Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-18

at the ~penitentiary. The cell house is
well ventilated and lighted and scrup-
ulous cleanliness is observed in every
part of the great institution. Many of
the cells are not only pictures of neat
ness, but are beautifully adorned,
mostly by the handiwork of the pris-
lei themselves. A good sized libra
ry is maintained in the cell house.
But brick making is not the only in
dustry carried on at the pe%nitentiary.
The convicts make their own clothing,
their W shoes, in fact supply almost
all their own wants. There is a black
smith, a carpenter shop, a barnyard
which supplies pork, chickens, turkeys,
etc, for the penitentiary table. With
good foresight, Superintendent Bur
sun has acquired the land round about
the penitentiary, to the extent of thir-
teen acres, and this is being turned
into a model truck farm and orchard,
that is a pleasure to behold. The next
legislature should make it possible to
purchase at least 200 acres of land
around and near the p%enitentiary,
which will go much toward making
the institution self supporting and
which would furnish ideal employment
to the convicts. The lawn and flower
DCuo III UNI VI Nht Ihalh puAiulhS al1
beauty spots and the surroundings of
the whole institution are bound to
make a favorable impression upon the
visitor as well as to exert a wholesome
impression Upon the inmates of the in
stitutions. who are shown the beauty
and the desirableness of cleanliness, of
attractive surroundings, of regularity,
of hygienic regulations and are taught
a trade by which they can make a
good living after being discharged
from the institution. Tne greater part
of the ~convicts, lead a better, more
healthful and in many respects more
comfortable life at the penitentiary
than they ever did outside of it. They
are brought in contact with higher
ideals of life. The wholesome disci-
pine which is never brutal, although
of necessity very strict, is also a re-
forming element.
Opposite the ~peuitentiary on the
west, just across the Santa Fe railway
tracks, stands a beautiful cottage. sub
stantially built and an ideal home. This
has been erected during the past few
months by the penitentiary authorities,
entirely with convict labor and mater
ial made at the penitentiary. It's in
terror is even more beautiful than its
exterior and in every respect it is a
model of what a homelike cottage
ought to be. The home is occupied as
a residence by ~Yardmaster Garrett.
1t takes executive ability, unques-
toned integrity and strong force of
will to be the successful superintend-
ent of an institution like the New
Mexico ~penitentiary. Seldom are all
these qualities so prominent in me
man as in superintendent h. o. Bur-
sum. ~Unassuming, quiet. resourceful,
by appearance a beardless young man
with strong steel blue eyes Superinten-
dent Bursum is evidently a man who is
bound to succeed in anything he may
undertake and New Mexico is FORUM
ate in having been able to retain his
services in the present important posi-
ton. Next to Mr.. Bursum, w. E. Mar
tin, his secretary, and like Mr.. Bursum.
an ex-member of the legislative as
sembly, is one of the ruling spirits who
has helped to lift the penitentiary to
it's present high plane. Suave, a good
talker in Spanish and in English, a
man of the world apparently, Mr.. Mar
tin is an important factor in making
the ~penitentiary a model penal institu-
tiOn.