Mower County transcript., 1903-01-14

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this plan or one similar and I trust
that you will give the matter most
careful consideration.
STATE PRISON AND
,.< BINDING TWiNE PLANT.
Owing to public criticism concerning
the management of the state prison,
and especially of the binding twine
plant, as soon as it was possible to
make a change Hon. Henry Wolfe1
was reappointed warden. The new
management took immediate steps to
remedy some of the evils complained
Of. That it was most successfully &C.
complished is shown by the following
facts:
During 1901 there was manufactured
In round numbers, 5,500,000 pounds OF
twine. This was sold at an average OF
about 2 cents per pound below the
prices at which twine of equal grade
and quality was sold by jobbers and
manufacturers to the dealers of the
state, which would make an actual
saving of 100000 to the purchasers of
prison tWine.
The profit to the state on binding
twine, in round numbers, was $33 900.
!. The showing for 1902 gives better
results than the preceding season.
Amount manufactured, 5,5OO,0OO
:, pounds. The twine was sold at 2A
cents per: pound cheaper than twina
sold by jobbers. This will prove an
, actual saving of $125,O00 to the farm.
ers of Minnesota who purchased twine
the present season, and if you consider
the reduced price, at least l cent per
pound, of all twine sold in the state,
some 100000 pounds, caused by
competition with prison twine, there il
further saving of $180,OOO, or a tota!
for the year of $305,000.
Not only has the twine been of a
superior quality and thus great saving
to the purchaser resulted, but there
has been clear saving to the state OF
$4,000, which, added to the $33 900.
makes a clear gain in two years in
favor of twine plant of $4,000
The financial showing for the entire
prison, too, is most excellent.
The prison is overcrowded and addi.
tional cellrOom must be provided for
at this session of the legislature.
THE BOARD OF CONTROL
A SPLENDID SUCCESS.
At the last general session bill was
passed now known as the board of con.
troll bill and pursuant to it's provisions
a board was appointed and immediate.
ly entered upon the discharge Of its
duties. The wisdom of the adoption
of the board Of control system has
been amply vindicated A brief year
of the administration of the board has
passed and it's work has surpassed the
most sanguine expectations of it's
friends. Prompted by the same abb.
ing faith that recommended it's crea.
tion, which has been strengthened a
hundredfold by it's splendid work dur,
ing the past year, it is safe to predict
that the board of control system will
be permanently maintained. The sue.
cess OF this system in Wisconsin and
Iowa, coupled with it's effective worl.
in our state, will, in my judgment,
eventually result in its adoption by
every state in the Union
l firmly believe that the institutions
in charge of the board of control have
never been in higher state of eff
cheney and that the inmates Thereof
are safe in the hands of the board, and
do not hesitate to say that the great
saving to the state has been brought
about solely by the new departure in
the purchase of supplies and by en-
larged and improved business methods
and not in the least at the expense o.
efficiency.
The impression seems torhave gone
out that under the present system our
home markets are Disseminated
against and that markets outside OF
our state are unnecessarily favored
This is disproved by the report of the
board.
WORK OF RAILROAD AND
WAREHOUSE COMMISSION
In this branch of the state service
you will find the most thorough disci
pline. Practical civil service prevails
All high positions are filled by pro.
noting men in the service. Helpers
are promoted to be inspectors only
after a thorough test and examination
The cost of the service in the grain
department has been decreased in the
face of the fact that the capacity OF
cars has been practically doubled.
The department is so we'll managed
that the grades established on ali
| kinds Of grain are accepted the world
| over
The railway department for years
has been hampered in its work from
the fact. that practically no two rail
way companies have the same system
Of bookkeeping, nor have the same
basis for reporting the gross earnings
| for the purpose of taxation. This mat
tor has haon taken nm hv tho nroc ont