Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-08-02
YUMA
Its Present Condition and the Great Flu
 ture Before 1t.
EdItorial Corr. Prospector.

Were it not for the people residing at Yuma no one would know that 1t was hot there. A visitor stopping off for the first time Is prepared for a scorching. He waits for it longingly, and feels disap pointed upon going away that his experl- ence has been an uneventful one. The thermometer at this writing, D. m., reg isters III on the shady side of the hotel veranda. The precipitation stands out from every pore, the breeze is warm, but upon striking the body its effect is to con vert ones body into a cool, delightful mass of nerves and tis sues, which is a pleasing contrast to the heat in higher attitudes, where precipitation is unknown, unless accompanied with eXertion or physical exercise. Here you perspire as you sit in your chair. Nature has con spired to make this one of the most healthful climates on the face of the globe. Everybody looks well; the com plexions of the people are contrast with the bilious, saffron colored faces visible ill other climes, where it IS not considered respectable to sweat.
 The magnificent body of water running away to the ocean without being utilized by man strikes one as being peculiar oversight on their part, which can not be accounted for by the visitor, With a magnificent soil and healthful climate it Is a cause of wonderment that where na- ture has done so much man should have taken so little advantage of her works. There are mines along either bank of the river for hundreds of miles without d wheel being turned by its power There are placer mines and rich ground for miles on either side almost beyond com prehension. and yet only to be worked by dry washers and other crude. methods. But all of this apathy upon the part of capital can not remain long in its present state, and when the time does come Yuma county and the Colorado river basin will have an Astonishing growth in remark ably short space of time.
 THE PRISON.
 | Yuma has one institution beside the admirably conducted hotel and two pa pers-the Times and Sentinel which she may well feel proud of. The penitentiary is an institution of which few people, aside from those who have to go there, have any idea, outside of the knowledge that it is a prison. The convicts there number 143 at the present time. The prison grounds and buildings proper are sur rounded by an adoble wall of formidable dimensions. The description of the walls, guard houses, gatling gun stand and oth- CT perfectly arranged means of thwarting any attempt at escape are a secondary consideration to the comfort and well be- ing of the prisoners confined within the walls In the first place the visitor is struck with the remarkably cool atmos- phere throughout the.interior of the build ing. The ventilation Is perfect. The bath room where any one of the convicts can take shower bath at any time of day, the library with its extensive shelves piled with books, the barber shop, drug department, laundry and other conven fences, for the health and comfort of the prisoners, are models in their manner o
 construction and accessories.
 The prisoners are not confined in theil cells all day as is the case with many pris ons, but are allowed to mingle with eacl
 other with perfect freedom. The library
 is well patronized and Is filled with
 class of books instructive as well as inter
 esting. The prisoners are allowed tt
 choose any occupation they may desire
 Some of them busy themselves in making
 canes, bureaus, and wood ornaments others with lace work. There is an al , of happiness and contented feelint
 among the men which is pleasing sur
 prise. The surroundings are of mucl
 cleaner and more civilized type than - large number of the men were used t when they had their freedom. Amon
 those known in Tombstone who are con
 fined here are Sam McClaren who ha . charge of the kitchen: his brother wh assists him, Wilson Douglass who aid 7 assistant Hatch on his rounds, night an morning; Frank Leslie, who dispense
 medicine to the patients; Jack Dennis
 who stood up fellow miner near tn Prompter mine, Howard Withrow wh ' received six years for stealing pair of pi lows from the house of M. B. Clapp, wh stole bank and has his freedom. The lii tie Mexican boy who formerly worked 6 l Baron's barber shop. is busy making s lace shawl Allen and Cook are quie
 Every prisoner speaks most highly ( 7 their treatment and pleasant surround ings.