Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1907-07-26
Mr.. BURsUM rEsrIFlEs
IN HIS OWN BEHALF,
Examination BY Mr.. pouobsr,v.

ton and place of residence.
A. II. o. Bursum, forty years old
stock raiser, resld at Socorro, New
Mexico.
q. How long have you been resi-
dent of New Mexico?
A. For twenty-six years.
Q, What official positions have you
held. II any. during your residence In
this Territory?
A. was sheriff Of Socorro County
during The years 1895. 1896 1897 and
1885, was member OF the Territor.
ial Legislative Council from the dis
trlct composed Of Socorro and Sierra
counties during the Thlrty.third Leg
islatiye Assembly, was superlntend
ent Of the Territorial penitentiary
during the year commencing the first
day Of May. 1899, until the 18th day OF
April. 1906. inclusive; covering per
Tod Of approximately seven years. and
| am the present Mayor Of the city of
SocOrro
O. Please state briefly the condl
ton Of the New Mexico penitentlary
at the time you became the superln'
tendent of tina, institution, and recite
briefly the changes that were made
during your management II any there
were?
A. At the time ! took charge Of the
penltentiary there were approximately
100 inmates. the Territorial approprla
ton for maintenance amounted an
nually TO the sum Of 100000. The
earning power of the penltentiary con
sisted principally Of receipts from the
federal government for the support
Of United States prisoners. In addi
ton to the revenue derived from such
support OF United States prisoners
there was what Is known as horse
power, sOft-mud brick machine; the
total earning power at that time In
Guiding the support Of federal prison
ers. sale Of brick and lime amounted
approximately TO $4,000 per annum
Shortly after taking charge of the pen
itentary found that In order TO ob
tain market for the product which
consisted principally OF brick made
by the prisoners 1t was necessary and
essential to install a more modern
plant In order To produce n product
which would command ready sale "
the market. thereupon proceeded
To negotiate fu he purchase OF
modern plant and did purchase tn,
same with all the necessary appll
ances. and In the course uf about tire,
years the same was In running order
with a capacity Of producing approx
mately $4,000 to $4,000 brick per day
In order TO complete the brick plan
II was necessary 10 build a dry Kiln
which was made upon the STANDARD
plan: also modern brick burning kiln'
which were built under plans an'
specifications made out by Mr. X. {
Garrett. who subsequently became m!
assistant superintendent, The tota
valuation of the plant as now installed
has been rated by men Of experience
at u valuation varying from SGO,OoO Il
$4,000: also other impr ,yements az
gregatng In value $3O,DoO to s4O,6ou
including walls uf the new cell house
power house. stock. etc i small por
ton Of this expense was derived on
OF what IL known rs the permaneh
Improvement fund which was raise'
from the sale Of lands belonging Il
the penitrntiary. do not recall tn
exact amount realized. but belleN
that the same did not exceed $2iOO'
The balance of the expenditure va
made out of and from the earning
OF the penitcntIary, derived from tn
sale Of brick and lime from the II
stalled plant. There were numerou
other improvements which were mad
during my incumbenCy IN once
among which might mention COZ
tinuous lime kiln. Corllss engine
rock crusher, an addition to the er
CINE house, the purchase of additions
grounds upon which was erected
modern brick residence for the MS
Of the peultentiary additional boiler
and pumps. wagons, horses, mules, III
necessary equipment for transportln
clay from the clay banks to the pen
Tertiary and which clay was first use
for the purpose Of making paving VI
rlned brick. Whether or no the plan
80 installed was paying propositio
to the penitentiary can best be asce
tanned by consulting the treasurer
receipts from conyicts earnings
while the receipts from these source
during the year 1899 and precedin
years was less than $4,000 per mont
on an average, Che receipts taken
random for the first five months
the year 1905 show that there wer
turned into the Territorial treasur
an average of $1,000 per month. Fc
the year 1906 there was turned In du
ing the same period an average OF 81
10000 per month, For the year 1870
there was turned In tn the Territorli
Treasurer for the same period an a
erage of 81 1927 per month. Tn
conclusively shows, In my judgmen
that the plant wa successful vel
mre and u paying proposition to I'll
Territory. As matter of fact II