Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-04-14
THE TERRITORIAL PENITENTIARY.
Changes Under Warden Wypkoop's Man
agemeut-Many ImprOments-
Systematic Employment
OF COnVicts.

Under Warden Wynkoop's sdministra
ton the territorial peniteutiary has I'M
dergone, in two short months, many
changes decidedly for the better, and
many new improvements have been in.
augurated, and visit to this institution at
once impresses one with the excellency
OF its management.
Since the building was completed, some
six years ago, it has had no hospital &C.
commodatons, which no well regulated
institution OF this kind can we'll afford to
be without. Col Wynkoop readily saw
the necessity of having this matter
speedily remedied and wrote letter to
the prison commissioners strongly recon-.
mending and urging them to authorize
him to build a hospital; he saw that
when sickness invaded the cell house
| the whole number of inmates were sub
| jpCted to the foul all, while the patient
Was without the chances OF recovery that
could be afforded him in a quiet house
away from the other prisoners. The
commissioners made haste to order the
commencement of making this improve
ment, and the work, now we'll under way,
will soon be completed. The hospital is
built of brick, With rcck foundation, and
the capacity will he sufficient, in case OF
Contagion, to accommodate large mum.
Der OF prisoners.
Tue entire work has been performed by
con victs, and ali the material used in con
struction was taken from the prison
grounds. The designs were drawn up by
the warden, and the erection of the build
ing will cost the territory nothing-what-
ever. 1t is only a wonder that such an
important matte as this should have been
neglected so long. The hospital is Ger
tainly most valuable improvement.
Another item of no small consideration
is that OF furnishing the pententlary with
vegetables. Heretofore small garden
spot MAS rented and the shortage in the
supply of vegetables cost the territory
year,, considerable sum of money
Warden Wynkoop now proposes having
garden OF nearly four acres on the prison
grounds, which has already been fenced
in and will soon be ready for planting
He say that with convict labor he can
raise enough vegetables on this land to
supply the prisoners all through the year,
both SUMMER AMI winter. Water for irri-
CATION will be supplied from the water
works, and there will be absolutely no ex-
pense attached to the management of this
important feature.
The old sewer, which had become rot
ten and incapable OF carrying off the
sewage, has been replaced by new one,
SG4 feet OF pipe having been laid. Too
much can not be said on this important
subject, as without first class sewerage
health at place OF this sort is never
safe.
The scene on the prison grounds during
week day is indeed busy one. When
not otherwise employed the convicts are
engaged in making brick, large quantity
OF which is now ready tor shipment. The
brick manufactured here will be used in
the construction OF the insane asylum at
Las Vegas, the university at Albuquerque,
the agricultural college at Las Cruces, the
s hool of mines at Socorro and other pup
lie buildings.
Under an act passed by the last legisa-
ture, permitting convWts to work on the
streets OF Santa Fe and all approaches to
the penitentiary, some excellent work
has been done, adding much to the con-
venience and appearance OF many of the
thoroughfares.
a representative of the New MEXICAN,
being ac, orded the hospitality of Warden
WNnkoop, had the pleasure OF being
shown through the penitentiary and |
grounds and found that the affairs of the |
institution are being managed very sys-
temalically. A visit to the cell house,
kitchen and other places found every
thing model If neatness and cleanliness,
and indeed we're it not for the ponderons
iron doors and bars everywhere in sight,
one would scarcely imagine himself with
IN the confines of prison walls. The
prisoners were all clean and exhibited
evidences If the best of treatment. All
through the big build ny cleanliness and
erldences OF good management were to be
Ieen.
Everything is governed like clock work
md all orders are given by signal. The
discipline is certainly as perfect as one
'ould desire. Warden Wynkoop's long
experience as an army officer and his
borough kno" ledge of military affu RS
makes him especially fitted for the very :;
position which he now oc-
uples. The discipline is the best the =
yards have been well chosen and are c
len who are attentive and admirably G
nIted to the places assigned them. In y
he penitentiary there are now ninety
nree convicts, two of whom are women,
nd never yet has there been complaint I
nder the present management. j
1t has been the aim of Col. Wynkoop ,
, make the administration as economical
5 possible, at the same time introducing
,any new aud valuable Improvements. t
he fact that the commissioners have
Psponded generously 10 his demands for
improvements is evidence of his superior
and ability in managing New
lexico's penitentiary. .