Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-10-24

obtain therefrom.
When this practice was stop
ped by law the state began t.
realize that mistake had beer
made in practically abandoning
Rusk, and the best thought of
the Governor and the Prison
Commission are now being given
to the financial problems connec-
ted with this penitentiary, and
the industries connected with it.
The penitentiary itself can in a
short time with proper manage
ment be put on a good business
basis, and within another year it
will doubtless present the same
kind of activities seen at Hunts
vile. But some difficult prob
lens are involved in the opera
ton OF the blast furnace, the
pipe foundry and the state rail
road.
The Rusk penitentiary was
located by commissioners appoint
ed by Gov. Coke in 1876 under
an act to locate branch peni-
Tertiary to manufacture iron.
The first furnace the "Alcalde"
was erected in 1888. This was
replaced by the present blast
furnace, the Sam "Lanham," in
1904, which has capacity of
eighty or ninety tons day.
The iron pipe plant was built
during Gov. Hogg's administra-
ton and has capacity of sixty
tons a day. The furnace and
appurtenances are invoiced at
$3.50, 900, the pipe foundry $SS,
600 and the power plant, install
ed during Gov. Campbell's ad-
ministration, at about $2S, 900.
When the furnace is in opera
ton, the waste gas from the fur
mace is used as fuel, making a
saving of from $1,000 to a 500.
90 a day. The power plant is
ample for the furnace and for all
the industries in the penitenti-
airy and many more.
The state owns in the vicinity
of / POO acres of iron ore lands,
and the ore right on $50 acres.
The ore fields are reached by a
standard gauge railroad, owned
by the state, independent Of the
state road, some two and half
or three miles in length. In
practical operation two tons of
iron ore make practically a ton
of iron Of high grade and suit
able for all kinds of foundry
work, The iron ore varies in
thickness from one to four feet,
the average being about two
feet, lies close to the surface, is
brittle and easily mined, and is
clean and requires no washing
There is said to be enough own
ed and controlled by the state to
keep the furnace running a hun
dred years or more.
The cost OF getting this ore to
the furnace is estimated at 80
cents ton. Limestone for hux-
ing has to be shipped from other
parts Of the state at a cost of
about $50 a ton, and coke
must be shipped either from
Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania
or Oklahoma at freight rate of
some S2.l0 to 1910 a ton, the
coking coal being large item of
expense in the operation OF the
furnace.
The state owns, as a part of
the Rusk penitentiary plant, a
railroad from Rusk TO Palestine,
which is appraised at $500, 900.
Not only are the furnace and
pipe plants idle, and the power
plants practically so, but the
railroad is a constant money
losing proposition when these
industries are not IN operation.
While the furnace and build
ings have deteriorated through
idleness, and the furnace itself
must have a new lining, the
brick for which IS already there
it is stated that for $4,000 OIL
81, 900 the property can be put
in shape 10 begin operations
The state has all the equipment
IL has the ore, It has the con
Wet labor, and % = stated with
out contradiction that the ore
the huxing lime and the coks
can be assembled more cheaply
AZ Ru~k than In any other iron
ueid iu the country, enabling
the state % compete with ans
other iron market The open
ing Of the furnace would glv'
profitable tonnage "a the stat
railroad and convert 10 from al
. Improbable into Iay.ng prop
Osiuou IL would save ~ Tia
state .ts present Investment o
about three quarters - a million
dollars IN furnace foundry an'
railroad, that are nov RAPIDLY
wasting H. would assure tn
cities and towns and other user
~ pipe in the state reasonable
prices ga p.p.c and release then