Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/152

144 F. G. YOUNG. 18, 1846. 33 The Territory was then for some seven years without a building in which to incarcerate its convicted felons. Convicts sentenced to imprisonment in the territorial penitentiary were either farmed out to private individuals, 34 kept at the Columbia Barracks at Vancouver, 35 or at the county jails. 36 In the second session (1850) after that providing for the organization of the Territorial Government, Congress appro- priated $20,000 for the erection of a penitentiary at such place as they (the Governor and legislature) might select. 37 Four years later, 1854, an additional appropriation of $40,000 was received making in all $60,000 for this purpose. 38 On February 1, 1851, in one of the fivst conspicuous in- stances in which the location of public institutions was clearly effected through "log rolling," the Legislative Assembly in one measure located the capital at Salem, the penitentiary at 33 Oregon Archives, p. 162. Governor Abernethy, in his message to the legislature on December 2, 1846, says: "I regret to be compelled to inform you that the jail erected in Oregon City, and the property of the Territory, was destroyed by fire, on the night of the 8th of August last, the work, no doubt, of an incendiary. A reward of $100.00 was immediately offered, but as yet the offender has not been discovered. Should you think it best to erect another jail, T would suggest the propriety of building it of large stones, clamped together. We have but little use for a jail, and a small building would answer all purposes, for many years, I have no doubt, if we should be successful in keeping ardent spirits out of the Territory." In his message the following year Governor Abernethy again refers to this matter as follows: There is one thing, however, needed very much, in con- nection with it [the Judiciary], and that is a prison. Should an offender be sentenced to imprisonment by the judge, there is no place in the Territory to confine him. and, consequently, he escapes the punishment his crimes justly merit. This should not be so, and I hope you will provide means during your present session for the erection of a jail." Oregon Archives, p. 208. Governor Gaines, in his message in 1850, also speaks of the necessity of providing a penitentiary for the secure confinement of the criminals. Executive Journal, MS. 34 Auditor's Report, 1852, p. 20, Appendix to House Journal. 35 Appendix to House Journal, Fourth Session, p. 3. 36 Auditor's Report, 1853, Appendix to C. J., p. 144, and report of commissioners appointed to erect a penitentiary, Appendix to House Journal, Fifth Session, p. 26. 37 Executive Records MS. The appropriation was "to be expended under the orders and supervision of the Governor and Assembly." 38 Appendix to C. J., Seventh Session, p. 15.