The Arizona sentinel., 1884-04-19

claimed: economy and the trans p0rtation out of our borders of our criminal element, who would then be likely never to return. The Gazette endorses the plea of economy, but opposes the pro-
 position of letting contracts for
 keeping our prisoners outside the
 Territory. The article towhich we
 rettr is printed on our first page,
 and we call the attention of our
 readers to it. Its arguments on
 the latter proposition are sound,
 but it objects to the present loca-
 ton of the penitentiary. The SENTINEL has heretofore given
 undispertable reasons why :the present location is in every way
 advantageous, and 1t seems al-
 most useless to reiterate. But to
 give the people of this Territory
 an idea of what is being done,
 and what it costs, We present a
 few figures for their cOnsidera-
 ton. The great thing to be attained is the
 cheap support of prisoners while con-
 fined. To do this contract has recent
 y been let to supply the prison with
 wood. beef, provisions, clothing for the
 prisoners and building material, the total
 cost of which amounts to S17,300. With
 this sum it is proposed to feed and cloth
 the prisoners for one year, as we'll as %
 purchase material with which to con-
 tinue the construction of tEe prison.
 The expense of the prison for the last
 quarter made the rate per day for each
 iaan at s130 per day. The total expen-
 ses were S14, 800. Of this amount s1 600
 was expended for machinery, and there
 is due from tbe United States the sum of $500 for the care of U. s. prisoners at the rate of S1.63 per day for each one. That reduces the actual cost to the territory for the quarter to SIP. 400. Taking the present number of prisoners as basis, I22, (there were more during the frat montlD and we find the rate per man per day 10 be about SLIP. Exclusive of these reductions and considering them as contingent expenses, the per diem is only s1.30 per man. All this while the prison is being built The stone IS quar- rief and the adobes made on the prem ises. All of tue iron work ana common labor is performed by prisoners. What ttter showing cou Id be asked?
 The Gazette argues that supplies could l be furnished cheaper in the Salt River | Valley than in Yuma. Let us see. Here | are the prices at which some of the SUD- | plies for the year are furnished by the | contractors: Flour, extra, per pound, 4c; unbolted, axe; potatoes, Sc; bacon, 7c; corn meal, 1c; brown sugar, 515c; | lard, 5c; yeast powder, 40c per dozen; soap, 2lc; suits for prisoners, S4.50; knit wool socks, 35c per dozen; white wool hats, s3.5O per dozen; army shoes. s per doz.; crash toweling, 5c per yard; wool blankets, S1 per pair; If pound Eureka mattresses, 35c; 3 pound pillows, 16 SC; coal oil, 20c; boiled oil, 10c; char coal, 1c per bushel; picks, 8 per doz.; blasting powder, S1 per keg; giant pow der, l0c per pound; lumber, redwood, s20; pine flooring, $20; cement, s12.50 per bbl.; lime, 8 50; Colts revolvers, s24 per doz.; Winchester rifles, S4S per loz.; latest improved breech loading shot guns. S4S per doz.; fresh beef, S9.28 per ,wt. wood, s3,30 per cord. These are he supplies of which most are used. Now what locality can furnish them at a ;heaper rate? Wapt of space forbids uller consideration of the subject but in l future issEe we will treat the matter nore at length. Our only object in giv- ng these figures is to show our brethren throughout the territory that in moving he pennitentiary from Yuma they have ! job on their hands far beyoud their strength.