The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14
PRISON JUTE PURCHASES,
UnfavOrable Criticisms Con-
Sidered by the Board of
Directors.
AT VARIANCE WITH REASON"
Facts and Figures From the Buying
and Manufacturing De-
partment.

The recent criticisms of the Board OF
State Prison Directors regarding the pur-
chase OF jute and the sale of bags came up
for informal discussion at the regular
monthly meeting of the board at San
Quentin yesterday. Chairman DePue
and Directors Hayes, Deylin and Neff were
present, and IN their opinion the criticisms
made were SO misleading and SO full of
mlsstatements as to require some notice.
In order to present an intelligent state
ment OF the case it was judged necessary
to consider the matter from the beginning
OF 1894, since which time the board has re-
ceived bids at its meetings instead of acting
through committee. Warden Hale was
therefore requested to furnish figures con-
corning the iute industry at the prison.
The requirements of the mill at San
Quentin are about 5000 bales year. The
jute harvest occurs in August, and as sail
ing vessels seldom leave Calcutta for this
port between the months of February and
November, purchases are usually made
soon after the crop is harvested for ship
ment during the months of November,
December and January. They arrive here
about four months later.
The Warden figures showed that pur-
chases of the crop of 1893 had been made
by the institution as follows:
September 49, 1898. 500 bales at So Is, NewAall
December o. 1898, 1000 bales at So 5o PARROT
December 49, 1898, 500 bales at So so, Lecten-
January "a, 1894, 1000 bales at SO e21a PARROT
& Co.
1t had been charged that the last pur-
chase was unnecessary, that the price was
very high, and that the board should have
waited for the crop of 1894, to secure
lower rate.
These charges were denounced by the
board as false. Up to the time OF the last
purchase the board had held off and
bought only small quantities, because its
members considered the prices then too
high In January, however, 1t became
necessary to buy at once in order to secure
freight by sailing vessel, and also because
without that material the mill would have
had to lie idle for six months. The lute
crop of 1894 was large, and the price,
affected by the condition of the silver
market, was much lower. 1t was not
available, however, for use in that year
since shipments cannot reach here during
the year in which the crop is produced.
The statement, therefore, that the board
should have waited for the new crop in
1894 was entirely at variance with reason
or sense.
Concerning the fixing of the price of
bags it was stated that early in the season,
when the cost of manufacture was reported
at 81 Sc hundred and the selling price
was fixed at So, it was estimated by those
in the best position to judge that on this
coast the demand would exceed the supply
of bags by at least 5000, 600. The board
did not, therefore, feel justified in fixing
the prices below cost, although that would
probably have sold the bags. The men,
bers preferred to hold their stock SO as to
be in a position to prevent any corner
ing" OF the supply by dealers, who could
thus force the farmers to pay exorbltant
prices for their bags. 1t happened, how
ever, that the crop prospects In the San
JOAQUIN Valley were injured by rust and
those in the Sacramento Valley by wind to
an extent now estimated at 40 per cent.
AS a result the price of Calcutta bags has
fallen from 81 70 to 81 SO. The directors are
puzzled to see how, when with the strict
est economy bags are costing 81 So TO
manufacture, the State can continue
to make them and try to compete
with Calcutta, although a great saving to
farmers has resulted through the proven
ton of combinations among dealers.
Charges had also been made that the
directors had exhausted the revolving
fund, as tne luIeHlii PoIttoh VI ehe
prison finances is termed. In refutation
of these the following statement OF the
condition of the fund was made:
,Jute on hand ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S53,OsS OF
BAGS and burlap Observation-Disclosures. l22,957 %
Cash in bank .......................... 1886 80
Total Sal 56
$50 far as the criticisms have been a per-
sonal attack on me-" said Director DePue
Yesterday, II care little for them and
should say nothing in reply, but when they