre-.
pared to take hold OF it as money.
making enterprise as soon as the manu-,
factories are established to use them
AS an encouragement to this end we al.
80 heard MIR. Wardall suggest to Mayor
Patterson, who is member Of the agri.
cultural board, that premiums be OF.
fered at the state fair for the best sam.
pies of these crops raised in this state
and we think the suggestion good one
1t is time Dakota farmers were indul.
ging> in more diversified farming and
there is no line OF crop-raislng that will
be more profitable than these because
OF the twofold sources Of profit which
| thew omen up to the farmer,