Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-03-02
PUBLIC NOTICE.

The Arkansas State Penitentiary grounds
 buildings and cOnvicts, to be leased out uncil the close of the session of the Gen. eral Assembly of the year 1852, that will probably be about the l5 th or 20th
 day of January, 1868 but the session which under existing laws will com mence on the first Monday of November
 A. D. 1862 mi ght perhaps be termina ed some days earlier or later than either Of the dates indicated. This lease will have to be made to some responsi bIe 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 of the act entitled "An act to prouide for the nagement and controlo of he Penhentiary,' opproUed l7th February, 1859, which act is ap- pended to this notice
 'ENHE contractor will be required, in his bond, to \ take care of all runaway slaves placed, and all which sh tl be placed, the Peuitentiarv, under the laws of this State, for safe keeping, until retrieved by their owners, but will be entitled to the labor of such slaves whilst kept. The contractor will also be required to take of and keep in good condition all the pententarv buildings. The build ngs consist of the prison house. three stories high containing one hundred and siXtv-eght cells for ~convlcts; to this is attached building (forning wing) 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 kitchenlnear this IS smckeh0use twenty feet square and twenty five feet high-the workshops consist of one building hundred and sixty feet long, and forty feet wide, two stories, each twelve feet high, forming two large rooms, below, with suitable stairway leading to the other above; this building hes two outside doors with double shutters and locks and the blacksmith shop is seventy five feet long and thrtyfve feet wide, one story, the walls twelve feet high, containing six blacksmith's fire places, that three tOubp he IiSa1 n hn1tipp iron and metals.
 The walls of all of these buildings are brick and the bull ngs 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 thick at the base and taperng up to about two feet thick at the top-this wall is covered by cut stone coping, and is about twentythree or twenty four feet high. On the top of this wall, near each cor ner, is frame guard-house, and the guards can pass along 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-room for the guards, twenty by twenty feet ten feet high; a paint shop, thirty-two by sixteen feet, ten feet hgh zinc roof; an old blacksmith shop, used shed sixty -four by twenty three feet, eight feet high, coverel with zinc.
 Outside of the prison wall are the following, to wit: small building, occupied by the keeper, IS by IS feet feet story, and shed-roOm: kitchen,
 
 by twenty feet, ten feet hgh one stable, thirty by thirty feet, ten feet high; and one guard house, eighteen by eighteen feet and eighteen feet high; aso horselOt, four hundred and seventy feet fenc ing; and also a small garden spot with plenty of ground for larger garden. The buildings outside ot the prison walls are constructed principally of wOod
 The Penitentiary grounds to be leased, comprise about sixty acres upon which, it is believed, sutfi- cient tire-wood for ordinary use of the Pententarv can be obtained; but the contractor will not be allowed to use the timber for manufacturing purpo- 
 This institution is located, adjoining and west of the city of Little Rock, about three quarters of mile from the State-house, on high and healthy ridge.
 There are now eghtythree convcts in the peni- telltiary, sixty-eght of whom were sent by the courts of this state, and fifteen by the United States | courts There are also, two runaway slaves, de- taned at the Penitentiary. The United States pays fifty cents per day for each of the convcts sent by the U. s. courts, to the Pententiary; and the tractor will be entitled to the amount so paid, as well as to the labor of such convicts. The State of Arkansas does not own of the | bedding, clothing, furniture, tools or implements in use at the Pententary 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 at Little Rock, until the second day of May, A. D. 1859, for the lease of the grounds buildings and convcts, in ac- cordance with the law hereinbefore designated. The proposals will be plainly and distinctly written, and sealed up and directed to the Governor of the State of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas and will be indorsed Proposals for leasing the Arkansas Penitentiary, etc" None need arply but respon- sble persons, who promptly give good and sufficient bond in the of one hundred thousa nd doilars, for the faithful performance of the whole of what is required.
 Al newspapers published in this State will pub
 fish this notice and the act referred to therein, three times, once week. and will render their accounts against the State of Arkansas therefor to the audi | tor ELIAS N. CONWAY,
 Gorernor of the State of Arka ansas. | EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
 IiffIe Rnck Ark Onn