Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-03-08
ELECTRIC PLANT
FOR PEN|TENT|ARY
Light and Power
Should Furnished
By Territory
ECONOMICAL AND BETTER
Convincing Facts and Figures
Set Forth By Superinten-
dent Trelford.

Superintendent Arthur Trelford. OF
the Territorial Penitentiary, was
asked by representative of the New
Mexican concerning the advisability OF
placing an electric light plant at the
territorial prison and to give his opin.
ion as to the economy and practicabil-
ty of the plan, Captain Trelford said
that he would be glad to give such in.
formation as was in his power in or
der to place the case properly before
members of the Assembly and the peo.
pie.
Some time ago." said Captain Trel.
ford Il made a study Of this subject
and came to the conclusion that il
would be more economical and more
satisfactory for the public service If
the penitentiary would manufacture
its own electric light and power.
broached this matter and laid 1t before
the board of Penitentiary Commits
sioners; these gentlemen gave it par
lial consideration. but it. was post
poned very likely because of the cost
and the apprehension that there would
not be sufficient funds available dur
Ing the last fiscal year for the plr-
pose of buying and installing the nee.
essary machinery. Since then | have
not agtated the matter before the
board. 1t is now being brought to
public attention by the introduction
and passage in the House of Repre-
sentatives of bill providing for an
electric light and power system at the
expense of the Territory at the prison
AT present the Territory is paying
the Santa Fe Water and Light Com.
pany cents per watt of electric light
and, unless the electric light plant Is
provided within the near future, this
price will be raised to cents per
During the month of February
consumption was $4,000 watts.
Is below the average as Febru.
as a short month and as there
good deal .+of moonlight. On
ght nights less electric light is
the guards can see plainly
for all practical purposes with.
out the artificial light.
i have carefully calculated the cost
TO the Territory of manufacturing
electric light after the purchase and
installation of the machinery. With
lhe iabor that the Penitentiary can
furnish | am of the opinion that elec.
trlc light can be furnished to the
prison at cost not to exceed two and
three-hfths cents per watt even AT the
present price of coal and fuel which is
quite high, this being wint ~ and nat
urally coal and fuel being higher in
winter than in summer. BY this state.
ment | mean that for the fuel the cost
per watt would be two and three-ffths
cents, the Penitentiary furnishing all
labor which, of course, it can do at
very low cost to the Territory. The
electric light machinery will enable
the Penitentiary to save in other di-
rections; for instance, we will have to
overhaul considerable of the machin.
cry now in use, and especially the
pumps. condensers and hot water
tanks and will thus be enabled to use
SOME of the exhaust power that now
goes to waste in the manufacture of
Drlck, in running the laundry and in
the kitchen. This will reduce labor
and will enable us to put convicts now
at work in these departments to other
uses. The more machinery and power
we nave the more would it enable us
TO put the men at work in directions
IN which their services would be of
more value to the Territory. In or.
der to supply the Capitol building and
the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb.
both Territorial Institutions with
proper light and power. electricity will
nave to be carried by wire lines to
these buildings; another bill will have
10 be added to the number now in
use at the prison and the machinery
Inat VIII be needed, the electric light
plant to be constructed, the boiler and
other necessary outfits to be mr.
chased, will in my estimation reach
a cost of at least $15,OOO
Therefore upon this calculation that
! nave carefully made up will prove
a very good investment for the Terri.
tory, At 5 per cent the interest on
$4,000 would be $3.50 per annum; cost
OF labor need not be taken into con.
slderation, because that is lower
lhan any private individual or corpora
ton could possibly procure. In addi.
ton the penitentiary would have its
own light which is a matter of great
importance, especially as there are
certain times when the more light the
better for the safety and government
of the institution.
Inc Territory would also receive
valuable consideration by using some
OF the power to be generated in the
machine and carpenter shops where
small motors could be put in and ma
chinery used in place of hand work.
This would enable the authorities
to reduce the number of convicts at
work in these shops and place them
where their labor, for the Territory
would be more remunerative.
In the penitentiaries that have
visited, especially in the U. s. Peni.
tentiary at Leavenworth, in the Kan.