The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-05

ment a Key west In Florida; at Galveston, Texas,
ana q Madison, In Wisconsin.
Of suitable court house. by the government in
the oiy Of New York. The building formerly known
ss s'' q IA: ss'n ''isSss ~ p A' ss
Tho government mas srcuuy expanded over
$4,000 IN altering tho building to adapt II
render i Convenient and com com viii require add
cnal expenditures which may DO lost by the sale OF the
property The lease contains clause giving to the gov
three years at the price Of $215, 900.
The time has elapsed but is understood that it may
yet DO purchased, within reasonable tme for that
price.
Mr. Burton has deceased since tho dato Of tho lease
aud tho settlement OF his estate will probably require
sale OF this property II should be sold to persons
who would require The removal Of the courts the govern
ment would DO subjected to great inconvenience and
pense In my judgment tho best interests Of the govern
ment require that tho property should BIO purchased and
recommend an appropriation for that purpose
PUBLIC BUHDNGs
The report Of the Commissioner OF Public Buildings
hbs tho condition Of the several interests conhded to his
charge.
The occupation Of tho Capitol during the past summer
by portions Of the volunteer forces necessarily caused
some injury, which will require more than the ordinary
The old portion OF the building needs outside painting,
as well TO give uniformity Of appearance to tho whole a.
portion OF the basement of tho building is now used
as bakery for the army. Although this may be sub
mted to for time az q military necessity II ought
not to DO permitted any longer than absolute necessity
will require Immediate provision should DO made TO
transfer this useful branch OF industry TO other
locality, where may BIO conducted without injury TO
the national Capitol or annoyance TO ts occupants.
The subject Of tho extension of tho Capitol grounds
vate property necessary TO make the proposed extension
has been appraised in conformity with the directions OF
Oh act OF Congress at the sum Of 7.5at 90
The proprety OF making purchase involving 80 large
an expenditure at time when the demands upon tho
Treasury for the support OF the have rendered
sor, TO direct taxation necessary must be determined
an
early appropriation for that purpose for which
will DO found upon reference TO his report
The improvements and repairs which have been made
tho several public buildings and other works during
the past year. will be ascertaned reference to the
Commissioners report
EThe Washington Inarmary ioca,ed upon Judiciary
square, destroyed by fire the morning Of the Sd
instant The fire supposed to have originated from
cdehta Causes and when first discovered could have
been readily exngnshed by efficient Ere department.
Congress by an act 49, 1874 directed the
faculty Of the Columbian College to occupy this building
(Which had before been used insane hospital ssfor
the purposes OF an nrmary for medical instruction and
for scientific purposes on condition TINT they shall give
satisfactory security to keep the said building repair
and return it, with the grounds TO tho government
good condition as they 10 whenever required to
do In 1853 Congress appropriated twenty thousand
dollars to aid the directors OF Washington ndrmary
enlarge their accommodations for tho benefit Of sick
transient paupers."
This sum was expended in eniarging and improving
the building which has been under the control Of
the medical faculty. under the authority conferred by the
law of 1874
During the last summer extensive hospital accommo.
cations become necessary from the largo accumu
ation OF troops on the Potomac order made by
hsde2artment to place the building under the control
Of the War department, to be used al an army hospital
IL was accordingly occupied for that purpose TO the
time of ts destruction. do not consider that any public
necessity require a reconstruction of the building
Judiciary square, upon which 1t is situated, de-
signed for otor PURPOSES and II the erection Of an in
Urinary should be considered necessary. different loca
ton should be sought recommend that provision DO
made for the removal OF the walls OF the building yet
standing
4 street railroad through Pennsylvania avenue is ne.
cessty which should longer be disrogarded The
great advantages OF this mode OF communication upon
important city tboroughares have been 80 fully demon
s,ted in all the large Stass that no
argument upon the subject will b. required.
