The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1892-02-06
a visit SO tEae Prison.

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the SENTINEL visited the Territorial
Prison, where he was courteously re-
ceived by Superintendent M. Nc
Inernay and Assistant Superintendent
Hiel Hale In company with Capt.
Hale the different departments of the
panitentiary were examined and the
entire institution gone through.
The new mess hall building for the
officers and guards, a substantial two
story structure is rapidly approach
ing completion. The water supply is
good and the pumps which fill the
granite reservoir are in 6rst-class
order. Electric lights are not now
being used in the prison as the dyna-
mo and machinery are not In good
order; it is almost useless to try and
repair the electric light system of the
hill as it is simply used up, or to use
a Westernism, "played out" The
north wall, which was in crumbling
condition has been repaired and pre-
sentE very good appearance.
A tunnel is being run in the hill Of
conglomerate rock on the south side
of the prison yard. The tnnnel will
be 55 feet in length, 10 feet high and
10 feet vide and will be used as a
hospital for sick convicts. The ma
terial in which the tunnel is run is
dry and of great thickness, conse-
quently during the hot summer, the
hospital will be several degrees cooler
than any adjacent points. Plenty of
ventilation, by means of air shafts
will be obtained and a grating put Oh
floor, walls and ceiling to make the
hospital secure and safe.
There are now $50 convicts in the
Territorial prison and they present in
most caseshealthy and well-fed appear
ance. Upon the sound of the supper
gong the men fall into line to the
south or the corridor, and at tie
word of command march in, each
prisoner, as he passes the Assistant
Superintendent, respectfully dotfing
his hat. From the main corridor the
men march by twos into the dining
room, where savory and bountiful
meal awaits them. The day that the
writer visited the penltentiary the
supper consisted of boiled rice, beef
stew with potatoes, bread, molasscs
and tea. The prisoners were given
all they could eat and plenty of time
allowed them to enjoy their eating
leisurely. When Captain Hale saw
that the prisoners had eaten all they
cared for he struck his desk with an
ironwood ruler, one blow, at which
the men arose and stood in line, at the
sound of second and similar signal
they marched in regular order from
the dining room into their cells,
when they were locked up for the
night.
The shoes, clothing and underwear
worn by the prisoners is all made at
the Territorial prison. The convicts
are also employed in the blacksmith
shops, building the mess hall, in the
laundry, kitchen, bake-shop and driv-
ing the hospital tunnel, as well as on
the levee and other work. The
health of the prison is reported good
and is carefully looked after by DR..
J. H. Taggart, the well-known, sue
cessful and learned physician.
During their leisure moments, the
prisoners arc permitted to work for
themselves. They carve many beauti-
full bits in onyx, many Of them very
useful as well as ornamental. Paper
weights, sleeve buttons, rulers and
many other things are made from the
beautiful Arizona onyx. Some
very fue lace is also
made, which commands fair prices.
The money received from the sale of
these articles is placed to the credit
of the prisoners who, in some cases
accumulate quite a handsome sum
of money by the time their term of
imprisonment expires.
The SENTINEL extends thanks to
the officers of the prison for the
facilities given the writer to see
how things are conducted "on the
hill.
w.