Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-09-09
ADMIRABLY
MANAGED
The Territorial Penitentiary Is a
Model Institution from Every
Standpoint.
BURSUM THE RIGHT MAN
The Brickyard Great Aid towards the
Maintenance and Cost Of the
Prison.

Written Exclusively for the New
Mexican.)
One of the points OF interest in his
toric Santa Fe that appeals to the
tourist or the stranger who has come
here to take up his residence within
the gates of the Holy City is the Ne"
Mexico penitentiary which, under The
administration of Superintendent Hol
ne O. Bursum. has been raised from
the level of nondescript prison tc
that of one of the most modern insti
tutions OF it's kind in the country. The
health of the 250 or more convicts con
fined within it's walls is the best
which is TO large degree attributable
to the excellent sanitary conditions
made possible during the three years
and half that Superintendent Bur
sum has presided over the destinies o.
New Mexicos unfortunates
On entering the penitentiary con
fines the visitor is impressed with the
scenes of industry that are at ever!
hand. Were it not for the convic
stripes in which the central figures II
this scene of enterprise and industr!
are aarbed, on entering the brlcf
works the average easterner Woul(
imagine he had run across another
Haverstraw on the plains OF New Mex
leo. The demand for these brick II
Santa F'e, both tor building and paving
purposes, is greater than the supply
and temporary shut down OF the
brick plant operated exclusively by
conviots, means practically suspen
sion of building operations in the Cap
ital City of the Territory. Such
shut down was recently experienced
by the blowing up of the engine OF the
plant aid as a result bricks are a
present at a premium in Santa Fe, the
visible supply at the penitentiary be
ing but few thousand, until such
time as the resumption of operations
which occurred a few days ago, ad
mits of further output from the
kilns.
The brick industry is the CHIEF
source OF revenue of the penitentiary
and has resulted in the institution be
ing run at very cheap rate. The con
victs work nine hours day in the
brick yards, and it is estimated that
the output averages 1900 month
The brick manufactured is of SUI
perior quality both as regards the
common building brick and the vltrl
fed variety used for paving purposes
Another point of interest within the
penitentiary gates is the laundry and
bakery. In the bakery. which is a
model Of cleanliness that any baker
might see we'll to emulate, the long
loayes of wheaton bread on the
shelves fresh from the oven. emit a
fragrance that is indeed appetizing
and the long loaves themselves GER
tainly look good enough to eat On an
average of hundred loaves, which
are twice the size of an ordinary bak
er's loaf, are consumed every day by
the convicts, no limit being placed on
the amount of bread allowed them
This amount of bread is consumed
daily in addition to oatmeal which Is
furnished in abundance for breakfast,
and corn bread, which is the principal
breadstuff at the evening meal.
The laundry, where all the washable
garments worn by the convicts are
thoroughly cleansed and disinfected
weekly, is still run by the hand pro-
cess. but a modern steam laundry Is
protected for the near future. Like
the bakery, the laundry is most clean
.ly in every respect, while the convicts
who operate it present the most tidy
appearance.
The tailor. shoe and barber shops,
all of which are sheltered beneath
one roof, are another revelation to the
visitor. Here. all the clothing worn
by the convicts are made, with the ex-
ception of their socks. Here also on
Friday and Saturday of each week the
convicts repair to meet the convict
BARRIERS, who are in readiness to do
anything required in the tonsorial line.
be it a shave, hair cut or the trim
ming Of beard. Incidentally, it may
he noted that the convicts are al
lowed to wear their hair, boards and
mustaches as they see fit during good
behavior.
The hospital ward, under the d.
rection of DIR. David Knapp, peniten-
tiary physician, which is one the Sec
ond floor of the same building as the
tailor, shoe and barber shops. COM
pares favorably with the free wards In
any OF the city hospitals. Here are to
be found convicts who are Ill enough
to be confined to a cot. the convales-
cent who has just left his bed, but Is
as yet unable to return to his cell ana
to work, al. as well taken care of, and