The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-11

the per diem earnings of prisoners
amounting to so cents per day as above
stated
One of the principal items of expense
in any manufacturing industry is that
OF fuel. At Saltwater the fuel is slabs
or refuse from the saw mill This is fur
cords probably equal one ton of coal
This item therefore at the Kansas peni-
tertiary may be reduced to a min
imum because of the use of slack. which
is produced in large quantities at the
mine and little used except at the pen
itentiary.
We find that the product of this plant
for the year 1898 was 5000 900 pounds,
and that with the additional machinery
purchased the capacity is now 5000, 600
pounds. There is now pending before
the legislature an appropriation bill
providing for increased machinery, so
that when completed the capacity will
be increased to 5000, 600 pounds.
The consumption for the state of Min
nesota for 1898 was 1900. 900 pounds.
In the opera ton of said plant there was
provided by the legislature a fund of
$3.50 900. called a revolving fund, which
was used exclusively for the purchasing
of raw material and for carrying the
manufa ctured product until sold. By
the judicious use of this fund it has in
creased from the original sum of $3.50, 900
to over $500, 600, exclusive of $50, 900 ex-
pended for additional machinery.
In our conference with the warden he
said: When we first commenced man
ufacturing Irvine we attempted to dis
pose of it direct to the consumer. We
soon discovered, however, that if the
Irvine plant was to be kept upon bust
ness basis and its growth assured, it
was necessary to adopt some other
method We have since disposed large
part of each years product through the
local dealers to the farmers. This has
given excellent satisfaction every year
up to the past season Not a single
complaint was made prior to the year
F-4a Lot
season by reason Of the sudden rise in
the price of fibre and Irvine occasioned
by the war in the Philippine islands,
In consequence of the sudden rise in
price every farmer in the state of Min
nesota concluded that he would send
to the prison and procure his Irvine; and
in a single day 1 200 orders for Irvine
accompanied by the cash were received
at the prison, aggregating 500, 900
pounds, which at the time the prison
authorities were unable to fill The dis
tributiOn of the product to local dealers
for sale to the farmers is in my opinion
the business-like way of making distri-
buttons of the Irvine, for three reasons:
First, because under proper arrange
ment with the local dealer the farmer
can obtain his Irvine at a. more reason
able price than if he went to the prison
and bought it in small quantities; sec
ond, there is a saving of freight; third,
in the added difference in his favor of
not being obliged to pay cash and being
able to secure credit from his local
dealer until after harvest. In making
distribution of the product the prison
authorities have sold upon credit and
have given time until the first day Of
November without interest on approved
paper to local dealers or in carload
lots to the farmers"
Your committee desires to direct the
attention of the legislature to the fact
that much better discipline can be en-
forced among prisoners working in a
factory of this kind than in coal mine.
Your committee is advised that in
the work of mining coal, as it is at
present carried on at the penitentiary
it is impossible to prevent communica-
ton between the men so employed A
serious responsibility always attaches
to any plan Of prison mana cement
which affords opportunity for communi-
cation between prisoners. The adage
that EVIL communications corrupt
good manners finds ample exempIifi-
cation IN the depressing influence which
an association with habitua1 and in
CORR ible criminals has upon those who
are criminals by impulse or accident
and whose natural aspirations tend to
reformation If the reformation of the
prisoner be the objective aim and end
of prison discipline, rather than his
punishment and his early return to the
duties and obligations of honest indus
try, a humane and economical result to
be desired, the atmosphere of his prison
life must yield the wholesome encour-
agement and protection which are es-
sential to the moral uplift, without
which he will fail.
For these reasons in choice of indus
tries for prison life, the preference
should lie with those which conserve in
largest measure the moral and physical
welfare of the prisoner.
The experience at the penitentiary at
Saltwater has shown that the work Of
manufacturing binding Irvine is liked,
clean and pleasant work and in no way
dangerous to health. That it admits Of
a high order of discipline.T it makes
the management of prisoners occupied
in the industry easy of control, the at
tention of prisoners being wholly occu-
pied with the operation of the ma
chimes, in order to keep them in proper
running order, their minds not easily
distracted from their work to the detri-
ment of discipline and good order, so
necessary to obtain good results in the
reformation of criminals.
Your committee, after having made
careful examination of the plant at
Saltwater, Mimi, deemed it advisa BILE
to visit the Kansas penitentiary for the
purpose of ascertaining whether, in the
event your committee should deem it
advisable to recommend the location of
such an industry at the Kansas state
penitentiary there would be sufficient
room to accommodate it, Your commit
tee, accordingly, with the warden and
his assistants, made such examination,
and from it we find that there is abund-
ant room for the installation of such a
plant, with every facility for ware
housing, both raw material, and the
manufactured product, economically,
but your committee finds that at pres
ent there is insufficient power to operate
the now existing business of the peni-
tertiary, and the proposed addition.
Your committee, therefore, recon-
Tnends that inasmuch the present
power is old and very much worn, and
likely, as the engineer advises US, to
give out at any moment, that provision
be made for the purchase of a new 300
horse power to accommodate the same.
We further found, upon inquiry and
Investigation that there is competent
and abundant prison labor for the sue
cessful operation of a binding Irvine
plant, such as we have herein recon-
mended.