Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-09-24
STATE BOARD Of CONTROL
BULLETIN NO. 30-GR0WTH OF
MINNEsoTA's PRISON
INDUSTRIES

Wnen the SCaC6 DOarU OI cOHtIOA
posted it's books at the close of busi-
ness July 81, 1915, the most prosperous
year in the history Of the binding
twine and farm machinery depart
ments of the Minnesota state prison
at saltwater was recorded.
To the credit of the 1000 or more
inmates making up the prison popula-
ton, the manufacture of 1855, AIS
pounds of binding twine and $474,-
293.5O worth of farm machinery was
placed, and the bank account Of the
institution. credited with net profit
Of $35O,S51.30 from the two industries.
Other gratifying notations were made
for instances:
Amount of binding twine sold, ST.
69O, ,461.24.
Net profit from binding twine plant,
1915 5,890.74.
Net profit from machinery depart
ment, $74,960.56.
Paid for inmate labor, twine plant,
$25 5,391.12.
Paid for inmate labor, machinery
plant, $26,372.10.
Paid for inmate labor from general
support fund, $22,S64.33.
Total paid inmate labor, $74, ,627 80.
Credited support Of institution from
gross earnings Of the two industries,
$126,123.75.
Paid citizen or free labor in binding
twine factory, $30,605.51.
: Paid citizen or free labor: in machin-
cry department, $52,S25.33.
Paid expert services, setting up ma
chinery, $10,710.09.
Paid for travelling expenses of sales
men, 1924, ,9S4.92.
Total gross receipts from sales of
binding twine and farm machinery de-
partments, $2,164, ,744.74.
As the largest state institution OF
its kind in the country-given over to
a line of industries peculiar to the ag-
ricultural interests Of Minnesota-the
Saltwater prison and its policies are
unique in many ways. No private con-,
cern strives harder for profit, none
apportions that profit with greater con-
cern for those to be benefited, and
none certainly combines in the two
better method Of thrift and uplift 1or
those employed.
Growth Of the Industries
The manufacture of binding twine
at the Saltwater prison began in 1890
in a modest way. The nucleus Of the
industry which has now reached such
vast proportions was an appropriation;
of $4,000 for the installation of the
needed machinery and the purchase oe
the required raw material. The state
board Of corrections and charities them
had supervision over the prison and sd
dubious were the members of this
board regarding. the installation of the
industry and it's future that in its 1ex
port to the following legislature :; &c
went on record as saying: -
Eve should not be faithful to our
duty If we did not record our convic-
tion that the binding twine industry
will prove a failure at the prison.
That was twenty-five wears ago, and
as showing the growth Of this one pris-
on industry despite the dismal prophe-
cy made, sales recorded at the close Of
the last fiscal year, for the quarter Of
a century period, gave grand total Of
$l9.O19, $4,000.
The manufacture of farm machinery
at the prison was started by the board
of control in 1908 and since it's estab-
ishment the sales have amounted to
$1,478,920.00.
When the binding twine industry was
started the chief apprehension of those
in charge was the difficulty in finding
market, with the immense investment
involved and the necessary extension
of credit to farmers and dealers which
the board Of corrections and charities
was positive would result in heavy
loss to the state. Perhaps there was
good grounds for the fears of the
board then, but those now in charge
long ago demonstrated that the best
line Of credit in Minnesota is it's agri.
cultural interests.
From the total binding twine sales
Of over $19,000,000 a loss of only ST.
502.25 has resulted, and in the case of
the farm machinery department. only
$543.43 out Of nearly 81, 100000 worth
Of farm implements sold.
The Business Methods Used
While the nucleus Of the binding
twine industry at the Saltwater pris.
on was an appropriation of $50, 900 for
the purchase Of the original machinery
and the required raw material, its real
growth has come from a revolving
fund originally Of $25O,O00, which is
now IN excess OF $3,OOO,OOO and forms
the working capital Of the enterprise
Available at all times and with the
board Of control clothed with authori-
ty to use its own judgment, this work.
ing capital allows quick purchase of
raw material when the market iustifiea
it, the installation of new or more mod
ern machinery if conditions demand it,
and in fact anything that "a Of advan.
tage to the institution and its use as
a medium of profit to the state.
Every dollar made by the employ
ment Of the inmates at the prison goes
back to its credit and is used in the
upkeep Of the institution, the further
uplift of those confined within its
walls, and whenever possible in addi.
tional concessions in price to those
who purchase and use the products OF
it's labor.
Few private institutions in manu-.
e H.,