peach trees were planted during the spring of 1914; 300 apple trees and 800 peach trees were planted at the State Sanatorium. Other planting is planned for the spring of 1915. Landscape planting has been done at several institutions during the present season, special attention being given to the care of shade trees, and former outlay for this work has been avoided. The shrubs, plants, seeds and cuttings used for ornamental and garden planting were all provided by interchange among various institutions; these interchanges amounting to $1,500. The propagation of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers has been started at several institutions and will receive special attention at the New Prison Farm, where the work will be done on a large scale. Practically all lawn plants will be produced in the future from seeds and cuttings saved at the various institutions where the extensive and varied plantings afford an exceptional opportunity for making choice selections. Attention has been given to the maintenance and increase of the productive powers of the soil. Methods of crop rotation, the application of stable manure, the use of commercial fertilizer, floats and ground limestone have been adopted, which will ultimately result in the greatly increased yields of all farm crops. A grinding outfit installed at the state quarry at Columbus furnishes powdered limestone of the best quality. The liberal use of this material is essential to the growth of alfalfa and clover and will ultimately result in increased yields of all farm crops. Field crops, with the exception of oats, were good; the late potatoes in most places being exceptionally fine. Fifteen carloads of produce were exchanged between institutions. Quantities of truck and garden crops were thus interchanged, as well as seed corn, wheat and oats. In March of this year, the Prison Commission turned over to the Board of Administration the New Prison Farm of 1,448 acres, near London. A beginning has been made in the use of this land. There were under cultivation 182 acres of field crops and six acres of garden. The pasturage was used to fatten 280 head of beef cattle, which added $5,000 to the value of the meat supplied. At institutions where pure bred live stock is being kept, breeding animals suitable for herd headers are being produced, several of which have been transferred to other institutions. Cattle, hogs and poultry to the value of $2,000 have been transferred. Dairy products being highly essential and used in large quantities at all institutions, considerable attention has been given to the improvement of the dairy herds. Low producing cows are being disposed of and good ones substituted. At six institutions pure bred herds have been established, a few high class, pure bred cows having been purchased for a foundation. All of the better pure bred and high grade heifers are retained in the herd for breeding purposes. This system will continue until the farms are fully stocked with the best cattle that it is possible to produce. No breeding cattle are purchased without first having been tuberculin tested, and it is the intention to produce herds that will be entirely free from tuberculosis. Many of the young bulls are being placed with farmers on shares; the community breeding plan which has prevailed in Europe having been adopted. One-half of the service fee is allowed the keeper, the other half going to the state. When the heifers are old enough to breed, another bull is furnished, the result of which is a decided improvement in the animals. Milk production has been increased at two places to the extent that creameries have been installed, and all the butter consumed at the institutions will be made. One of the leading sources of farm profit is that of pork production. Kitchen offal and by-products of gardens and canneries are utilized as hog feed and large numbers are kept. A few pure bred animals have been added to four herds for a foundation and an effort is being made to improve the quality of all herds. The annual loss from hog cholera among the institution herds in the past has amounted to several thousand dollars. Since the employment of a competent veterinarian, this loss has been obviated and during the past year has been entirely eliminated. The cultivation of land at the institutions being so important, and the board now being in a position to handle this land advantageously, an appropriation is asked for the purchase of a number of the leased. parcels. The board believes that the leasing of land is not the best policy for the state, in that the improvement of the land through fertilization and cultivation goes eventually to the owner rather than to the state. On the other hand, the purchase of this land is advantageous to the state for the following reasons: time. First-The cost is not an expense, but an investment. Second-Land in use appreciates in value and can be sold at any Third-Money invested in land earns more than money held in the state treasury and deposited at the usual interest rate paid on state funds. Fourth-Healthful employment is given to inmates who reduce by