The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-06
NO MORE DRIED APRICOTS
Wards of the State VIII Have to Do
Without Them.

There will be an enforced change
of diet at some of the state institutions
during the coming six months. for the
state board of control has decided to
refrain from purchasing at the semi
annual buying next week many of the
things which the state charitable in
situations have been getting, on the
ground that these things have ad-
vanced so much in price.
For example. the board will refuse
advanced from Pa cents a pound to
25 cents a pound. The last grocer to
get the apricot contract from the state
is said to have lost $500 on that one
item. There are many other things
which have advanced at similar rate.
I'VE believe in doing for the state
just we do in our own families"
said e. B. Schermerh orn. the chair
man of the board of control. today.
There isn't any, family in moderate
circumstances which does not keep
track of the markets, and buy things
when they are cheap, and leave off
buying those things when they become
expensive. Some of the grocery items
which the state has been buying for
years for its state institutions have
advanced so much that they must now
be classed with Injuries. We can't
afford to buy them any more. We will
buy other things for the state institu
tions which don't cost so much.
1--WE believe in giving the state in
stitutions a liberal supply of good
food, but we can't undertake to buy
those things which have advanced to
almost prohibitive prices
The semiannual buying of supplies
for the state will begin next Tuesday,
and will continue until Friday. The
grocery bids WILL be considered on
Thursday. Dry goods will be first
taken up on Tuesday. The dry goods,
grocery and meat contracts are the
big things, and many bids are always
red for S1I TlF1 n
these commodities The aggregate
amount of the contracts to be let ag-
gregated about half a million dollars.
:. There is sure to be a material in
crease in the cost of the supplies for
the ensuing six months. Prices have
been steadily advancing of late years,
and the advance is becoming more
rapid rather than less so. Cotton
since the last letting, and many other
dry goods items have gone up in SINH
lar proportion. Meats and groceries
are all higher than ever. The supply
of some canned goods is so limited that
the board will have to buy futures
that is, buy goods at fixed price
for delivery at. some date in the fu-
ture. M
-ures that each institution ought to be
able to keep itself supplied with fresh
vegeta bles, but for winter, vast guam
titles of canned goods must be bought
Out at Beloit. the superintendent
Mrs. Perry, has adopted a unique
plan for her next winters fruit supply.
She is buying dried fruits under the
old contract, and having it canned.
This will keep the fruit in good shape
for next winters use, and will fill the
hundreds of glass fruit jars which
would otherwise probably remain
empty.
Arrangements are also being made
by the board to purchase furniture and
equipment for the new school build
ing at Beloft where the Girls Indus |
trial school is located. The building is
now about completed, and there will
be something remaining out of the
APPROPRIATION with which to purchase |
the equipment. The board will adver- /
tise for bids and let the contracts at
once, SO that the money appropriated
for the purpose can be used before the |
appropriation expires at the end of the
fiscal year.