The repairs Of Pennsylvania have annually
tho government large sums, aud the heavy transporta
for army purposes which has passed it this
will render necessary larger appropriations than
those usually mnd8.
tho privilege of constructing and using railroad
from the Navy Yard through Pennsylvania avenue to
Georgetown, would, M consideration for tho privi
ege, agree to keep tho avenue At Toast between the
Capitol Presidents square, in good repair. such
an arrangement be made, the government would
avoid large annual expense who the citizens and those
who visit tho District would enjoy the great advantages
of this most important Improvement
jail in lhs city Of Washington IS greatly needed.
The old jail Is crowded with more than double the
number OF OF different c0lors and sexes than
be kept there wh regard to cieanness or health
II il unt for the purposes "f jail and wholly inadequate
demands made upon il, An appropria for the
erection Of new Jail should be mado BY Congress.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The change in the OF ing Tho public print
ing adopted by tho last Congress- has been cminenty
cessful. Under ths direction OF tho present efficient
tho has been performed with
despatch and nj less cost to the government than At
The system Of executing the public printing in an Office
aud controlled by The government commenced
the %th Of March Last. All tho public printing and
binding has not, that time, been executed the
Office for the that unexIAred contracts
have sa,roied part OF IL.
Tho repor. the superintendent viii show tho to
The Of the work already executed ana whai
woud have been its cost undot the prices established By
The Law Of 1861.
win be that there sayinger 81 ~, 90 IN
much Of tho printing of the rhirty-xth Congress-
h5 office and 81 .62S 16 that Of the FIRST
session of The thirty seventh Congress.
On III" printing Tor III Executive departments tia
ing amounts /" 50 per cent.
Upon the bn,siDg for the executive departments there
hps been saving OF about 81 600 per month but tho
binding FOR the lhrtysixh Congress having been done
under contract existing At tire Sims the government
printing established, the=e has been oppef-
taniy show what night have been ed On that work
The expenditures for paper, printing binding engrav
ing and thographug have heretofore ated very
item in the eAens q ihs government .he orders
e he rhiry III Congress L" these objects involved
au expenditure OF 81 $50 ioT st. OF this amount $780,
6's was pad tor ifha, VII ~ ~ tnr engraving
and phiGg, and si 400 81 Tor binding. 70 this
shod he added the COST " tbs ONLY ard Congressional
Gtt fer he same Congress which S,57 o4 Is, and
The printing Tor the executive aspai tneus Tor tho
tmu 1852 ss3 u, making The whole expenditures
years. 81 1875 mi 81. Tie cost engraving and ho-
grabbing from Arust IS52 to December 1853 was $500
100 50. his woih can be done much ally
dec The direction VI he Ssc nirnent IT Pnb. Printing
than BY the prrecnt contract system. the Sun Dted
cnt we'll eontfo and di tci this part OF the work
AS the printing and without additional expense. Az
eats nifty per OF The OF engrav ing
and lthogislhing be saved by having il executed
the soyeiniae nj printing office
HOSPITAL ioe NIX lNslys
The accompanying reports OF the board Of stcrs and
Superintendent It the Government Hospital ng the In.
sane Furnish full Information or the progress and condi
lion q this valuable aud heacacant institution FOO
much praise cannot he AWARDED To Ir C. II. Nichols the
superintendent for the ability aud de.ty with which he
has eyccGted ths important and delicate trusts c0nded
to his charge.
The made by Congress for the erection
Of the buildings and the improvements Of the grounds,
have been expended Will, judgment and economy.
The buildings are spacious, Wen yenlila ed and warm
ed admirably arranged with every convenience essa.
ry Tor the health and comfort o patients and in every
respect well adapted TO the purposes for which they
designed. The grounds in hpe stara ef i'm.
proyrment and with bu small additional ton
the whole may be completed and rendered object OF
Just pride 10 the county
Since the Institution wss opened in 1885 I3a persons
have bees tea cd The number Of patients 10 the house
the 3oth OF Jane 1851 $50 class fled follows
From tt army IS from The navy, H. from the revenue
cutter service from civil life males II and females r.
OF the inmates during the last fiscal year, 19 died G3
discharged of whom Is had far improved that
they could be ssisis removed, and IS completely
recovered. The large proportion Of patients who
discharged A. recovered, (Which fifty per OK
the admissions furnishes ample evidence Of the skill
care or the treatment observed