The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-15
STATE A BUTCHER
Kansas Finds Prison Beef Bids
Are Too High.
Therefore, Commonwealth viii
Provide Own Meat.
SUCCESS WITH HOGS.
Authorities Expect to DO Equal
ly Well killing Cattle.
Herds Will BE Taken From the
Agricultural College.
SUCCESS WITH HOGS.

LeaVenWOrCn, han., FEB. 15.-Th6
state of Kansas will do it's own butch
for the beef supply at the State peni-
tertiary were opened few days ago
by the directors they found that the
lowest price on beef quoted was 1 Il
cents higher than the contract price
for the last six months. The increased
price was too much for the directors
and they refused to award the con-
tract, and, after some discussion, de-
cided to buy cattle and do their own
butchering.
Just such an instance happened a
number of years ago, when the bids
on board got together and planned to
experiment with hog-raising on the
prison farm. 1t proved a success, and
the state has saved a great amount of
money. The best-bred hogs are raised
at the prison. They furnish pork for
the prison table and large number
of hogs are sold each year.
All But Beef Satisfactory.
Now the directors will try cattle
raising on the prison farms. They are
of the opinion that if the state can
save money by raising its own hogs it
can do the same by raising cattle.
From the manner in which the beef
bids were turned down by the board,
they intend to start the experim ent at
once It is probable that a herd will
be brought from the State Agricultural
college cattle-raising department at
Manhattan, Kan.
The state would be at no expense in
buying feed for the cattle, as the pris-
on farms can be made to furnish a
sufficient amount. And this is good
country for raising cattle. A slaugh-
ter house can be built with little ex-
pense. According to the prison auth
critics, the plan has found favor and
will prove success If tried.
Contracts for prison supplies have
been awarded at the state penitentiary
for the next six months. The bids
proved satisfactory to the directors
and all but the beef contract was let.
Local merchants, with the exception
of the dry goods men, received about
the same number of contracts as in
former years. The dry goods men
lost a number of the heavier cloth con-
tracts to eastern houses.
The merchandise bids were the first
to be opened and the following of the
larger contracts were awarded to To-
cal merchants:
Few Go Outside State.
To Joseph Stoltz, 1000 pounds of
coffee, 1000 pounds of rice, 10000
pounds of sugar and $500 pounds of
soap.
Bittman-Todd Grocery company.
500 pounds of cheese, 1890 pounds of
~
powder.
Rohlfng & Co, grocers, 10000
pounds of sugar 500 gallons of vinegar
and 100 pounds of baking soda.
The ]. w. GRANGER Hardware COM
pany received the majority of the
hardware contracts
Tholen Bros. were given the plumb
ing supplies contract.
Other Leavenworth hardware deal
ers were given contracts, and few
contracts were let out of the state.
Richards & Conover of Kansas City,
Mo-, will furnish part of the hard
ware supplies.
The upper and sole leather contracts
were let to M. Sickel, the local hide
man. This is one of the large con-
tracts.
The -four contract, which was the
last one to be awarded, had five bid
ders. No local millers had made bids.
The contract for 100000 pounds of
straight flour was let to the Lord Mill
ing company of Wamego. Kan, for
$50 per 100 pounds. The flour will
be delivered by the milling company
as called for by the prison.