The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-02-26
EXCELLENT SHOWING
IN PRISON REPORT
State Examiner Submits Figures to Gov
ernor Eberhart, Estimating Valuation Of
Property Here at $5,89S, 1857.
Substantial Increase in Profits.
INMATES SHARE GAINS


INMATES SHARE GAINS
Governor Eberhart received re-
port last week from state public ex-
amlner, A. E. Fritz. which gives the
result of an examination of the af-
fairs of the Minnesota State Prison
recently made by his assistant, o.
H. Havill. The report covers the
fiscal year ending July 81, 1918.
and is most important through the
fact that it shows an unprecedented
condition of prosperity existing
here. and includes information
which will no doubt prove of ex-
treme interest to prison officials
throughout the country. =
Beginning with the total valua.
tion of the state prison, the report
shows it to be IS, ,8a8,718 which
includes lands and buildings worth
$3.347 ,882.63; material for manu-
featuring supplies, tools and ma
chinery ,and bills receivable amount
ing to 81 336,122.15.
Twine manufactured here during
the fiscal year sold for $l,5a2,8l2.-
36; of which 15,20S, 800 pounds
were sold to Minnesota farmers;
1,O07, ,4O5 pounds to North Dakota
Other states received smaller
amounts, approximating about 4OO,-
900 pounds.
The farm machinery plant shows
a remarkable increase in output and
a net profit to the state over and
above running expenses of $16, ,1O9.-
50. The net profit from the twine
plant being $372,354.52.
The average number of inmates
during the year was 894. During
that period SIT were received, 1856
paroled, and 100 discharged, trans
ferred or died. The number on
August l was l ,069, of which num-
Der PA were Federal prisoners.
The amount paid to prisoners
for work in the various plants of
the prison during the year,
amounted to $40, ,3O5.15
The examiner at the conclusion
Of his report pays very high COM
pliment to the prison management
by commenting favorably upon the
business-l like methods in vogue here
and the manner in which the books
and accounts have been kept.
A General Gain
Compared with former years this
last annual report shows remark
able growth of business done, and a
steady increase of output in all de-
partments which is beneficial to the
state, the prisoners and to the far
mers. To show the strides the pris-
on has taken in the past twenty-five
years, we quote the following fig
ures taken from the last biennial
report.
In 1888, the expense per capita was
$177.57; earnings per capita $ll2.28;
deficit sos. .29.
In 1891 the expense per capita was
S229.O8; earnings per capita, $83.45;
deficit, $145. 63.
In 1897 the expense per capita was
$1,000; earnings per capita, $188. .27;
deficit, $3l .O2.
In 1898 the expense per capita was
Sl82.O2; earnings per capita, 1927 SO;
excess over expenses per capita,
$ll5.34.
In 1905 the expense per capita was
$l73.26; earnings per capita, $436.17
excess earnings over expenses per
capita, $262. 81.
In 1918 the excess earnings over
expenses per capita was $4O4.2O.
A comparison of the above fig
ures will show at a glance the
steady gain that has been made per
capita at this institution, and dur
ing all this time the individual
earnings of the inmates have mater
tally increased also. Then, too, it
is estimated that the twine plant
saves the farmers of the state at
least three cents pound on twine
IL g L mi