Arizona republican., 1908-07-29
OPENING OF
 PRISON BIDS
The Figures Will be Dis
 closed Tomorrow
A Tentative Plan tor Se- curing Efficient Convict Labor.

The bids for the construction of the territorial prison will be opened to- morrow While no indications have been given concerning the character of the bids it is thought that on account of the state of depression which eN- ists in the country and the lessened volunteer work in the large building centers the figures will be very advan- tageous to the territory. On account of the unfortunate industrial condi- tions in most places there has been a large number of bids.
 Some of the bidders have indicated that their figures have been made up on the basis of convict labor, the bid ders taking a chance on the efficiency of it. other bids are supposed to be based in the cost of labor in the mar ket. but that they contain proposals for convict labor at a price to be agreed upon. At any rate it is be- lieved that the construction will be largely by convict labor.
 The governor, the auditor, the board of control and the superintend- ent of the prison have been discussing a plan for increasing the efficiency of convict labor. The plan involves the establishment of 2 standard and a daily marking of those convicts em- ployed. The standard will be 100 and for every day a convict attains that high mark a day will be taken off of his sentence. Superintendent Ryn- ming is of the opinion that that ar engagement will secure a degree of ef- ficicncy above that of the same num- Der of free labOrers. A majority of convicts would rather work for days than for money. The average lahorer is content to hold his job and his am- bition may not extend much beyond that No system of marking has ter rprs for him or holds out an incentive to him to attain or keep to any other standard than such as is necessary to keep him in employment
 Eighteen convicts have been em- ployed in clearing the ground and all of them are pleased with their occu- patton and are doing most satisfactory work. The thing that pleases them tho most is their separation from the hated striped clothes. The board, for this work dressed them in kahki. While clothes do not make the man, this kahk clothing has made better worllmen and has been a paving in vestment for the territory.
 There has been delay in the begin ming of work on the prison that is not well understood, but it was unavoid- able and has been brought to an end. There was some trouble in securing title to the ground on which the prison was to be built and the title was not obtained until in May. Nothing could be done until the territory was in full possession of the land and immediate ly thereafter the next step was taken leading up to the awarding of the contract, which will follow close upon the opening of the bids. Thence on the work will be pushed with the ut most rapidity and it is believed that the prison will be practically finished by the time the next legislature con venes.
 The work will really begin tomor- row. The board of control has already sent to the site material for making reinforced concrete posts to be used in enclosing the grounds. These posts will be nineteen feet in length, to be seven feet above ground and will be clothed in barb wire. This will make as effective a stockade as will be needed.