Arizona republican., 1890-08-31
THE officers oi the prison, as at pres ent constituted, consist of the following:

ARIZONA, like many other states, has
 made no provision for helping the con
 vict when his term of imprisonment ex-
 pires. lmpossibilites are expected of
 the convict and he is almost certain to
 get to prison again or starve. Given a
 chance, many man would leave the
 penitentiary to live better life; the
 opportunity being denied him, he lapses
 again and becomes an enemy to society.
 The Territory now furnishes the dis
 charged convict with suit of clothes,
 8 in money and half-fare transporta-
 ton for 300 miles from Yuma. Un-
 fortunately the railway company de-
 clines to sell half-fare tickets, so full
 fare tickets for half the distance (I5O
 miles) are provided. This lands the discharged convict on the desert at
 Banning on the west and at Maricopa on the east. Without friends, without
 money and handicapped with q
 penitentiary record the poor fel-
 low will have sorry time of it to get along in the world.
 Yet many of them do get along, lead
 honest and useful lives and in many of
 the highest caliings of the world there are prominent men who have "done time." Several great hotel men of New
 York served long terms in Sing Sing, and one of the foremost theatrical man. agers of that city did time in prison. On the Pacific Coast not few Ticket of-Leave men are today strong and influ- ential citizens of the Republic. Many more would be so if helping hand had been extended them on leaving prison. In various States societies are now being organized for this very purpose. They provide homes for convicts, secure them employment and hold them under protecting wing during the days of their probation-a critical period for the ex- convicts. It is better to prevent crime than it is to punish criminals, and it is cheaper.
 CAPT. INGALLS, appreciates the public demand that so far as may be the Terri torial penitentiary should be less costly. He recognizes the neces- sity of making an effort to- ward making the in stituton self-sus- taining and has given the subject much There is, of course, no of law for such effort now and no appropriation with which to act. Captain Ingalls, in his annual report, will, however, make some suggestions that should secure the serious consider ation of the Legislature. He is watch ing very closely the experiments now being made by the Southern Pacific with wild hemp. This material grows in proiusion on the rich allu- vial bottoms below Yuma and if it l should be found useful for cloth, as is | believed, it's preparation for the weaver would open an industry for Arizona just as jute has for California. Much is hoped | for in this direction.
 The manufacture of bridle reins and | riatas is also being considered and could | be safely experimented with at small | outlay. There is class of prisoners that | would be useless for almost any other sort of work, but could be utilized in this direction.
 The extension of the eelectric-light plant | to the homes and business houses of | Yuma has also been considered by Cap tain Ingalls,. The expense to the prison would be only nominal, the plant being in | position and the power ample. Con- victs run the engines and dynamos, and | there does not appear to be any good reason why the penitentiary should not lerive a very handsome revenue from this source. The people of Yuma are anxious for the light and ready to pay the usual rates for it. This industry would not interfere with any existing or free labor of any sort. In lhis same way is also discussed the ad- of supplying Yuma with water by the erection of a reservoir on the hill pack of the prison. The prison is now