Arizona republican., 1897-11-05
TERRITORIAL PENITENTIARY.
What Is Going On at the Prison
 Convicts Doing Good Service.

respOndence of The Republican.)- One of the interesting points in Yuma is the prison where ere confined 200 prisoners, committed for various of fences. some five or six on the charge of murder. But one woman is under going a season of retirement, this par ticular person hailing from Tucson, where she got into trouble, good for tune alone saving her from a worse fate-a lengthy term. It is notice able fact that over one fourth of the ldmber confined are young men whose ages vary from 19 to 26 A very considerable proportion are Mex jeans. Some of the inmates have made a good record, especially those employed at\ skilled labor, and more especially the electrician and assist ant, who are long termers The con- hnement of young men in an insti- tuition of this class argues most em- phatically in favor of the establish ment of reformatory, not neces- sar1ly on large scale, but so arrang- ed that additions can be made as required. While there is apparently great freedom permitted prisoners serving for minor offenses, if any of- Iense can be termed minor, the vigi- lance or the officials is in no degree diminished. All prisoners are treated ike human beings, the methods of the prison management being in inc line of the educational. in thai it will nave the effect of producing a moral tendency leading to the crr1shfne o,,t of the evil disposition, possibly. that led to entrance into the institution Tn word the management bopes that Ma1p a prisoner is discharged he will go oN into the world better man after having paid the penalty of inc crAa9e tor which he had to submit tn the laws mandates.
 me present officers are: John w Dorrlngoon, Superintendent. gen. uIeman who has resided many wears 1T fuma, during which time he has ueVO'ed ms attention to newspaper work as publisher of the A, izona sentinel; Hon. Frank T. AspinwaI assistant Superintendent who served tne Atlantic & Pacific railway ss aseht at Winslow and during two gems Of the legislature represented NaVaJo county in the upper bouse. D. M. Gregory of Phoenix. secretary 10 the superintendent; Charles McCord, Samuel w. Bayley and T, ward Of Phoenix; Robert Hatch q C- Dyer, Juan Zabala. Yuma. q F spencer, Pima county: Wm. SbiIIim Cochlse; Miles Archibald Prescott G. ii. Aldridge, Graham county ara guands. The guards are divided into oay and night shifts, some going wifb uetached parties Of c9nvicts where deemed necessary. In the office perfect system is maintained with ref erence to accounts, inspection of mail reception of prisoners and other da' talis of a clerical nature. Here pris- oners are assigned, after having heen registered, to duties much in the na- ture of what they followed prior to commitment. In cases where inc prisoner has no occupation he is or dered to place that will serve tho purpose of the management.
 me prison enclosure is 300 fe;t square, the stone walls being eight leEI Wlde and twenty feet in height The main body of cells are located in the center of the enclosure and plenty or room afforded in a cell, which is arranged to accommodate from two to lour psrsons. In the hill on the west slde number of cells have been ~quarraed out, one of these being so constructed as to afford no light and Wnlcn IS styled the snake den" ID other words dungeon where the convict IS shut in for an infraction or the rules and fed on bread and Wa ter Tor few days, or more as occas- Ion demands. The hospital is located on this side, likewise the barber shop ana library, the latter beng main talned by voluntary donations receiy- GU rom visitors and Ii tie change ho r,,;r
 earnings gained through extrl work The Women's ward is in the south east corner. Owing to it's close as sCcldllon to the mems quarters a sreclal apartment will be erectsh on the outside and overlooking the Colo Iduo rlVer. rms idea was suggested Dy Goverror McCord while on a visit 10 the institution and is a wise pro vision. A matron will be placed in cnarge and work given the women prisoners, of a character to which they are best adapted Good and sub- stantial food is given the inmates and provision is made, for cleanliness of person and clothing The photograph gallery is patronized by all newcom- CTS, precaution observed in all wei regulated establishments of this calss The prisoners are permitted to work after hours, the profits accruing beins divided, at ratio of one-third to thu prison and two-thirds to the prisoner Brooms and mattresses, shoes ant clothing are made within the walls
 The electric light system is workins In admirable shape, the capacity beine 25O lights. A duplicate dynamo i: operated after o'clock for the bene. it of the city, mutual exchange having been entered into, the Warel and Light company to serve the pris. on with water to bala-c accounts A long term prisoner who has showr an aptitude for the work is in charge of the electric light system, so far a: the inside workings are concerned lie does his work like a veteran.
 Two months ago a nfan Mas adontni