The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-08
MINNESOTA PRISON :.
DEMONSTRATION.
Is Considered by Experts as Being
Last Word in Management
and Construction.
PRODUCES LARGE REVENUE
Systematic Reform is Principle and
Inmates are Given instruction for
Uplift and Education.

Uplift and Education.
The gratest revenue producing pub
lie institution in the world is the
Minnesota state prison at Saltwater.
This is broad statement, but world
institution and prison records sub
stantiate it.
During the biennial period ending
with 1914 the saltwater prison
through the medium of the two in
dustries which have made it famous
the manufacture of binding Irvine
and farm machinery-piled up a net
profit of $6S7,794.17.
Gross Earnings Large.
Besides this net profit those in
charge deducted from the gross earn
ings Of the prison, which were in ex-
cess of $3,5OO,0OO, seventy-five cents
per day per man for current expenses
and support, and twenty-five cents
per day for the benefit of the inmates.
Showing the great strides the two
industries are making the gross earn
ings last year were $413,167.66 in
excess of the year previous.
While the figures of nearly $685.
600 in cold dollars and cents repre-
sents the bookkeeping profit, it does
not show the real earnings of the in
stitution, the hundreds of thousands
OF dollars saved to the farmers of the
state in their purchase of binding
Irvine and farm machinery. Compar-
ison between what the farmers paid
for their twine and farm machinery
before these industries were establish
ed at the Minnesota state prison and
the cost to them now affords the real
profit.
Announce Tariff.
AS an example, the state board of
control, of which the Minnesota
prison and it's industries are it's most
extensive charge, has just announced
prison binding Irvine tariffs for the
coming year. OF the prison output,
which appropriated nearly 18,OOO,-
900 pounds last year, standard sisal
had the biggest sale, the call for it
aggregating nearly rs per cent of
the whole. The price quoted for this
year is seven cents per pound, and
when it is known that rival figures
will be nearer eight cents and that
the prison output will be close to
21,OOO,000 pounds, the saving that
will result can be appreciated. Other
grades of Irvine have been reduced in
price one-half to three-quarters of a
cent pound.
The new Minnesota state prison
located at Saltwater is the last work
in prison construction and manage
ment and it's praises have been
sounded by prison experts and heads
of correctional institutions all over
the United States and the continent.
Systematic Reform.
Systematic reform in prison life
and management in Minnesota might
we'll be said to have started with the
creation of the state board of con-
troll in 1901. Contracts for prison
labor as fast as expired were not re-
newed. In 1890 the binding Irvine
industry was established at the pris-
on. A revolving fund of $4,000
was subscribed by the state and it's
growth has been remarkable. Then
in rapid order came other reforms,
the adjustment of the lock step, the
granting of privileges to the pris-
Oners commensurate with their con-
duct, the passing of the striped uni
form except in case of the particul-
arly vicious, and finally came the
building of the new prison at South
Saltwater;
This magnificent structure, the
product Of the act of the legislature
of 1909, covers a ground space of
twenty-five acres, is admirably To-
Gated and embodies in it's construc-
ton every practical requisite for the
humane and sanitary housing of hui
man beings. The entire scheme of
management is to uplift, not bru-
talize.
Population is 1850.
The present population of the
Saltwater prison is about 1850. The
great majority of the prisoners are
engaged in the manufacture of bind
ing Irvine and farm machinery. The
others do a variety of work connect
ed with the care of the buildings and
800 CONTINUED on last page,
FOR ARTISTS IN TRENCHES.