Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-01-25
vEmasR OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ne STATE TwlNE PLANT.

+
Several years there was established
a Irvine plant at the state peniten-
tiary. 1t has proven valuable insti'
tuition for several reasons. 1t has
provided needed occupation for prison
ers at, the institution, making their
labor profitable to the state and to
themselves, by avoiding the evils of
idleness. 1t has regulated the price
of binding Irvine in the state, an i'm
portant factor in agricultural pursuits,
it has provided a superior article OF
Irvine at reasonable price, and it
has turned a large sum in profits into
the state treasury.
It is the opinion Of the warden of
the penitentiary, who is the manager
OF the Irvine plant, and of the board
of trustees, that the capacity Of the
plant should be increased. The
prison has the labor to provide the
necessary additional help. 1t has the
space FOR an enlargement of the build
ings. 1t can find the funds to pro-
vide necessary additional machinery
and the result of the increase in the
plant would be to provide more twine
for farmers, make surer of regulating
the price of Irvine in the state and
afford large profit from the opera
ton of the plant
-Four years tgo the profits shown
from the operation of the plant were
a little more than $1,000. Two years
ago they were more than $4,000 and
at the end of the biennial period just
closed the profits were more than
1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905, has been
collected record that would speak
well for the management of public
business, where methods are popu-
larly supposed to be not quite so
close. Some $3.50, 900 pounds of
Irvine was manufactured in 1906.
This Irvine was of superior quality
and fully up to the best market
standard. /
tn the last year about IS per cent
of the Irvine was sold to farmers and
35 per cent to dealers. About 95 per
cent Of the sales Of Irvine were on
edit-making the showing of collec-
lions especially good. It is estimated
that eighteen to twenty million pounds
of Irvine are used in the state or
were during 1906-and Of this the
state plant supplies about one-sixth.
There are about fifty men in the
prison who could be probably en-
ployed in Irvine making but who are
now employed in work not as re-
munerative because there Is not the
place for them In plant Of the pres
ent size. This number will probably
Increase rather than diminish. The
warden believes the capacity of the
present plant can be doubled without
difficulty, by using funds from the
Irvine plant operating fund Particu-
lar information will be given by the
warden or by any member of the
board of trustees as to the means
Thought best for increasing the capaci-
ty Of the plant, without doubt. In
view of the highly successful opera
ton of the plant, of its Importance to
the state and to the farmers of the
state, and of the possibilities of an
{ increased capacity, it would be well
for every member of the legislature to
consider carefully the report of the
d warden and board of trustees and in
i form himself as to the needs of the
state and Of the institution.
In this connection it is only fair t.
call attention to the work done By
Warden Boucher of the penitentiar,
In the management of the Irvine plant
The record speaks for itself bette
than words of commentator
IT ,a&4sSI $sS55E