The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1906-03-17
Excellent Manager by Superintend-
ent H.. 0, Bursum, Says Chair
man Of Board.
SANrAFE NEW MEXICAN COMMENDS
Mr Bursum as One OF the Best
Prison Managers In the
United States.

can:
+. II. Pierce, of Las Vegas,
chairman of the Board of Peni-
tentiary Commissioners. an office
which he has held for six wears
to the greatest satisfaction of the
people and the duties of which
he has administered in first
class manner, tells an interesting
story of the condition of the PEN
itentiary and of the performance
of his duty by its superintendent,
Holme .. Bursum, in the Las
Vegas Optic, Mr.. Pierce
does not eXaggerate an iota but
tells a fluent and easily under
stood tale which ought to be read
by every citizen of the Territory.
There is no question but that the
Territorial pehitentiary under the
management of Superintendent
Bursum has taken first place am
Ong the penal institutions Of the
United States and that its record
is of the very best. Those who
are acquainted with the situation
and especially with prison affairs
know that Superintendent Bur-
sum is one of the very best prison
officials in the country and that
his administration of the institu-
ton has been marked with the
greatest success in every respect.
STRICT DIsCIPLINARIAN.
Although strict disciplin-
arian, he is humane and as gentle
as il is possible to be with the
unfortunates under his charge.
Every affair of the prison, great
or small, has been conducted
with the utmost nicely and with
we'll directed efficiency, the great
est of caution and remarkable en-
ergy. Indeed, a better man than
Holme q. Bursum for the posi-
ton could not be imagined nor
can he be found. That there are
prison officials just as good as
Mr.. BurSum is probably true, al |
though they are not known here.
There is no superintendent of |
any prison in this country who |
ranks higher than Mr.. BurSum
in everything that goes towards |
the making of competent Off
cial, an honest man and good |
and patriotic citizen.
=. II. PIERcE TALKS.
ITO an Optic representative
Mr.. Pierce expressed himself as
greatly pleased with the condi-
tion of the institution and the
excellent financial showing
which the report of Superintend-
ent Bursum revealed. The state
ment prepared up to the first of |
March showed the following
amounts to be on hand in the
various funds:
BALANCE IN FUNDS.
General maintenance $ 2,625.73 |
Convicts' earnings .. 270.S9 |
Penitentiary income =. l4.05 !
Permanent improvement .45 |
Scenic Route. ... Sl4.27 |
Canine Real. ...... 5,S45.35 |
Penitentiary Com'rs Board S44.9l |
Total ........ Sll,414.6S
Supplies on hand ... 100000
Accounts receivable. S,350.00
Total balance .... SlS, ,764. .6S
Accounts PAYABLE . 3,910.0l
Total net balance Sl4,s54.67
FINE SHOWING.
In addition to the above am
cunts on hand" said Mr.. Pierce,
there is now due from mainten-
ance fund appropriated for the
present fiscal year about $4,000,
making a total credit to the peni- !
tentiary of nearly S54, 900. This |
is undoubtedly the finest showing
which the penitentiary has ever
been able to make at any period
in its history, and is cause of
great satisfaction to Superinten-
dent Bursum and the members of !
the board. II is noteworthy in
this connection that the present
penitentiary management can
show about 100000 of improve
ment which has been largely pro-
duced by the labor of the convicts
themselves and which is entirely |
paid for. This includes the fine
brick plant, the new addition
which is now ready for the roof,