The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-01
RANONS FOR THE STATE
SCHEDULE OF FIGURES PAID FOR
ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND
PROVISIONS
PER POUND COST OF COFFEE
Very Little Differences I'm Prices
Paid by Various Institutions
to the Maw of Sugar
Trust.

Secretary Jackson, of the state board of
corrections and charities. has received
from the state analytical clerk a sched-
ule of the figures paid for all items of
clothing and provisions by the eleven
state penal and charitable Institutions,
which was completed yesterday. The
compilation gives the amount of provi-
slons and clothing of every character
bought by the purchasing officers of the
institutions, and is subject to review by
the state board of corrections and chart
ties. The last Legislature made provi-
sion for the gathering of this informa-
ton In tabular form, and the work will
many times repay the cost Of its produc-
ton. Many complaints were made in
the past Of discrepancies between the
prices paid by different institutions for
commodities of common use. Under the
new system these figures are reviewed
by the state board and also by the pur-
chasing officers Of the several state in
stitutions, who meet at the house period
ically and compare notes upon the cost
Of articles of necessity purchased by
them
The three large insane asylums, prac-
tically towns In themselves, require vast
quantities Of all kinds of provisions, and
much depends upon the ability and
judgment of the buyer.
i
the quarter ending JAM 81, 1900. In the
one item of coffee there appears to be
perhaps the highest range between the
maximum and minimum price paid St.
Peter hospital purchased 5,4S1 pounds at
II cents, while the soldiers home paid
18 cents for large quantity. OF course
coffee Is one of the principal items of
rations with old soldiers, and it is not
surprising that superior quality should
no 6od fnr hon fota tn
ing school at Red Wing either has a
plantation Of Its own or a very poor
grade Of coffee is secured If compari-
son OF the figures speak inteligently, as
it pays a little over cents a pound.
The Rochester asylum, however secures
Its coffee for less money than any other
institution, paying, delivered at the insti-
tuition, 612 cents per pound Butter of a
very good quality is served at all the in
stitutions, ranging in price from IA to %
cents per pound
The state prison, for instance, uses two
grades Of butter, creamery and dairy,
taking the bottom and top prices. 1t is
to be supposed that the first grade pris-
! oners get the creamery butter, and
those of the fourth grade, who spend
most of their time in the solitary take
the 14-cent butter. But perhaps all the
officers and prison officials use the best
COW product During three months the
state prison uses 3,101 pounds of butter,
costing S520.03. The ST. Peter hospital,
however, holds the butter record for
during the same period, 1882 pounds,
costing the state $1,S3129 1t will be seen
from a few figures of this kind that the
matter of buying and keeping strict
check on the expenditures of the state in
stitutions is matter of no little impor-
lance to the state.
In three months the insane folks at St.
Peter drank 1929 gallons of milk The
young men at the st. Cloud reforma tory,
while not exhibiting any very violent
symptoms of sobriety in this respect, con-
sumed but /, 1928 gallons5-as they are much
fewer in numbers Milk costs the state
on an average of about 10 cents per gal
lon.
Very little difference is evident in the
price paid by the several institutions for
sugar. The market price of this commod-
ity is set by the trust, and the rate is
determined on the basis of New York
quotation plus freight which makes the
price vary few cents, according to 10
cality. The average price paid for tea is
in the vicinity of rs cents per pound, al
five of the institutions drink no tea
whatever. Coal is another very large
and important item, but there is no
chance for the purchasing agents to get
ahead of the market, as contracts are let
every year by the state fuel commission
after advertising for bids.