The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-12
4 FEDERAL PEAfTENTIARY.
What Secretary Francis Has TO Say
Regarding One In This state.

In commenting upon former legislation
regarding the construction of a United
States penitentiary in the state or Wash
ington, Secretary OF the Interior Francis,
In his report just made. says that in the
deficiency appropriation act approved
March 3. 1893 CT Stat. l., esl). an appro-
priatlon for the purchase OF a site in the
state Of Washington and for the erection
OF penitentiary thereon was made IA the
following terms:
Penltentiary building, Washington: To
carry into effect section Is of an act en-
titled AN act 70 provide for the Division
OF Dakota into two states and 20 enable
the people OF North Dakota and South
Dakota. Montana and Washington TO form
constitutions and state governments and
10 be admitted into the Union and on
equal footing with the original states. and
10 make donations OF public lands 10 SUCH
states" For the purchase OF grounds and
the erection thereon or pententiary IN
the state OF Washington. under the direc-
ton and supervision OF the secretary OF
the interior. and upon such tract or par
Gel or land IN said state as shall be desig-
mated by said secretary. thirty thousapd
dollars: Provided, That tins money hereby
appropriated shall be devoted exclusively
- the purchase OF the necessary grounds
and 70 the erection OF penitentisry in
said state; and the nenitentiary OF the
state OF Washington Is hereby located at
or near the city of Waila Walla, Walla
Nalla county, in said state.
Shortly after the passage OF said act the
governor Of the state of Washington and
the secretary OF the board of directors of
the Washington state penitentiary called
attention 10 thu appropriation by congress
for The purposes above mentioned and
claimed that IL had been appropriated for
the purpose OF erecting q wing TO tho stale
penitentiary at waila wslIa, In which
conclusion. however. the department dA
not concur, inasmuch as the act in cues
ton did not In terms 50 provide or grant
20 the state OF Washington the lands to
be purchased or the penitsntiary building
20 be constructed thereon nor authorize
the transfer Of the same TO the state by
the secretary OF the interior when CON-
pIetcd.
Subsequently,. In September. 1S9s IN re-
Spouse 20 an inquiry, the United States
senator from Washington Cion. Watson
(. squirrel was advised as 20 the view Of
the case aforesaid. and II Vas suggested,
as the appropriation for the pententlary
was small Il might be advisable IN the In
terest OF economy 10 construct the came
as a wing 10 the existing state pcniten-
tiary building. providing thu United States
could purchase the necessary ground and
have the use Ia the construction Il re-
qulrca without cost 20 the government)
or a part Of said penit entary wall, the abb
solUte control. however of the new wing
20 remain. upon completion. in the United
States. No response having been male
to such proposition. In June 1884 the de-
partmeut as = preliminary 70 the COM
Henccaent % work contem plated IN the
act appointed a commission for the pur-
pose 81 examining and recommending a
su}tRhle site near Wslls WAfla Wash en-
which 20 construct the penitentiary build
/ ing The tract selected by thts board. con-
sistinE OF forty acres OF land near the city
ef WallA Walia. was accepted by the de-
partment. the atis Of the vendor thereof
was approved ~ the attorney general. and
thereafter. vp0a the conveyance OF the
lana e. the Uuitea States. the eonsisera-
tien named IN the deed therefor. 80 wiz.
Staoa VAS paid.
Thereafter pIans ard Rpecis-a Hons sor
tase peniteuttAfy 20 be constructed ueSr
WaIia WaiiA were prepared. buE no con-
tract Cor ths work was let nor has any
( building bsen constructed. for the reason
that the attorney general. whS had haen
requested - direet an ofirer under nj.
supervision n Washington % de~sgrHfs ON
she site purchased suitable location sor
TIRE hanaing. declined - do 80. holding
IN effect that Il vas evidently not ire in
tsns8ou ~ congress % provi4e n ths aes
~ March 2 iSs1 Ter the construction OF a
Fsieral peHiteatiarv az Walla waHA, but
rsarr3y ore fas The state % Washington.
Subsequently, taat cificsr wss requested 10
ADVISE tha aenart neat wheener thN ta-A
purchased ia the name ef the r-rsse.f
states as ste for s,Fch p-nttsntlAry
buuSing % Re constructed thereon. SITTER
TIA completion. cou5a De frErSferras 20 ths
seate ~ WasAtnStqa wtthest further l~g-
issatiaa. 70 ~hi1A tha feli3wlaE reply was
made
II have fhe Asnbr - scknoWsezssa vc,,-
letter q re 80 inst. sna 70 say Ii repIy
fAag Z 9htrA f0TfaET ~ gtslst t4n - reealF@ss
ia re EastsFr q the gseni tgsnk5aTy Al Is IA
Is Ala " asa F&T fNa reasons stNke~s IA
nay letter q tns ga tf.ss I thiAk he ssfn-
2E4g2 - &19usasous Tna Snssroprtastsn
~ stats. ssl} auser &htEh vaa spsrcs s4~E
KnouFsta ASA E-1psse 70 erect r,er.sfssf-
&3ags sn ltse STATE * N&Sktrxton Ia IA
Terms EA4e 10 cary iuss ssfect z1etIas. 81
- sas SlA41az-s 49, 2z4eE AA-e. la xss