Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-02-03

the state of an unnecessary burden, by
providing the inmates of the peniten-
tiary with employment so remunerative
as to make the institution self-support-
ing. and
Enthusiastically to the foregoing,
to protect the consumers of the product
of the "twine plant" in the state, from
trusts and exorbitant profits to dealers,
by selling to them such product at fair
and reasonably rates.
he,"Twine Plant" was established
under the provisions of the law referred
to and was originally fitted with machin-
cry for manufacturing Irvine from
flax and was so operated for about three
(3) years; this proved a failure for the
reason that there was no demand for
that kind of Irvine, at prices such that
it could be manufactured and disposed
of without a loss; this led to a complete
change of base and in 1894 the machin-
cry which was put in in 1891 was torn
out and discarded and replaced by the
then latest and most improved machin-
cry for manufacturing hard fiber and
since that time the product of the plant
has been entirely of the hard fiber vari-
cites, viz; MANILA, sisal and standard
or mixed; the Irvine now manufactured
is fully up to the grade of the best man:
utactories in the country. samples of
same can be seen by calling on Repre-
sentative Sargent, chairman of this com
mittee.)
The capacity of the plant as originally
constructed was 10000 lbs. per day, but
it has since been doubled; it runs every
day in the year eXcept.Sundays and hol-
idays; the management of the institu-
ton are now arranging to further in
crease the capacity Of the plant so that
its product will be 10000 lbs. per day,
or more than 100000 lbs. per year,
which is more than one-half of the
mount OF Irvine used in the state of
Minnesota in an average crop year: the
system of disposing Of the Irvine pro-
duced has been as follows: at the May
meeting of the boardof managers of the
penitcntiary a priced is fixed for the
season, which is based on the cost of the
Irvine and no change is made in this
price during the season; orders for Irvine
are booked as early as the month of Jan
uary; farmers or farmers clubs can or
der in carload lots and get the benefit
OF a slightly reduced price generally
about x cent per lb.) and notes, due
November l, which are approved by the
management, are accepted in payment
of the Irvine; small orders must be paid
for on delivery: since the machinery for
manufacturing hard fibre Irvine was put
i'll very little trouble has been expert
enccd in %disposing Of the product of the
plant.
In 1898 the price of the Irvine was fix
ed May II, and carload orders were not
accepted after May IA, and all orders
were refused after June IS, by reason of
the fact that all the product of the plant
which was on hand and which would be
produced up to July 20, was sold: prior
to the season of 1898 only about 5 per
cent OF the product of the plant was
sold direct to farmers; in the season OF
1879 about 20 per cent of the product
was sold to farmers in lots under a car.
load and about 20 per cent more of the
same was sold to farmers or farmers
clubs in carload lots.
The operation of the "Twinc Plant" at
the Minnesota state pcnitentiary has
been successful from a financial point OF
view and the records of the institution
show the net profits OF the same for the
two ~ years from August, 1896, to Aug.
ust l, 1898, to have been S132,SS9.GS, anc
from the representations and opinions O.
those connected with the management
of the institution it appears to us thai
the operation of the plant is destined tt
be even more successful in the future
than it has in the past.
We found the condition of the inmates
of the Minnesota penitentiary as tt
health and in all other respects to bt
good.
We found that the institution is on {
self-supporting basis, by reason of the
increased revenues from the "Twine
Plant Industry"
We believe that the consumers of Irvine
in the state of Minnesota have beer
greatly benefited by the establishment,
and operation of the "Twine Plant" al
the penitentiary in that state, by the
reduction in the prices of Irvine which
has been caused thereby, and we there
fore concluded that the threefold object
of the law enacted in the state of Min
nesota has been fully attained.
We further conclude, that, benefittine
by the mistakes and guided by the ex
perience of our Minnesota neighbors, We
would be able to achieve even a greater
degree of success in establishing and op
Grating on the estate account" plan {
Irvine plant in our own state.
Basing our opinion on information re