Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1871-01-14

TERRITORIAL PRISONERS AND PRISONS
By law, the Territorial prisoners are
incarcerated in the county jails of the
several counties in which they are con-
victed. Such jails afford no facilities
for the employment Of the convicts or
the exercise of reformatory measures
over them. Their maintenance is ex-
pensive and the jails generally inse-
cure, ofteu requiring guard to prevent
their escape, and frequently compelling
the officers to chain them to The floor. By
act of Congress, approved Jan. %,
1867, it is provided that the net pro-
ceeds of the internal revenue of this
Territory that accumulate during the
fiscal years ending June 30, 1865, '67
and '6S, should be applied to the cree.
ton of Territorial Penitentiary, the
sum not to exceed $4,000 1 am not
informed of the amount of money that
has accumulated under this act, but
the necessity for speedy action is 30
urgent that it will probably be good
policy to commence the work with the
money on hand and erect building
for present use in accordance with the
means, having in view in its construc-
ton the adding to of other buildings
as necessity requires and the funds will
admit; and in the future improvement
of the structure, the labor can be prin-
cipally performed by the convicts.
THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE
TERRITORY.
A tract of land along the eastern bank
of the Colorado River and upon which
a portion of Arizona City is located, is
claimed by the State of California;
and until within the past year, the
revenue officers of San Diego county
have collected the taxes on the proper
ty located thereon. Over year ago
the subject of jurisdiction was
raised in the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, and the matter was referred to
Judge James of Washington, d. c.,
for examination and decision. After q
careful investigation of the subject, he
decided that the disputed territory be-
longed to Arizona, and the officers of
this Territory were directed to collect
the revenues therein. That the dispu-
ted territory belongs to Arizona, in my
Judgment, does not admit of doubt.
Suits have been commenced in the
county of Yuma in the I'd Judicial
district to bring the matter to an issue
and final adjudication. AS there will
be some outlay attending these suits,
and the Territory being equally inter-
ested with The county, il is but Just that
the Territory should bear portion Of
The expense.
TERRITORIAL FINANCES.
The reports of the Treasurer and Au-
ditor, which will be laid before you with
their respective statements in detail,
show that the financial condition of the
Territory is in very satisfac tory con-
ing interest at 10 per Ct per annum
dition. According to the Treasurer's
report to the last Legislative Assem-
bly,, the outstanding Indebtedness bear
amounted, November 1, 1868, to $780,
961 o., and the cash on hand to g.
S6S Of, leaving a balance of &24, 092 80
of Indebtedness above the amount on
hand. 1t appears from the statements
now presented, that the receipts since
the last report amount to $50, 243 40.
Add to this the amount in the Treasury
Nov. l, 1868, and we have total of
$50, Ill O5. During that period, there
was disbursed 1884, IL, leaving a
balance in the Treasury of S415O "a.
The present indebtedness amounts to
SOL, leaving a balance of $3.50 "a
cash in the Treasury over all liabilities
against the Territory.
Estimating the losses sustained from
Indian hostilities, the general insecure
ty of life and property which necessa-
rily discourage immigration, the in
vestment of capital and the develop
ment of our resources, and also that
the rate of taxation for Territorial
purposes has been only fifty cents upon
each 800 of taxable property, cause
this exhibit to be particularly crafty
ing, and firmly establish confidence
in the solvency of the Territory. 1t
is encouraging, also, to be able to state
that the finances of the counties are In
very satisfactory condition, their
warrants commanding nearly par in