Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-04-27
PUBLIC NOTICE.

The Arkansas State Penitentiary grounds buildings and convicts, to be leased out
 until the close of the session of the Gen
 eral Assembly of the year 1s62, that
 will probably be about the 18th or 2Oth
 day of January, 1863, but the session
 which under existing laws, will com
 mence on the first Monday of November A. D. 1So2, might perhaps be terminated
 some days earlier or later than either of
 the dates indicated. This lease will
 nave to be made to some responsible
 person or persons, who will pay the
 greatest amount of money therefor, an-
 nually into the State treasury. and fully
 comply with the terms and conditions
 or the act entitled " An act to proride for
 Me management and control Of the Penitentiary,"
 dpprored lith February, 1859, which act is ap-
 pended to this notice
 VIE contractor will be required, in his bond, to
 A 'ahe care ot all runaway slaves placed, and all ~hch snail be placed, at the Pententary, under the a"s or this State for safe keeping until retrieved by their owners, but will be entitled to the labor of such slaves whilst so kept. The contractor will also be required to take care of and keep in good condition all the penitentary buildings. The build ings consist of the prison house. three stories high containing one hundred and sixty eight cells for convlcts; to this is attached building forming a wlng) sixty feet long and two stories, each twelve feet high, and twenty five feet wide-the room in the upper story is the hospital room-in the lower story are the mess room and the Mediterranean this IS smokehouse twenty feet square and twenty-five feet high-the workshops consist of one building one hundred and fifty feet long, and forty feet wide two stories, each twelve feet high, forming two large rooms, one below, with suitable stairway leading to the other room above; this building has two outside doors with double shutters and locks- and the blacksmith shop is seventy-fye feet long and thrty-hve feet wide, story, the walls twelve feet high, containing six backsmiths fire places that IS three double ones, to be used in heating iron and metals.
 The walls of all of these buildings are brick, and the buildings are all covered with heavy slate roofs in the best manner. The buildings are in good order and condition, and are inside substantial stone wall, three hundred feet square, four feet tmck at the base, and taperng up to about two feet tmck at the top--this wall is covered bv cut stone coping, and IS about twenty three or twenty -four feet high. On the top of this wall, near each cor her, IS frame guard house, and the guards can pass along on top of the wall from one guard house to the others. Inside of the wall are also some wooden or frame buildings, to-wit: kitchen and dining-roo for the guards twenty by twenty feet, ten feet high; paint shop, thirty-two by sixteen feet, ten feet high, zinc roof; an old blacksmith shop, used as shed, sixty four by twenty-three feet eight feet high, covered with zine
 Outside of the prison wall are the following. to- wit: small building, occupied by the keeper, Is py lo leet feet story, and shed droom; kitchen, l9 by II feet, feet story; one wagon-shed, sixty by twenty feet, ten feet high; one stable thirty by thirty feet, ten feet high; and one guard-house. eighteen by eighteen feet, and eighteen feet high; also horse-ot four hundred and seventy feet fenc- ing; ana also small garden spot, with plenty of ground for larger garden. The buildings outside of the prison walls constructed principally of wood.
 The Penitentiary grounds to be leased. comprise abOQt ,yhcl, 1T ic boI; clent re-wood for ordinary use of the Pepitentiarv can be obtained; but the contractor will not be allowed to use the timber for manufacturing purpo ses.
 This institution is located, adjoining and west of the city of Little Rock, about three quarters of miie rom the otate-house, on a high and healthy ridge.
 There are now eighty three convcts in the pen tcntiary, sixty-eight of whom were sent by the courts o this state and fifteen by the United States courts There are also, two runaway slaves de- tained at the Penitentary. The United States pays hfy cents per day for each of the convcts sent by the U. S courts, to the Penitentiary; and the con tractor Will be entitled to the amount so paid, as well as to the labor of such convcts
 The State of Arkansas does not own any of the bedding, clothing, furniture, tools, or implements Ill use at the Pententlary, but the contractor will have to procure all such articles at his own cost
 Sealed proposals will be received by the Cover nor of the State of Arkansas, Little Rock until tine second day of May, A. D. 1859, for the lease o the grounds, buildings and convcs, in ac- cordance with the law hereinbefore designated The proposals will be plainly and distinctly written and sealed up anddirected to the Governor of the State of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas; and will be ndorsed, ''Proposals for leasing the Arkansas Penitentiary, etc" None need apply but respon- 'ibIe persons, who can promptly give good and ], bond in the snna o one Hundred housand a(I1rc fop4f 4fan4 ,sf. e,i 'f what is required.
 All newspapers published in this State will pub- sh this notice and the act referred to therein three ines, once week, and will render their accounts gainst the State of Arkansas therefor to the audi or. ELIAS N. CONWAY
 GOrernor of he State of Arkansas
 EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
 Little Rock, Ark, 2m.