The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-06
THYME MAKING.
The Assault of the Irvine Trust on
the Prison. Made Article.

the Prison-Made Article.
SALTWATER, Mimi, Feb. 4.-The Farm
Implement News of Chicago recently pub
lished an article in which it was claimed
that the prison binding Irvine plant, located
in this city, is being operated at loss to
the state. In the first place. the prison bind
ing Irvine industry was not intended as a
money making investment, and was started
solely for the purpose of protecting the
farmers of Minnesota from gigantic trust
which had for years charged exorbtant
prices for twine With the starting of the
prison factory came a sudden drop in the
price of this commodity, so necessary in
Minnesota, and during it's three years ex-
istence farmers have been enabled to save
thousands of dollars that would have found
their way into the pockets of Eastern Irvine
barons had the price of Irvine remained
high. 1t is not claimed that the establish
ment of the prison factory was alone re-
sponsible for this reduction but it certainly
had something to do with it.
The trust naturally hated the prison fac.
tory, and sent agents around the state to
offer twine at ridiculousy low rates. Their
instructions were to undersell the state in
Stitution, and it was done solely for the
purpose of killing the prison industry AL
though the yearly output small mat
ter compared with the annual amount of
Irvine used by the farmers of Minnesota the
trust wanted manufacture stopped entirely.
State Irvine was sold at a very close fig
ure in the first place, and by reason of a
poor batch of Irvine and other drawbacks
there was a deficit of some $1,000 at the
close of the Irvine season of 1893. Up to that
time nearly all the hemp used had been pur-
chased in Kentucky; but Warden Wolfer
found other hemp equally good and pur-
chased it at lower figure. The raw material
cost less last season than ever before, and
the result that when the last report
was made the factory had almost cleared
up the deficit, leaving only a deficit of 1881.
Raw material cost 1892 per hundred deliv-
cred in Saltwater, and, according to all re-
ports, the Irvine placed upon the market
was of an excellent quality.
Last season considerable Irvine was sold
on time, but a very large percentage of
the farmers paper has been paid. When
asked how much of this paper remained
was only small amount and that he be-
Heved that nearly every dollar of it could
be collected The correspondent of the
Farm Implement News states that the
amount is fully 10 per cent, but Warden
Wolfer states that it is far below that
figure.
The following is from a report of the
board of managers, showing exactly how
much Irvine has been manufactured since
the factory started:
This small amount of $S51.S is the total
loss from the commencement of the twine
manufacture to Aug l. 1894, without any
charge for convict labor, which properly
belongs to the whole state. We feel we
may congratulate the people of the state
on this small loss, when we consider that
the prices of manufactured Irvine have
fallen 33 1-3 per cent since the factory
was first started Should it be the policy
of the state to continue or enlarge the
Irvine factory in order to meet the de-
mand and successfully compete with other
factories, more machinery Of other kinds
will be required and an additional appro-
priation of funds, in amount commen-
surate with the purpose of the state, de-
termned only when the latter is ascer-
tanned. In this connection, whilst not OPP
posed to this or any other industry the
state may deem best to introduce into this
Institution, the board of managers are
constrained to say, after much thought
and serious reflection, that the Irvine in
dustry is not an ideal employment for
| these inmates. chiefly because it does not
prepare the convict with a trade fitting
him for future usefulness discharge.
We deem the welfare of the convict to be
paramount"