Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-22
PROGRESS AT THE PEN.
Notable improvements AT the Terri.
tOrial Penal Institute-WOrk ON
Terra Gotta Plant-Success of
Electric Plant Other
New Buildings.

A NEW MEXICAN scribe was yesterday
afternoon privileged to spend an hour or
so inspecting the several substantial i'm
provements recently made at the New
Mexico penitentiary, which, under the
experienced and capable management of
Supt. E. H. Bergman, can be depended
upon fully to sustain its enviable reputa-
ton as the model penal and industrial
institution of the west.
Readers of the New MEXICAN will recol-
lect that number of months ago de-
tailed description of the large and eff
cient electric light plant at the peniten-
tiary was printed in these columns. The
ex experiment. of lighting the buildings and
grounds of this institution by this meth
cd has literally proved dazzling sue
cess, as all the light needed for all pur
poses has been afforded at minimum ex-
pense-the cost per month for fully four
fold more light than was formerly used be-
ing great deal less than that by means of
the old and dangerous system of coal oil
lamps. All doubts as to the practica-
bility of having convicts to perform the
functions of electricians have been re-
moved. Col. Bergman says that he has
had no trouble on that score, that he has
already sent away an expert electrician
who commands good situation as such
in one of the cities, and has others who
are rapidly mastering all there is to
know about the occupation, scientifically
as well as practically. From the start
his electric light plant has moved with
out particle of trouble or friction.
The work of patting up the solid brick
walls of the new two-story terra Gotta
works, adjoining the electric light plant,
is progressing rapidly. The building
will soon be ready for it's metal roof. 1t
is forty feet wide and ninety feet long in
the clear, with broad foundations of ma
sonry sunk deep in the ground. All the
work is being done by convict labor
without cost to the territory and will com
pare favorably with the finest work of the
kind in the country. No effort is being
spared to make it strong and enduring.
Every brick is soaked in water before be-
ing LAID, so that there will be no danger
of the mortar softening and taking off
The cut stone ornaments about the doors
and windows are as beautiful as human
hands could fashion them, paying mute
yet eloquent tribute to the skill of the
penitentiary workmen.
The magnificent 135-horse power en-.
CINE in the electric light house, standing
on foundation that reminds one of the
''rock of ages" will furnish the power fol
the terra Gotta works, of which there is {
surplus of over 100 horse power.
Among the other recent improvement
is substantial brick stable, granary ant
store house, adjoining the brick black
smith and machine shops. The stable il
ninety feet long, thirty-five feet wide ant
one story and half high with meta
roof. 1t contains seventeen stalls, be
sides rooms for feed, for the hostlers, fol
carriages, etc. The upper floor is uset
for hay-loft. The floors are cemen
and around the walls pounded glass has
been put to render the building rat ant
mouse proof.
The brick yards are in full blast, will
about 100000 bricks ready for use or
hand and kiln of $4,000 bricks ready
to be fired up. Bricks for the new
Catholic sanitarium at Las Vegas are now
being shipped from these yards.
Col. Bergman attracted the reporters
attention to an accumulation of beauti
fully cut stones in the yard and asked
him to guess what they we're intended for
The reporter gave it up. Whereupon The
superintendent said that they we're in
tended for the south wing of the peniten
tiary, which was SO much needed to rem
der the building symmetrical and would
soon be needed for the Accommodation
of guests"