The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-19
INSTITUTE
OF STATE BRING
HEAVY EXPENSE
Cost Minnesota $1,161, 500 to Pur-
chase Supplies During Last Fiscal
Year-Control Board in Charge.
BUT LITTLE GOES OUTSIDE
Endeavor to Make Purchases From
Concerns of Minnesota-Sys-
tenn is Explained.
BUT LITTLE GOES OUTSIDE

IohdAC0 VI Lue various SLdLc 1uSLl'
buttons during the fiscal year ending
recently, and it is of general in.
terest to know that only fraction
of this amount went into the Golfers
of concerns outside the state.
Of the purchases made for main
tenance Minnesota firms and manu-
facturers profited to the extent OF
$379,550, outside firms having bran
ches in the state, $74,25O, and farm
ers and local dealers living and hav-
ing their places of business in the
vicinity of the several institutions,
$3S9,340. The latter expenditure
was largely for eggs and butter and
butcher cattle.
Little Goes Outside.
All that dealers and concerns out
side Of the state received direct was
$55,850.
For fuel, $262,S00 was paid out,
and while the product itself came
from outside territory, the contract
went to state agents and dealers. The
wood used came from Minnesota for
ests
With the exception of the State
University and the Soldiers Home,
supplies for all state institutions are
contracted for by the state board of
control. purchasing department,
with chief and force of clerks is
maintained, and every three months
dealers in and manufacturers of
needed articles and foodstuffs for
maintenance are notified that bids
for the supplying Of the same will
be entertained. In the meantime the
aggregate amount of, supplies to be
required are ascertained through es-
Inmates from the institution heads.
sHaVe Samples Shown.
In the basement of the capitol are
maintained large sample rooms where
intending bidders display their goods
for inspection. If prices and qua
lily of goods are satisfactory to the
purchasing department, orders are
placed for delivery as needed
In the matter of quantity or num-
Der all supplies for maintenance are
contracted for on the basis of more
or less and to be shipped as needed.
In order that the board may be in
constant touch with such purchases
and their delivery, a daily report by
the purchasing agent covering the
quarter for which awards were made
is required. This is further supple
mented by reports from the heads
of the institutions showing receipts
of the same, condition and other de-
sired information. Copies of these
reports as made are placed on the
desk of each member of the board
Keep Money in State.
In placing orders for supplies for
maintenance purposes, and even when
building operations are involved, the
policy of the board has always been
to patronize Minnesota concerns
where possible. Occasionally there
is such wide difference in price on
some staple that the board is forced
to go outside the state for the ar
ticle needed, but this does not occur
often.
That only $55,5SO out of a tota
expenditure last year of more thar
100000 went outside of the state
speaks volumes in this respect.
Nearly 100000 Expended.
For instance, on January 10 last
supplies of sugar, coffee, tea, bee
products, -four and feed were ordered
for practically all the institution:
under the jurisdiction of the boart
of control. The orders placed tha
day were among the largest of thu
quarter and involved heavy ex
penditure. The -four and feed orde,
alone represented an investment O.
$30,27S. This contract was divided
among seven firms, all of them Min
nesota concerns, and the majorit,
of them having mills in institution
towns
AS noted, nearly $400, 900 was ex
pended in the institution localitie
last year, and part of this went TO
cattle slaughtered for meat purposes
Considerable of this amount was al
so invsted in butter, eggs and pro
visions, all of which went into tn
pockets of the nearby farmers an
local dealers.
Minnesota butter is another stapl
always insisted upon by the board
Where other states use oleomarger
inc, the wards of Minnesota are pre-
vided with. real butter, and it is q
the best: The same is the case wit
milk Substitutes for the produc
of the COW are not permitted. Eve
the condensed article is not used.
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