Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-14
The STATE CONNECTS
Board of Control May Introduce
Binding Irvine Machinery.
4. ". BUCHANAN TALKS on SUBJECT
A Minnesota Concern Is Operating .
Plant Under Improved Patents
That May Drive Industry
Out of the Business.

Auat Way Drive Industry
Out of the Business.
The hoard Of control Of state institu.
tons in this state is interested in all
things that tend to the betterment Of
the condition of the inmates of those
places, but now and then they make
a suggestion the wisdom OF which can
not at all times be seen. One of them
was the idea that county care of in
sane at hospitals erected for that pur-
pose was not for the good of the pa
tient, but emanated from a selfish de-
sire to reduce the expense. That may
be the case in some counties in this
state, but does not apply at all to
Wapello county. Now it is said. the
board will recommend that machinery
be installed in the penitentiary at Anal
mosa for the manufacture OF binding
Irvine. Without investigating the mat
ter it would seem to be good thing,
giving, as it would, employment to the !
convicts and injuring no industry in
the state. The demand for binding
Irvine is far above the production,
which, of course, makes it high in
price, and it is said the board did not
intend it as money making scheme,
to give them credit for good intentions,
but solely to give the convicts employ
ment, making staple article that
would not interfere with the sale of
any article manufactured within the
state. 1.-The Minnesota penitentiary, To-
Gated at Saltwater, is provided with
machinery for the manufacture OF
binding Irvine and their product finds
ready sale, but the authorities find
they have perhaps made a
mistake because OF recent
invention that has been put into
practical operation for the manufac.
ture OF that article from slough grass,
which is abundant in the swamps. All
manufactures use sisal grass, which is.
imported from Manila, no other mater
ial until the recent invention, having
been found that would answer the
purpose.
Hon. A. W. Buchanan, representative
elect from this district, was seen to-
| day in regard to the matter, and
said:
''While on northern trip I investi-
gated the matter of the proposed intro
lduction of machinery into our peniten-
Irvine.
II visited the Saltwater penitentiary
in Minnesota, where they are equipped
with the latest improved machinery,
which is very expensive. and find that
they manufacture binding Irvine in
large quantities and sell it to the farm
sr at cost, which is 2 cents
per pound less than the dealer sells it.
The warden has the thing in practical
operation, is in fact a practical man,
and for some time yet it will pay lis
way.
While In Minneapolis / heard of
company which manufactured binding
Irvine from slough grass. Having ,lr-
Iderstood hitherto that such goods were
made from sisal grass imported from
Manila. Twas naturally interested and
determined to investigate. According
lly visited the establishment and
found they We're actually making a
good grade of Irvine from slough grass,
which they sold direct to the farmer
at about 2 cents per pound less than
the cost of the article made at Still
water prison. The machinery is pro-
tected from infringement by patents
owned by the company and at the time
was there, they were operating a
plant about the, size OF the Ottulnwa
starch mill, but had another building
about 80 feet square in process OF
erection, with the intention of doubling
their capacity. I was taken over the
plant and the process explained from
| the time the raw material was received
until the finished product was seen.
They were selling Irvine manufactured
from Slough grass for less money than
other factories can put it on the mar
ket because the raw material is right
at the door and the cost is practically
nothing as compared with imported
sisal grass. I have sample OF the
Irvine and it can be seen by any one
and compared with the ordinary ar
ticle.
SIN view of these facts the question
naturally arises, would it be measure
Of economy to eXpend a large sum OF
money equipping our pcnitentiaries
with machinery for this purpose, when
the competition will in time drive all
| like manufactures out of the business.
The new process is now a powerful fac
tor in the Irvine industry and when it
gets older,no mandatory of that char
acter can possibly compete with it,
because the patents protect infringe
ment."