Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-02-15
PRICE FIVE CENTS

this proposition, they must do something
to sustain themselves, thereby depriving
others OF work to that extent, or be them
selves injured by their own idIeness, and
the state by their cost of keeping.
He had the clerk read an article from the
Minneapolis journal, showing the difficult
ties encountered in New York, the dangers
to prisoners both morally and physically
from idleness. He said he was informed
that there were not to exceed 200 coal
coal miners in the state who could be in
Jured by the adoption OF this proposition,
while there are 100000 to be benefited by
cheap fuel. He said that coal could be
furnished under this proposition at Fargo
vat w 5O per ton if the railroads would
grant proper rates. He presented fairly
owners, labor unions, ETC., and had the
clerks read letter from j. NJ. Hannaford,
who expressed the opinion that the scheme
would close all other mines and be of no
benefit to the state, dec clining to make lower
freight rates, but saying that they would
make reduced rate for prisoners to and
from the mines. He said he was informed
that the public institutions use 100000 tons
OF coal annually, and he was informed
that Lisbon would build a 400 barrel flour
mill it they could get this C ,al at 80 per
ton. He did not propose permanent plan,
but an experiment, which W uld cost moth
ing TO try. TWO years hence the legiSla-
ture can provide II opening coal mine
on lands owned by the state if the plan is
succ ssful.
Mr.. SPANGBERG believed the expert
ment would cost the state $4,000 to pro-
vide for The extra coal ana guards, as it
would take one guard for each two con-
victs aud Extra precautions besides coming
i'll competition with free labor.
Mr.. LlNDSTROM believed that men
should work to earn their living even If in
the penitentiary, and that those who will
not work to earn their own living ought to
be sent to the penitentiary.
Mr.. SMITH called attention to the fact
that estimating the work of the cOnvictS at
5O cents per day as proposed in the bill the
saving t" the state would not exceed SIS
oOO on the present population and the ex-
ira cost would he more than that. He
called attention to the statement there
were but 200 coal miners in the state,
coupled with the further statement that
ooO 0OO tons are used by the public institu-
t.. tlnns-ab 'ut eleven tons day.
miner, to supply :his demand alone.
He said there are 200 miners in and ABOUT
Mlnot, as he Knows from personal observa-
tinn, not to speak of Dickinson, Sims and
other points. and believed there is more
than 400 or 500. He referred to the farmers
OF Dnrlelgn county who haul coal to the
capital. He spoke of the extra cost of
guards; of the twenty Cents royalty: knew
OF no good reasun why the state should ask
the Northern Pacific to give the state
cheaper rates tl!an individuals.
Mr.. HOLRl ~ suggested that it was not
RI ht t" d. slr"y an industry which private
cl'lz"ns and taxpayers have worked up.
pIoy ment. He "bjertrd to killing this in
dustry by an experiment, to be abandoned
two y.ars hence, only to be renewed, per
hapS, four years hence when private mines
are again opened. sides, the mining
season only eX ends from October till
February. He would have the prisoners
do work that would engage them the
whole year.
Mr.. GILL sustained the bill, on the
ground that the convicts should be en-
pI0led. (Mr Smith, intprrupting, sug-
gtste'i public printing!. lie had no objec-
ton to pubic printing, or farming even,
rather than have them kept in idleness.
IL rtproached the opponents of the meas
ure for not ugge>tng some other plan if
this is objectionable.
Mr.. HOLRl ~ suggested bindi ng twine.
or wuOtn factories.
MIR. SpANGBERG. a tannery.
Mr. HANNA favored the bill; his con-
Stitutnta iavOr it.
MIR. ARMSTRONG said the coal is now
loaded OH The cars at 81 to 81 Is per ton.
When the cost OF blasting powder and
guard, aud other expenses are taken into
cnnsld" ration in addition to the proposed
~ cents royalty he belleved the cosl would
hot be lt>Sened. 1t it be true as Mr., Ed
wards has stated that the state institutions
u>r sOOOOO tons annually the number OF
min IS 'mpI"yed in the state is nearer
2,70O Than 2OO.
Mr.. EDWARDS said others claimed the
an"unt 10 be 100000 tons. If Missouri
slope farming consists in taking coal from
stale land, and selling it to the state at
81 30 per ton. he thought it time it should
be run' d. He would vote 10 have the state
printing dome by convlcts it that would
give tIIem employment and save their cost
Ot krtplhg. Binding tWIne would require
S3OO.OOO capital to carry the stock and $780,
QUO Tor the plant
The M"ornead tannery employs but ten
men. A tanning interest might be built
up which would employ fifty or sixty men.
Mr.. HOLRl IL suggested Russian cactus
ana that seemed to strike popular chord,
Tor MS motion to recOmmed that the bill be
Indefinitely postponed prevailed-lS to II.
CAPITOL NOTES.
The house meets today at 10 a. m., to con-
sldtr the penal code.
The university board met yesterday, but
transacted only routine business.
w. f. Gushing was sworn in Yesterday as
all enrolling clerk and assigned to the com
mittee investigating printing and other ex-
peudlturtS Of the last Administrations
The railroad committee Of the house met
at the office of the railroad commissioners
yesterday for consultation. The members
defended the commission against what
they regard as an attack upon them in the
arguments of General Hughes The com
nittee met again last evening at 1870 for a
further hearing.
Bulletin No. l5 of the Agricultural de-
partinent contains map Of the cactus dis
Irlct which, SO far as those know who
have examined it, is absolutely correct even
AS To townships. 1t shows every place
where 1t has been found growing, includ
ing the isolated spots where a single plant
has been found Senator Valentine has
copy Of the map.