28 Anderson William Clark 



supplies purchased for officers, employees, or inmates .of state 

 institutions, all being fed from the same general store. 



INDUSTRIAL WORK 



The Board of Control has inaugurated the manufacture of 

 boots and shoes at the State Reformatory, which are used to sup- 

 ply other state institutions. It is worthy of mention alsQ that all 

 the soap, except toilet soap, used in the state institutions of Min- 

 nesota is now manufactured at the Rochester Hospital. All 

 brooms used in all state institutions are made by the blind of 

 Faribault. This industrial work has been introduced by the 

 Board of Control because it is believed that inmates of institu- 

 tions are in special need of two things : First, good food, well 

 served; and second, occupation. These greatly assist in securing 

 best results in their treatment. 



PURCHASE OF GOODS 



The Board of Control introduced a new system of securing 

 bids in the open market, and of purchasing in large quantities 

 for all the state institutions. The propositions for goods as well 

 as the samples are open to inspection by the superintendents, who 

 take an active part in the awarding of contracts, each selecting 

 such goods as in his judgment are best constituted to the needs 

 of his institution, quality and prices being taken into considera- 

 tion. If lower propositions are accompanied by samples of an 

 inferior quality or goods not suitable for the service intended, 

 they are rejected and those of a higher price and quality taken 

 instead. The judgment of the superintendents is found of great 

 value in the selection of goods, especially clothing, bedding, etc. 

 It has been found as a matter of experience that this course in- 

 sures the purchase of goods that are not only satisfactory to the 

 superintendents, but most economical in point of service, prices 

 being a secondary consideration in every case. Few realize the 

 amount of labor involved in receiving and tabulating these bids. 

 There are upwards of five hundred of them, and it takes the 

 entire office of the Board of Control about ten days to tabulate 



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