The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-03
THE TwINE PLANT PAYS.

Cuts Prices and Keeps the Trusts in
Check.
Leavenworth, kan, March 3.@Since
Kansas has decided to engage in the
oil refinery business, there have been
many inquiries as to the success of
the state binding Irvine plant. The
plant has been in operation more
than three years and the prison Of
fcials believe that it is an unqualified
success. E. 3. Jewett, the warden, in
his annual report for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1904, in mentioning
the twine plant says among other
things: II am of the opinion that 1t
is a practical business venture for
the state and a benefit to the institu-
ton
The three penitentiary directors in
their annual report say: The Irvine
plant has been a success, and with
proper mana cement will continue to
be; it is no longer an experiment, as 1t
has been demonstrated that good
quality of binding Irvine can be sue
cessfully manufactured at this insti-
tuition and furnished to the consum-
ers at a less price than they can OBJ
tain It from outside concerns. No tax
payer of the state can consistently OBJ
ject to the expenses of establishing
and operating the Irvine plant, as the
report of the chief clerk correctly
shows that there is more than money
enough on hand to the credit of the
lWlIe REMOVING IunQ over anu
above the $4,000 which was appro-
priated by the legislature to keep the
irvine plant running; in other words,
the warden can return to the state
treasurer the $15O,0OO revolving fund
and the entire cost of the plant and
still have money left
The net profits of the Irvine plant as
shown by tabulated report of J. G.
Brown, chief clerk. ara Sos, 1919. The
profits for the year 1902 were 81 p
713.41; for the year 1908. $19,970:27;
for the year 1901. $25.513.S1. The
total original cost of installing the
Irvine plant was $44.O44.9S. Includ-
ing the original revolving fund of
$3.50. 900 and profits, the twine plant
fund at present amounts to S21S,-
Aside from the satisfactory showing
from a business standpoint, the prison
officials feel that the penitentiary Irvine
plant has saved much to the farmers of
the state Irvine was sold at the pent-
tertiary last year for S15 cents pound
in orders of 5000 pounds and over, and
cents a. pound in smaller orders This
price was about two cents less than that
charged by the Irvine trust. Irvine
trust prices ranged from 914 to 1oA
cents a pound -ssr
1T is fair to say that the penitentiary
Irvine plant has saved the farmers two
cents a pound on twine," was the re
mark Of Mr.. Brown, the chief clerk, to
the reporter for the Star.
It requires about 10 million pounds of
Irvine to supply Kansas farmers IN a
good wheat year. The prison plant sup
piled 21z million pounds last year and
will put over million pounds on the
market this year.
The penitentiary Irvine plant has
tendency to keep down excessive prices
on the part of the trust. The trust
charged as high as Is cents pound
one year before the prison plant was
started The trust fought the prison
plant in every way possible Two sea-
sons an attempt was made to buy up
the entire supply of sisal The first
year the plant was in operation reports
were circulated that prison Irvine could
not be used and was united for har-
vesters. All this was overcome and the
plant is now in full operation and max
ing money for the state. The prison
officials hoped to see the capacity OF
the Irvine plant doubled, and some OF
them feel that, except for the oil refine
ry project, this might have been auth
orized by the legislature