East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-31

board the vessel at Glasgow or Liver
pool, approximatelys 1881 pounds
sterling, or in round numbers, $780,
900.
I'VE consider that 900 men would
be required to attend the whole Of the
about $50 horse power to drive them.
I'VE may say that in common with
other makers of jute machinery, we
are at present very busy and would
ask 12 months time in which to de-
liver the plant.
yours very truly,
"FAIRBAIRN MCPHERSON,
Leeds"
However, II is not the desire of the
promoters of the Oregon jute plant to
install a plant of this magnitude, as
there would not be either convicts or
power to operate such a plant in the
Oregon penitentiary, and the plant
which will perhaps be proposed next
January, will cost about $4,000, and
will require about 200 to $50 convicts
and 200 horse power, which would be
within reach of Oregon.
Statistical Report.
For the benefit of the visiting mem
bers of the legislature, the board of
control of the Washington penitentiary
had prepared the following excellent
statistical report of the operation of
the Walla Walla plant, its cost. re-
quirements and the profits accruing
from its operation:
The jute mill at the penitentiary has
20 looms with the necessary auxiliary
machinery to even up the plant. The
appraised valuation of the entire plant
on September go, 1906, including
structures, machinery and all ap-
purtenances was about s125,000. The
appraised valuation of the machinery
alone is about $4,000; it is estimated,
however, that a similar plant could
be installed and fully equipped with
modern machinery for about the pres
ent appraised valuation of this plant.
The jute mill. as well as all other
manufacturing industries at the Wash
ington state penitentiary are care for
by a fund separate and independent
from the prison proper. For the past
three legislative periods. or since
April 1, 1900, there has been appro-
priated S150.000 for each succeeding
two years; this allows $4,000 a year
for the operation of the various In
dustries at the penitentiary. The re-
ceipts from the sale of all manufac-
tured products are turned in direct to
the state treasurer. hence the necessi-
ty of a new appropriation each legis-
lative period. The enhanced prices
of raw materials with the greater de-
mand for the manufactured products
will necessitate the increasing of the
appropriation by a considerable
amount in order to keep the mill in
operation the year around and cover
the increased cost of the manufac-
tured product. Heretofore It has been
the custom to shut the mill down
from two to four months of each year
with very short hours after the har-
vesting was done.
During the year 1905 jute cost S15.-
6i59 lald down at the mill. IL cost
Sic cents to manufacture the bags
during the same period. while they
sold for 5.S5 cents each. leaving a
profit of about 4 of a cents each.
During 1906 the jute cost s1S.S4 at
the mill, the grain bags cost 5.54
cents each, and sold for 6is cents
each leaving profit of nearly l cent
per bag. The cost of the bags during
this season was considerably decreased
by the installation of electrical power,
and a better grade of jute, which per-
mitted a much larger daily output
During the time between January
1, 1906, and September 80, 1906, the
mill turned out f.339,65O grain bags,
together with quite an amount of hop
cloth, oat bags, hop warp, wool bags,