Arizona republican., 1899-06-21

enue TOT the territory. A number O. acres could be reserved and utilized a: a prison farm, thus saving consider able expense. Action on the part ol ] the commissioners relative to this i'm I portant project might prove vastly beneficial to the institution"
 Il So far as can be ascertained the
 commissioners made no report on the
 subject, but we do find them saying:
 ''As regards the making of the pani- tentiary a self-sustaining institutoin Il,
 we fear the expense of introducine
 machinery and erecting the same
 within the prison walls for the purpose of manufacturing, without having any
 skilled labor therein would prove a
 loss, rather than a gain, and while
 we believe Tn having the prisoners ! Giate industry that would be likely to
 pay revenue" Signed. s. c. Bagg,
 chairman; L. F'raissenet, J. T. Les-
 ueuer commissioners.
 l Nothing can be found further touch
 ing the situation till December 31, | 1894, when Superintendent Gates
 again reports as follows: ''Tha land
 donated to the prison by the United i States has been cleared to the extent i of about thirty acres, and of this six
 acres have been thoroughly grubbed; ;
 in the nature of an experiment vege- tables have been planted on about
 three-quarters of an acre. A small
 house of two rooms has been erected on this ground, one 10X12 feet to be
 used as a tool house and the other 12X14 is intSnded to accommodate the
 person n charge. For present irriga- ton we are using two hand pumps, and by this means are able to supply about three acres. For the purpose of irrigation I would suggest that two
 small portable steam engines be pur-
 chased for use in connection there
 with. In boring these wells it will be
 necessary to go below forty feet to
 avoid quicksand and the watlsr will
 rise to within seven or eight feet of
 the surface. As protection against
 high waters in the Colorado and Gila
 rivers a levee is in process of con
 stIuction for a considerable distance along the banks of both, and danger
 of damage by food will be greatly
 lessened if not entirely CbUiated. I
 am in hopes that at the next session of
 the board 1 will be able to show some
 practical results of our labor in this
 direction, and I am very firmly of the p.nion that future expense of this in
 stitution will be materially reduced by the produce of this farm, as all neces- sary vegetables and feed for our ami mals can most certainly be raised.
 T would recommend that the beard give all possible consideration to the subject of this farm. to the end that requisite improvements of productive nature be made thereon; as a system of intelligent cultivation of this prop erty offers greater inducem ents in the nature of revenue to the pris0n than anything hitherto proposed in that di- rection.''
 In the next quartarly report, March 31, 1895, he says: Work has con- stantly been maintained on the farm, quite a large force being engaged thereon. About eigheen acres of land has been thoroughly levelsd, grubbed, ard fully proteGJed by leVees from the encrC3chmEnt of the future high wa ters of the Ctla ard Colorado rivers. Irrigation of the land mentioned is still accomplished by means of a small hand pump and the supply is very meager. In this connection I would urge upon your attention the necss- sity for supply1ng machinery for pumping plant. Such plant is an ab- solute necessity, and essential to sue cessfu1 cultivation. A flat boat in tended as a ferry for the men and 1 teams employed on the farm, was built during the quarter and has since | been in uSe''
 In his qCarterly report of June 30, | he says: "On the prison farm at such l times as not prevented by high watsr 1 tn the river force of about twenty | men, as large a number as can be | safely handled, has been consI- antly | employed in clearing, leveling and | grubbing the land. About eighty acres have been thoroughly cleared and pre- pared for cultivation, and as soon as the consignne of seed expected from the territorial university shall have arrived the work will be rapidly pushed forward.
 In his report of SeIl-emb:r 30 he makes no refereri:e whatever to the prison farm, but in his report of De- I ,ember 30 he says: During the quar- 1sr work has progressed favorably on he farm. Eighty acres have been )lowed, fenced and part of same lev- eled. Five and Ole-half acres have been. planted to cana:gre, five acres of which, as an experiment., is to be grown without irrigation: the other lalf acre is to be irrigated. We have IboUt three acres in vegetables, which ract we irrigate with hand pumps The experiment win the tobacco plants has proved 5eyond a doubt hat the land is well adapted for the:r uccessful cultivation
 Tn his first quarterly report Of darch 31, 1896. Superintendent NJ. F. Shaw says: Work has been com nenced on the erection of new steam jumping plant on the prison farm for purposes, a twenty-five lorse power horizontal boiler, and q discharge steam pump have seen purchased and are being placed n the station, which will be complete nd Ln running order in 2 few days. I his plant will furnish ample supply f water to irr:gate all of the land ! ow under cultivation, and in addi- I ion to this, any more of the farm 2 creage which may be deemed advis- ( ble to cultivate ir the future." t