Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1898-11-30
J.C. MARTIN. Editor and Proprietor
PULL FOR THE PENITENTIARY.

Why il Is that the Courier is op
 posed to the location of the terri
 torIal prison at Prescott this year when two years ago t was an advo
 cate of a much needed change, wE fail to see, except it be possible that it has undergone a radical change oi heart since election and now wishe; to pose on the pedestal of mora fame instead of that of political spells, which latter it so vehemently impressed the people with at the last election. The stand taken by that paper is amusing, in view of the fact that on one hand it would advocate the election of a demo cratic delegate to congress which for two years at least must be pre- sided over by a republican president and on the other hand 1t again comes to the front with its character is;ic line of argument and would discountenauce that which would give to a section the support of a territorial institution. IL argues from a moral standpoint, but does not stop to consider financial bene- fits that would occur thereby. II the industrial creations of this sec tion are not strongly enough en- trenched 10 withstand the strain oi a territorial prison. or if the exist ence of such an institution IS tC crush us, the sooner we arN relieved of a shadowy following tn Lei -or ], will be. The msiLteuance ot tLe prison in Yavapai Will be au altire- ly different proposition from that which prevails at present in Yuma As 1t Is now no reflection can be cast any more cn Yuma with O, without 1t, than prevails. or has pre- vailed for generations and before the place was selected. Take the ex- ample of Phenix for instance, where the insane asylum Is located, and must an outsider infer from that feature Phenix is any less desirable as an inviting point than Prescott without that feature. Or on the other hand. take Stockton, Califor- mia, has 1t not grown and prospered under the socalIed stra;n of harbOr- ing public and private insane asyl- ums. In many Of the principle western states, as we'll as in the east some of the largest centers of popu- lation and likewise most thrifty in theIr commercial rating, maintain state prisons. and are apparently immune from any criminal ntag- ion which the Courier seems to think Prescott would be cursed and stained with, 1T a change takes place. It Is true there are state penitentiaries loca ed in obscure places in some few states, but in number they do not compare with those otherwise. Politically and geographically Yavapai should have the .-isoo. and it should be given Us without any consideration what ever from the entire territory. other than that wealth, population and location demand 1t unselishly. Yuma will profit no more with It than without it. With its location in Prescott, county expenses ID trausportat on would be cut in half. and besides this Auzona products will find ready market, which un- der present conditions as they pre- val in the administration of its life, Arizona annually pays a handsome financial tribute to California for everything they consume in that in
 stitution A to the moral influence the penitent sry will cast on Pres cots life of refinement in religious and social channels, the skePtical Is always around on any occasion and Sees only through the wicket of gloom and despair.