Arizona republican., 1890-08-24

lSs5 ........ IS 0i1 lSSS 51 2bl ioo' i' %oV
 Total for three years. .............. Sl52 5Sg
 This shows an annual average of S50,- S63. The expenses of the first quarter of 1890, as indicated by the bills audited, were $l4, ,lSl, the highest quarterly ex- penditure ever made in the prison. The bills for the second quarter, being entered on the books, but the indica- tions are that they will run fully as high.
 It is, therefore, not unreasonable that the people of Arizona should keep their eyes on the Territorial penitentiary nor that they should want to know something concerning the institution,
 TnE penitentiary is delightfully."- To- cated on q hill overlooking the town and at a considerable elevation above it. To the north and east the Colorado leaves the base of the hill on which the prison is located and to the southeast the Gila flows into the mighty river, forming junction just beyond the prison grounds. The location is most picturesque and attractive. It is just at a point where the Colorado has pierced
 it's way through the hill of conglomerate
 rock, which bears every indication of having once been the river bed itself. On the opposite bluff, in California, stands old Fort Yuma, now occupied as an Indian school under the direction of the Interior Department. This was one of the largest posts in the
 West in its day and one of leading i'm
 portance, especially during the earlier
 years of the Civil War, when it was oc- cupied by the California Volunteers. To the east and north the Colorado ex-
 tends to the mountains, which it has cleft to the depth of thousands of feet and carved in the face of rocky nature the wonders of the Grand Canon. To the south and east is the Valley of the Gila, as yet partially barren and practi- cally uninhabited, but pregnant with the promise of an early awaken ing and destined to become one of the richest and most productive val leys of the Territory. To the south and southwest is the valley of the Colorado, the whilom, turbulent stream now plac- idly and peacefully flowing to the Gulf, through the richest of alluvial soil. In the sweep of the eye Pilot Knob arrests attention and marks the point where Mexico, California and Arizona inter- sect and where rises an international survey monument and whence the line between Mexico and the United States runs due west toward San Diego. The picture is a pleasing and a satisfying one, but it also has practical side. It is just such place as a man brained in penology would select for prison. Hemmed in by rivers and open valleys, escape is almost impossible, as the history of the prison indicates. The drainage IS perfect, the surroundings healthiul and the elevation catches re- freshing and invigorating breezes. The temperature is never very high and the nights are nearly always cool and pleas ant.
 THIs spot was deeded to the Territory of Arizona, for penitentiary uses, and comprises S.3S acres. The deed was executed October 2S, 1876. The first convicts sent here were confined tenn porarily in the Yuma county prison and worked under con tract until the first two cells were com pleted, which was done under w. A. Werninger, the first Superintendent. Slow progress was made in the con struction of the prison. When Captain Ingalls, first took charge, in June, 1883, but sixteen cells had been completed, n dining room, kitchen, bakeshop and bath room. The workshop was located in shed. A wooden stockade fence inclosed three sides of the yard, the bluff forming a barrier in the other direction. There was also water tank, pump and pump station.
 To this plant, Captain Ingalls, added eighteen cells; workshop 120x40 feet, divided into blacksmith shop, engine room, carpenter, shoe and tailor shops. He enlarged the yard double it's size by eAcavating the hill to the south, and graded and leveled the ground in every direction toward the river. He also erected the west and north walls of the prison as they now stand and completed the foundations for the east side, all of which are of granite and consumed six months in construc- ton. He also built the Superintendent's dwelling, the present office and store house, barn and five guard stations. The electric light plant now in use was put in during his first administration of the prison, the electric bells connect ing the guard stations, Superintendent's dwelling and office with the buildings in the yard. He also bought the Cat ting gun which has been found so use- ful and widened the main approaches to the prison.
 Since then the wall on the west side has been completed by Superintendent iates a sewer completed to point be- low the town; a shed for wagons has been erected; cement laid in the corri- iors and dining room; q guard station added and the approach from the town by cutting away the hill.
 An effort at broom making was also attempted, but was abandoned, pre- on account of failure.
 It will thus be seen that the greater portion of the improvements on the prison were made by Capt. Ingalls, dur ng his first term, from June, 1883, to March 3l, 1886. His perfected but partially unexecuted plans were carried onward by MT. Gates, who succeeded Jim, but since, there have not only not ,een any add ditions to the buildings, but hose erected previously have not been maintained. Yet the expenses have