Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-03-05
HON. @. A. HADLEY TALKS.
Condition and Management of the
Penitentiary-PrOs Smiles
Upon the Mora Valley.

Hon. O. A. Hadley, of Watrous, chair
man of the board of penitentiary COM
missioners, is here attending meeting of
the board, and last evening was seen by
representative of the NEW MEXICAN, and
questioned in regard to the territorial
penal institution, it's condition, manage
ment and needs. In reply he said:
THE PENITENTIARY.
II consider the penitentiary in as good
condition as any other in the United
States, managed upon as humane plan
as circumstances will permit, and with
the most rigid economy. The board of
commissioners has labored under many
difficulties the past two years, because Of
insufficient funds; this is not chargeable
80 much to the want of sufficient appro-
priations as to the deficit in the collection
of taxes. If 90 per cent of the taxes had
been collected instead of about IS per
cent the deficit would have been very
small.
"The constantly increasing number of
prisoners necessitates more room, and as
most all of the buildings required to
within the walls are nearly com pleted, it
seems to be an opportune time to build
the other wing of the penitentiary. AS
there are now competent workmen in
stone and brick to do all the work with
ont employing outside labor, the only
expense therefore wonld be for material
that must be purchased outside. This
wing erected would make the peniten-
tiary, with the buildings already COM
pleted, as substantial and perfect as any
IN the country.
II consider it desirable to put terra
Gotta plant or some other manufacturing
industry to employ a part of the labor of
the inmates that cannot be used other
wise, within the walls. If this is done
the institution will in my opinion be self
sustaining, or so nearly SO that only very
small appropriations will be required
thereafter"
MORA COUNTY.
When asked about his section of the
territory, Mr.. Hadley said:
"Mora valley, extending from the town
of Mora to Cherry Valley in Mora county,
distance of about IS miles, in connection
with the valleys of the tributaries of the
Mora river is without doubt one of the finest
valleys in the territory, producing cereals,
alfalfa and other grasses equal to any
section in the world. large por-
ton of this valley, especially near the
town of Mora, and the tributary valleys,
are devoted to the raising of cereals;
lower down the valley, in the vicinity of
Watrous and between that town and
Cherry Valley, large fields of alfalfa pre-
dominate.
"The alfalfa produced is largely used
for feeding and fattening cattle, although
a considerable portion is baled and ship
ped to other parts of the territory.
No more beautiful sight can be seen any
where than that around Watrous from
April to December. The green fields of
alfalfa skirted by low hills as back
ground, with numerous groves to vary
the scene form pleasant and pleasing
picture. Until within few years past
the idea of fattening cattle or other stock
upon hay produced from any of the
forage plants was considered impossible,
and today there is no forage plant within
my knowledge, that will do any more than
continue stock in the same condition they
were when the feeding began except
alfalfa, which is so we'll adapted to the