Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-18
THE PENlTENTIARY
A Favorable Financial and Industrial
Showing Established By the
New Management.
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
Purchase of Brick Machines With Large
Capacity and the Construction Of Kilns
Notes About Other Prison
Matters.

On the ISL or May, lS59 tne new man
agement of the territorial pen.itentiary
was inaugurated, with H. O. Bursum, Of
Socorro county, as superintendent, and
John James, of Bernalillo county, as as
sistant superintendent. A most gratify-
ing change for the better in the admin
istration of the penitentiary has been
nrade during the past eight months.
There have been on am average during
that time about 1876 prisoners in the in
stitution, and at present it houses 212
convicts. The sum of $4,000 was saved
from the regular appropriation during
that time, and part of this was used in
the purchase of supplies for its MAIN
tenance for the five months ending May
81, 1900.
A complete brick machine has been
purchased and erected the machine
costing $4,000 in Ohio, and the freight
and cost Of erection and putting togeth-
er here amounted to about $l,500 more.
The machinery has capacity of 5000
brick per hour. A steam dryer is now
DClIl6 ClCSICu lol lliC DllCh Sdlu, Illlo
dryer is 116 feet long and go feet wide
having stone foundation and brick
wallis, with iron pipes for heating pur-
poses. A down-draft kiln, having a ca
pacity of $4,000 brick and also an
up-draft kiln, with capacity of 250,000
brick, have been finished. There are
now in the course Of construction two
down-draft kilns, with a capacity of
10000 brick each. A new steam pump
has been purchased and put up, and
4-inch pipe line throughout the grounds,
at cost of $1,000. is in successful opera
tion.
A large number of the convicts have
been employed consta ntly at the capitol
and thus acquired considerable me-
chanical skill, and have been the means
Of saving the territory "a large sum for
labor in the construction of the capitol.
The convicts also furnished the labor
for the construction of sewer in the
capital city, and by being employed in
other capacities added considerably to
the convicts' earning fund. Superin-
tendent Bursum's aim is to keep every
convict employed, earning his susie
nance, without competing with the Ia
borers and mechanics who have made
the territory their home, or with pri-
waite enterprise.
The cell house Is now becoming
crowded, and the second wing to the
penitentiary will have to be completed
soon in order to provide m-for a Sec
ond cell house. Work on this will prob
ably be recommended as soon as the
convicts employed at the capitol can be
spared, and this building too will be
completed without further material cost
to the territory.
A tin shop has been added, and two
convicts are constantly employed maxi
ing and repairing tinware for the use
Of the prison.
Six large American mules at s165 and
three wagons at cost of $3.50 have been
purchased and added to the equipment.
A tract of land about two miles from
this city, containing large and good
veins of superior vitrifying clay, has
been secured, and the clay is now being
hauled to the penitentiary, to be used
later on in making paving brick, of
which, 1T is believed, very fine article
will be turned out.
The employees have been uniformed,
and the discipline Of the institution Is
excellent, without unnecessary severity.
During the past two months There has
been not single case OF infraction Of
the rules, and no punishment has been
found necessary, as the convicts have
behaved in a most exemplary manner
The sum Of $500 was received during
the year 1899 for the support of United
States prisoners, and proved quite an
aid in making the institution less costly
to the taxpayers.
The penjtentiary this year, with the
improvements contemplated, better and
more machinery and more equipments
throughout will make a still greater
saving to the territory and better rec
ord. Mr.. Bursum ds proving himself a
most energetic, painstaking. honest and
careful official, strict but impartial and
Just disciplinarian, and the right man