the amount of their labor the cost to the state in money for their maintenance. The following table shows for two institutions, complete returns from which are available at this time, the total farm production for the year ending November 15, 1914, the cost, and the rate of interest which it yields on the present valuation of land used: THE DAYTON STATE HOSPITAL. Total value of farm productions.... (including fruit, vegetables, milk, meat, feed, etc.) Increase in live stock... $ 37,287 35 5,655 06 Total expense of production.. (including wages, cost of seed, supplies, rent and in- 715.81 acres were under cultivation. The present value at $200 per acre is..... $ 42,942 41 $ 29,322 28 Profit $13,620 13 $143,162 00 If the state owned all of this land, the return on the investment would be 9.4 per cent. THE OHIO STATE REFORMATORY. Total value of farm production.. $ 46,668 28 (including fruit, vegetables, milk, meat, feed, etc.) Increase in live stock... .$ 5,605 91 $ 52,274 19 Total expense of production. $ 27,158 26 (including wagés, cost of seed, supplies, rent and in- Profit $25,115 93 812.9 acres were under cultivation. The present value at $125 per acre is. $101,612 50 If the state owned all of this land, the return on the investment would be 23.9 per cent. SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. The efficiency of an institution depends upon the service departments. These departments include: the heat and power plant, the water supply and sewage disposal, the laundry, the cold storage, the bakery, and the kitchen. Large sums are expended each year for upkeep and operation. It is essential that the construction and equipment of these departments should be carefully planned and supervised. The board organized an engineering force for this purpose. Under its direction plans for buildings, which can be erected by the labor of regular em ployes with the assistance of inmates, are made; as are plans for changes in machinery and other equipment. In this way machinery and equipment which is still serviceable but outgrown at one institution is made use of at another. During the year, power plant and heating improvements have been made at the Athens, Dayton and Massillon hospitals, the Hospital for Epileptics, the Soldiers' Home, and the Girls' Industrial School. Laundries have been built or equipped at the Soldiers' Home, the School for the Blind, the Custodial Farm, and the Girls' Industrial School. Cold storage plants have been installed at the Athens Hospital, the Soldiers' Home, and the Boys' Industrial School. Attention is directed to these things at this time for the purpose of emphasizing their relative importance and to indicate the way in which the board is meeting the problems presented. FUEL. In this connection it has seemed worth while to call particular attention to fuel costs. The cost of fuel for the eighteen institutions for the year ended A slight reduction has been made each year due to advantageous buying and to minor improvements in the power plants. The board, however, is not satisfied with this showing. Plans have been worked out by the consulting engineer for changes and improvements which will mean a saving of approximately $80,000. This saving cannot be made unless funds for the changes and improvements are placed at the disposal of the board. Accordingly, a request is made in the budget to be submitted to the next general assembly for appropriations to do the work required at the various institutions. In this instance the board can only point out the possible economy; it remains for the assembly to say whether or not the saving should be made. The initial expenditure may seem. large, but the return is commensurate with the outlay. MANUFACTURING. During the year a very considerable amount of attention has been given by the consulting engineer to the development of manufacturing, especially at the Penitentiary. All contract labor in the Penitentiary ceased in May, 1912, and since that time all manufacturing done at the Penitentiary and at the Reformatory has been under the State Use System. The manufactured products made in these institutions are sold to other state institutions and departments, and to the political subdi visions. The total sales from these institutions during the year amounted to $388,634.34, distributed among the various industries as follows: SOAP FACTORY-Toilet soap, laundry soap, soap chips, shaving soap, soap powder, metal polish, disinfectant. MACHINE SHOP-Repairs to machinery, tools and equipment for various state institutions; manufacture of auto trucks, lawn benches, fire escapes, etc. TIN SHOP-Repairs to roofs, gutters and down-spouts, and manufacture of cans for fruit and vegetables. KNITTING MILL-Socks, hosiery and underwear. POWER PLANT-Electricity, refrigeration and heat. STATE SHOP-Shirts, overalls, gloves, blouses, handkerchiefs, jackets, mattresses, mops. CARPENTER SHOP-Window sash and frames, doors, cabinets, tables, show cases, and all special construction not made at the reformatory. WOOLEN MILL-Blankets, prison cloth and jeans. PRINTING AND BINDING Prison News, regular blank forms, etc. |