The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-04-14
NORTH DAKOTA rw1xE PLANT.
State Project ut Bismarck La Put
Into S%ucceHnful OpefatiOn.

State Project mt Bismarck La Put
Into Succesxful Operation.
In a little owe Il year from the time
Of the approval of the bill for the erect
ton and operation of a Irvine plant at
the state penitentiary, the twine plant
buildings have been completed, the ma
rhinery installed and the wheels set in
motion. Several visitors. including
solnc of the trustees of the state penn.
tertiary. were present and saw the pre-
liminary operations in the making of
Irvine. The operation was not carried
TO conclusion and the making Of a fin
ished product. for the reason that the
machines are neW. and they nus be
broken In gradually before all will he
lin working order. But the portion or
lie work CT manufacture that was gone
Through with convinced the spectators
that the plant was Il first-class One and
that when all the machines are finally
set in operation. the work of Irvine.
making will be a success.
The Irvine plant buildings were erect
ad Unde the supervision Of Architect
Van Horn. and after plans prepared by
him from suggestions and decisions OF
Warden Boucher and the board Of
trustees. The buildings are three in
number. all Of brick and substantially
constructed. There is the main factory
building. two stories in height and both
lOors filed with the machinery incl
dent to twire-making. The main floors
ire 4GX1GO feet in Dimensions. In addi-
ton to the factory floor space, there is
a repair shop, fitted with the finest Of
machinery for The repairing of steel
md metal fittings, lathes and other
necessary machinery. There are clos
cts and all other c~Onveniences. rooms
Tor the accommodation of the superin-
tendent. shoe shop and other adjuncts
of the manufacturing portion Of the in
stitution. Then there is the engine
room and power house. This is a sep
arate building. All of the machinery
here is the finest. A 2OO-horse-power
engine of the latest and best pattern
mas been installed by Engineer Robert
son and furnishes power. The boilers
are the Babcock water tube. the best
made. An electric light plant is oper'
ated from q separate engine and dyna-
mo. directly connected. This furnishes
light for the plant. the institution and
The grounds. which, as now lighted
with arc lights. are nearly as light as
day. The penitcntiary proper Is light
ID with incandescent lights, there being
one in front of each cell in the cell
block. and when these are eXtingufshe6
the block is lighted with small arcs.
There are also arc lights in and about
the grounds. The third building is a
bri.l; warehouse for the storage Of the
raw material for the making of Irvine
until it is needed in the operation of the
Dlant.
The present capacity of the plant Is
5000 pounds per day, and this may be
doubled at any time by the addition OF
the necessary machinery. the power
plant and buildings having been built
with an ultimate of 10000 pounds per
day in view. The plant will be operat-
ed under the supervision of an expert
twinelnaker. w. Il. Stiles. whose broth
err is also engaged mt the plant as as
sistant. The c0nvicts are being broken
INTO the work gradually. -Four OF them
were fanliliar'iZe1 with the machinery
Oh the first day. four more on the sec
Dnd. and the plant is now in operation
with q force of twelve. BY the end or
the week the plant will be well under.
way.
A number of changes have been made
in the general plan Of the institution
proper. lie eItItIlCG ~ IiIe SeAI UAoSH
is no longer from the second floor. The
gates have been changed to the first
floor and the entrance to the cell room
liz from there. In the main office there
are vaults for the protection of the rec
ords and for the keeping of fire arms
ard ammunition. The guards dining
room is now on the first floor, also. The.
business office of the Irvine plant will.
M IN <1,o fret fnn,. i'm the now office.
addition. as will also be the warden's:
,fice. The board of trustees. room will
be the old business office. on the upper,
door. The Improvement all around IL
great. and to the trustees and Warden
Boucher great credit is due for the K
:cllercc of the work that has been ac-
couu,lishcd and the amount of it.
Raalxc (Ae Aeiefa. ~ ------