Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-01-22
NORTH DAKOTA AFFAIRS.
Reports Of state institution. Ready
for Members Of the leuislature.

Reports OF State institutions Ready
for Members Of the Legislature.
Reports of state officers and state In.
stitutions have been fled with the gov.
ernor, and will be brought to the atten-
ton Of members of. the legislature
shortly after reconvening. Many of
them are entirely fiscal in their ma
tNre, dealing only with receipts and ex-
penditIres Of the state, such as the re-
ports of the state auditor. and treasar.-
er. Some of the reports have a par
ticular interest, such as the report of
the state Irvine plant, reports of eiu.
cational and penal and charitable in.
situations, etc.
The report of the state Irvine and
cordage plant at the penitentiarx
shows that the plat was authorized by
the legislature of 1899. In April of
that year the trustees took the perlim-
mary steps towards the erection of
buildings, and the plant was ready for
occupation about April 1, 1900. The
plant was operated for several months
and then shut down for want of funds.
Because of unavoidable conditions the
plant the first year showed loss of
about $4,000, due to slump in the
value of Irvine and the partial crop
failure of the first year. At the com.
mencement of the year 1901 the condi-
lions were far from encouraging, but,
in the face of this, the plant was start.
ed and the output for the season was
nearly million pounds, all of which
was sold, and more could have been
disposed of had it been available. The
s,rr f~,> %6of Ia
over $4,000.
In December, 1901, Warden Bouch-
er, in company with Wardens Wolfer
Of Minnesota and Jewett of Kansas,
made a trip to Yutacan, and there
bought 1000 bales of Irvine, at price
considerably under the market price in
New York. Minnesota took 1000 bates
of this, and Kansas and North Dakota
500 bales each. All Irvine made since
that time has been purchased under
the arrangement made here, and at a
considerable saving to the state.
During the twlne season Of 1902,
100000 pounds of Irvine we're turned
out, and the net earnings of the year
were $14,166.41. which makes good the
loss of the first year and leaves a net
profit to the state of 81 ,567.3S since the
plant was established.
With regard to the quality of the
Irvine, Warden Boucher says there has
been no serious complaint during the
year 1902. Some farmers have COM
planned that they could not get peni-
tertiary Irvine, but the warden says
that no discrimination was practiced,
and that every order for Irvine, wheth-
er from farmer or dealer, was filled as
long as that institution had Irvine to
send.
The object of the establishment It
the institution, says the warden, has
been attained, that is, the furnishing
of healthful and continuous employ
ment for the convicts. The consumers
of Irvine in the state, it is also stated,
have reaped 10 small benefit from be-
ing able to buy Irvine at materially
lower prices than they could if there
were no state plant. 1t is predicted
that if the plant is operated along
business lines it will continue to be 4
success.
The trustees of the state reform
school, the institution authorized by
the last legislature, at Mandan, report
that the $4,000 Of bonds issued Tor
the institution were sold to the board
of university and school lands. A site
of forty acres of land west OF the city
of Mandan was negotiated for, and
plans for the building accepted from
Hancock Bros, of Fargo. The board
calls the attention of ex-governor and
the legislature to the necessity for the
purchase of additional land, and says
/ 900 acres could be used advantage
ously. The board reports that the
building contracted for is now COM
pleted, and it. is claimed to be the best
building the state owns for the money
expended. The building will accomnlo-
date forty or fifty inmates, with quar-.
ter sfor superintendent, steward and
janitor. At the present time the state
maintains at Plankinton twenty-five
boys and one girl. This contract with
South Dakota expires i'll 1903, and the
board asks for a sufficient appropria-
tion to establish and maintain the new