National Republican., 1875-12-02

= IOtltlNe EeCettlIy 10 prOFloc Lno l1giuS VI
large mains, erection Of . clpacious resersor. 81
as 10 proviGe water for domestic uss and the pro-
lection Of property against fire.
DpTaIoT AsYLUa.
Annual Report of fCommissioner Lubcy
OPRIoE OF THE CoNNIssIoSERsl
OF THE WAsHINGToN AsYIUM, 1
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
COLUMBIA BUILDINGS.
WAsHIHGToH, Nov. 15 1875.
GESTLENES: respectfully submit the follow
ing report in reference to the Washington asy-
lum since November, 1sIL This Institution Is
divided in two parts; one occupied b. the poor,
and known as the aIms-house; the other by pris-
onert, and known as the worK-house.
THE AIMS HOUSE.
On the first day OF November, 1874 there we're
1sl inmates in the aims house; admitted since,
s5I; born, II; making total OF 64l or this num-
Der there was discharged Az; died. II; total, 49,
Number sf inmates low in the slms-houss, l55.
OF the 45l admitted since. November l. 1874, 267
were males, 1s4 females, 256 were colo ed, 1876
white. Ofthe 45l, 134 were born in Virginia. 100
in Maryland 81 in the District Of Columbis, 90 In
ireland, IL In Pennsylvania, 10 in Germany, 10 10
North Carolina, in England, 0 in New York,
In South Carolina, 8 in Kentucky. In Illinois. 2
in Tennessee, in Ohio, 2 in Delaware, In ITALY,
in Massachusetts, 1 in Alabama, in Florida,
in Minnesots, In Mississippi, In New Jersey,
In Missouri, l In Louisiana, In Georgia, 1 In
Spain, in West indies. 1 in Scotland, and l In
Poland.
THE woRKHoUsE.
On the first day of November, 1874, the number
of prisoners confined in the workhouse was Ill;
received since 1,7ss; in ALL 1,s5O; discharged dur
ing the same period 1872; escaped, IS; died, 3;
total, LOO; number now in the workhousc, 150
of the ,T30 prisoners admitted since November 1,
1874 1924 were males. sos females; l0l2 were
eolored, eeI white OF the 1,730; 525 were born in
Virginia, 429 in the District Of Columbia, 325 in
Maryland, liz in Ireland, 43 in Pennsylvania, 81
in New York, 81 in England, "a in Germany, 10 in
Massachusetts, Is in Maine, IL in New Jersey IL
in Ohio, in North Carolina, 0 in South Carolina,
s in Kentucky, at sea, in Scotland, in Ten
nessee, in West Virginia, in Georgia, in Con-
necticut, in Illinois, In Missouri, in Delaware
2 In Florida, 2 in Michigan, in Louisiana
in Denmark, in Brazil, 2 in the West
Indies, in Switzerland, in France,
in South America, / in New Brunswick
in Sweden, in Poland, in Persia, in Canada
Island. or the 1T5g ssyf wtrt ReaedaA in Rhode
orderly conduct ass for vagrancy sos for profanity
81 for carrying concealed weapons 81 for throw
ing stones, 50 for indecent exposure I6 for viola
ting park law for enticng prostitution for fast
driving, for obstructing sidewalk 4 for selling
produce without license, for violating cart law Q
for firing pistols, for destroying public property
for destroying private property, for cruelty to
animals, for breaking in houses, 9 for violating
hack law, for training dogs to fight for using
unstamped scales, Il for playing ball in street,
1 for unlicensed wagon; out OF I,7S9 I,52I were
committed for disorderly conduct, yagrancy and
profanity. OF these LT39, 90 were IS years of age
and under, IS were 10 years and under I9s were Is
years and under, $40 were q years and under, 532
wee 60 years and under, 2sg were a. years and
under, lis were 80 years and under, IS were 90
years and under, q were es years and under.
av.I
under.
The report of the Intendent and matron. which
annex, calls attention to various subjects. and
the report of the visiting physician details i'm
portant matters connected with his department.
