The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-09
HITS THE TRUST.
Kansas Twine to Sell at 10 Cents
Per Pound.
Trust Demands 2 to 3 Cents
More For Product.
QUALITY NO BETTER.
Deputy Warden Thompson Is
Now in Central America.
VIII Buy Raw Material Direct
From the Producers.

Kansas farmers will pay not to ex-
ceed 10 cents per pound for the bind
ing twine output of the Kansas peni-
tentiary. 1t is the hope of the direc-
tors to cut that price to some extent,
but the recent high prices of sisal, or
the raw material, have necessitated an
estimate which may for short time
exceed the expectations of the direc-
tors, but the cost of the twine which
will be sold direct to the consumer will
not exceed 10 cents per pound
Last year Kansas farmers paid from
124 to Is cents per pound for their
twine. The year preceding the price
ranged from to 12 at which time all
of the ports were open for the impor-
tation of the raw material
Last year the ports were closed, and
so remained until recently, on account
of the war in the Philippines. Now the
ports are open and the raw material
will soon reach the United States.
However. the shortage in the supply in
this country has increased the price to
such an extent that the directors of
the Kansas prison have been com
PEELED to look elsewhere for the raw
material, and viii Thompson, deputy
warden, is in Central America now ne
gotiating for q, large supply of sisa1.
Upon information from Thompson,
which is expected now at any time,
will the price of the twine depend.
The prison directors held a meeting
at the Copeland last night with Gov
ernor Stanley to discuss business con
nected with the prison management. 1t
was expected that the price of the twine
would be fixed, but the action was de-
ferred until probably the next meet
ing.
1t is the opinion of the directors that
the penitentiary plant will be able to
turn out sufficient twine to supply the
demand in Kansas this season. The
plant has a capacity of 10000 pounds
per day and has at this time a large
supply on hand. The governor has been
very anxious that the profits of the
middleman be removed from the prod
uct and the sales will be made direct
to the consumer.
The directors, the governor and State
Auditor Cole at a meeting held last
night took the necessary steps for the
payment and cancellation of the bonds
issued to raise money for the purchase
of raw material in accordance with the
provisions of the law passed last
winter
That law carried a levy for the fund
to pay off the bonds which We're orig
inally issued and sold to the state school
fund commissioners, in accordance with
the provisions of the same law.
In the payments of taxes which the
state treasurer has been receiving $52,-
900 has come in to the credit of the
twine plant fund. To stop the interest
on the bonds now outstanding by pay
ing them off is the purpose of the meet
ing of the directors and the two state
officers. The preliminary arrange
ments have been completed and the
bonds will soon be Cancelled.
/ With the money saved on the inter
! est and the sum saved by the purchase
1 of the raw material in Central Amer
/ lea, direct from the producers, the di-
rectors of the prison are confident they
| will be able to put a large supply OF
| twine on the market at a cost to the
/ producer far below the trust price as
it has been maintained for several
! years.
| The directors adjourned today, COM
pleting the regular monthly meeting oi
| the board.