The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-15
rHAr IRVINE PLANT.

Following the instructions of a resolu-
ton adopted by the Retail Implement
Dealers association of Kansas few
weeks ago. D. W. Blaine of Pratt, has
prepared a two column letter to the
warden and directors of the state peni-
tertiary, asking that they announce
definitely and at once the price they
propose to ask for penitentiary binding
Irvine the coming season, and further
demanding that it shall not be sold at
loss.
Mr. Blaine demands that in order to
ascertain the cost the directors shall
figure on the cost of fiber, freight
charges to the penitentiary, percent
age to cover wear and tear of ma
chinery, board of prisoners employed
in making the Irvine. oil used in run
ming the plant, interest on the money
invested and the cost of distributing
to retail dealers. On top ofsthis he asks
that the retail dealers be allowed to add
a net profit of ten per cent when they
sell for, cash and an additional five per
cent when they sell on time.
In support OF these demands Mr..
Blaine sets forth the allegation that the
penitentiary plant last summer sold
Irvine below what the implement deal
ers could afford to sell trust Irvine
for, and because the 'penitentiary plant
made but one-fifth enough to
supply the state and the dealers had to
sell the other four-ffths. it made dis
satisfaction between the dealers and
their customers because the dealers.
could not meet the prices charged for
state Irvine.
Mr.. Blaine also criticises the action of
the legislature in establishing the state
plant and calls it a big mistake. He
claims that there is no trust in the
manufacture of binding Irvine, but in
the control of the sisal from which it is
manufactured, and that the penitentiary
plant is at the mercy of that trust the
same as the other Irvine manufacturers.
Mr.. Blaine is quite likely correct in
stating that the dealers in trust Irvine
cannot meet the prices on penitentiary
Irvine. 1t is also probable that it has
created trouble in some instances be-
tween the dealer and the consumer. But
it should be remembered that the plant
was not established for the purpose of
helping a certain class of dealers make
money, but to break the power of at
least an alleged Irvine trust in Kansas
and furnish employment to peniteptiary
convicts.
Mr.. Blaine's statement as to a bind
ing Irvine trust may be correct, but he
cannon make the gram growers OI NALL
sas forget that results were accomplish
ed just the same The year before the
penitentiary plant was established the
farmers were compelled to pay IA to 16
cents pound for their Irvine. The first
year the penitentiary plant sold Irvine
the price was only IL cents, while in
Oklahoma, where the penitentiary Irvine
could not go, the price was IS cents.
Last year the penitentiary Irvine
brought the price down i'm Kansas to 8
cents and the saving to the farmers of
the state on binding Irvine for the
wheat crop alone was approximately
| $4,000 Every farmer who has had to
buy Irvine for the past three years re-
allies the difference in the price and
the penitentiary plant will receive the
credit for the saving, Notwithstanding
any statements that there is no binding
Irvine trust And the people of the state
will doubtless approve of the peniten-
| tiary plant selling its product as low as
it can consistently.