During the past year various improvements
have been made in and around this Institution.
The ground heretofore known as "Potters' Ficldr
has been laid out as cemetery for the poor, sur
rounded by neat and substantial fence and d.
vided into grave sites and sections; record of
deaths and burials established and care taken to
prevent the graves being desecrated The main
building has been painted and repaired plumb
ing work and water fixtures repaired the kitchen
renovated, and several other important matters In
the way of repairs made.
The hospital, consisting Of four wooden build
ings, formerly situated in the rear of the main
building, has been moved to a new site, fronting
on Nineteenth street and east of the intendant's
house. These buildings have been thoroughly
repaired and painted, and in addition one new
hospital ward, seventy-fiye feet long, built to-
gcther with kitchen, dIning-room and office
now in eonrsc Of construction and are being fitted
with necessary bath tubs closets hot and cold
water, and in very short time will be ready for
occupancy. Tho grounds attached are being
graded and laid out in walks, and when finished
will form q very creditable arrangement COM
pared with anything of the kind heretofore sus-
tanned by the District.
The Georgetown almshouse. also the property
and under the direction of the District govern.
ment, has also been repaired and painted The
immediate charge of this institution Is under the
super vision of number Of benevolent ladies' |
whose labor of love is devoted to the interest of
the poor. The number Of poor in this institution
is small
Attention is again called to the very large num-
Der of young persons confined from time to time |
IN the institution. During the period covered by
age, IS sixteen years and un ler 19s eighteen /
years and nnder, and in all sos lersons who were
mere children sentenced for petty often ses and /
while confined here are necessarily the ,ompan-
some provision Of law be made to eet such cases,
and provide for them in the Reform school or some
other rcformatory Institution?
repairs and alterat ons as the reps frs male here
during the past yer we're onls those that were
as the understanding is that on the Completion Of
the jail all prisoners arc 10 be sent there this
will give US the use Of the eutire buil,ling for an
pose it will have TO be thor, ughly overhaucd and
repaired The sum Of sl6,ooo, in my opinion,
would be sufficient TO do this
call special attention to the necessity that
exists for thorough reorganization OF the whole
system Of charity and the care Of the poor in this
not to he deferred. AS the system now exists we
have the District of Columbia sustaining andgoy-
erning a few institutions the General Government
a number, and private institutions of like charac-
ter receiving yearly support both from the District
and General Government. Such system does
not produce the best results, nor is there in It
much unity Of action or concentrated effort
towards the end desired. 1t will be seen by the
General and District, that In two
years $50 70 have been appropriated to various
institutions, all Of them under different forms and
management. To harmonize these, and to in
crease the efficiency of control, recommend that
all public institutions Of charity, asylums hos
pitais &c, &c., be placed under the control of
the District government, and managed by board
selected from among best citizens of both sexes
who shall have general charge; and all appropri-
and be apportioned and disburscd by them; that
they shalt have at all times the right Of inspee-
I give below List of private charities in this
district so far as II was able TO obtain the same
giving IN each ease brief review Of their his
tory as furnished me by those In charge;
SMALLPOX HOSPITAL.
The smallpox hospital Is a frame building slt.
uatcd about 1,20o feet northeast of the ASYLUM
building I wish to call special attention to this
matter and urge the immediate selection OF some |
more isolated locality for use as q smallpox hospi
tai. The present building Is old and not suited tor
hospital purposes, and earnestly recommend that |
means be taken to carry out this recommendation.
quote below the law bearing on this matter:
aThe building providing for the accommodation
II persons laborng under infectious OF Contagious
diseases shall be considered an appendage 10 the |
Washington asylum, and as such Il shall be the
luty Of the intendant TO take charge Of IT, under |
he control Of the guardians and TO receive there
n and take proper care Of all persons who may be
,ersons are sent BY the mayor or member Of tho |
Board Of Health, and the physician Of the asylum
nail give the same attention to all such persons
= ne is required to do TO persons laborln8 under
liseaso IN tho asylum, accounts Of which shall be