Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-05


LIKING THE OLD MAGAZINE PROPERTY, ETC.
Since the present intendant of the Washing
ton asylum (wOrkhouse and almshouse), Mr.
Walter II. StouteGburg. took charge of that
institution, several important changes have
been made in the management. Among these
changes is included the discipline of the in
mates marked distinction now being made
between the treatment of those i'm the aims
house and those in the workhouse-the latter
being criminals under restraint, and the former
victims Of poverty. Hitherto there mad been
very little attention paid to this proper distinc-
ton. and il is found by observing it that the
effects OF the change are very beneficial. In
many cases persons who have seen better DAYS
fGd themselves in the amshouse. not by any
fault OF their own. and it is believed by man
ayers OF such institutions that it is demOraiZinr
to all concerned to put them in contact with the
criminal classes. Discrimination in favor of the
unfortunate poor is made in the diet, clothing
choice of rooms and cots. labor &c This can
be now done much more readily since the new
wOrkhOuSe has been completed than ii could
have been before. There are at the present time
about 325 inmates of the institution, of both
sexes, making. with the employees, about $40
persons to be fed there daily.
THE NEW wORK-HOUSE
Is i'm two wings-One for males the other for
fenales-wth no communication between them
was formerly the case when the accom- moda-
tions were more limited.
One matter has been a source of concern to
the intendant; that is the large number of half
grown colOred boys, who have no occupation,
and who have to mix with the old sinners,
thoroughly versed in the knowledge of all sorts
OF crime aud vulgarity. This cannot well be
prevented at present, but the intendant pro-
poses, soon as practicable. to establish a
school, in which they may learn the common
rudiments of notwithstanding. writing
and arithmetic; thus employing their time by
something which can be put to good use when
they are released. There is on an average about
:5 or 40 of this class of boys. enough to make
steady employment for public school teacher.
A regular inspection of the inmates and their
rooms takes place every Sunday morning, and
considerable competition is manifested among
them for cleanliness
wHITEwAsH BY THE ACRE.
The walls of the rooms and wards of the new
workhouse have never received g coat of plas-
ter the only finish being whitewash. which is
most freely used every square inch receiving
coat as often as twice Il month. This fills up all
the intersticeS and cracks in the brick work.
When this coating of whitewash becomes so
thick that it scales off. the occupants of the
rooms are supplied each with a steel hand
scraper, and the whole surface. even the rough
projections of the bricks, are scraped off, MAX
Ing new foundation for a fresh coat. This
process so often repeated. has had the effect to
make the walls almost smooth as if white
coated by regular wOrkmen i'm the plastering
trade. The entire surface of the walls which
undergo this scrapng process in this building
Is 81 acres by actual measurement. The rooms
vary in size. containing from three to twelve
cots e1eh' THE Donu,,on,.
The $nly furniture used is the uniform wrought
iron edsteads, one above the other making three
tieze the ceilings being quite high. These bed
ads are made fast to the floors and wallis so
that they cannot he wrenched away from their
fastenings by any amount of Juggling. aud the
rooms being well lighted. heated. and ventilated
make very comfortable sleeping apartments.
All the able-bodiei of both sexes are required
70 labor daily. and plenty of useful employment
Is always found, either on the farm or indoors.
PROMISING CROPS.
Almost the entire enclosure including the old
military and naval magazine grounds, are all
under good state of cultivation, and an i'm
mense crop of vegetables may be calculated on
this year with absolute certainty. Two crops
Vt ~ ade this year on much of the land
Seven or more acres. where heavy crop of oats
and rye was harvested a little more than week
ago, is now set out in cabbages, upwards of
So,0OO OF these plants being in good growing
condition three acre field of CARR ts thickly
set In rows and very large and thrifty, attracts
the attention of visitors This is in the old
magazine grounds where the land is rich. The
yield must be very heavy when i'm condition to
puti-uOt less tndu tWelVe tons. Carr0CS are
very much used in the diet in both houses
OF the Washington asylum, owing to the
quantity OF soup used: not less than three BUSH
els Of carrots daily being consumed all the year
round. Another field OF four acres set in beets
Is worthy OF note. These are about equally
divided between the mangel-wurZel French
sfcar. and the long red beef, and all in fine
growing state. the crop promising to be very
large field of five acres is devoted to the
growing OF corn fodder for the cows and horses.
much
has to be fed. This crop, too, is very heavy,
and grows so rank that much of it has been
lodged by the high winds and rain.
ANOTHER GREAT ECONOMY
has been discovered, that of keeping hogs for
fresh pork instead of buying it. The slops and
Ofal from the tables serve to keep a stock Of
ffty-four swine. The Stops and offal used to be
given away and carted off by outsiders. 1t is
now carefully preserved and results in great
saving. furnishing fresh meat for about eight
months of the year. The breed of hogs is the
Berkshire. and they are in good condition. The
large number of broods of chickens also help the
food supply very much, especially in the hos
pitfalls.
THE OLD MAGAZINE BUILDINGS
The buildings formerly used for magazine pur-
poses are all brought into requistion. The one
formerly used for storing powder-35 by 100 feet
with a high ceiling-has been fitted up as ward
for old decrepit eolored men, and supplied with
cots and furniture suited To their wants. 1t
makes one of the most complete hospital wards
to be found in this District, being constructed
with the view of having it kept always dry.
The floor is close and smooth as that of a bali
room, and the windows low and with excel
lent ventilation. There are about twenty
beds in this ward and room for more.
One end of the room is fitted up with shelves
and drawers. separated by partitions. so that
each inmate may have place 10 store his cloth
ing or other articles under lock and key. There
u another well-built frame structure formerly
used as a drill room. which the intendant pro-
poses TO have removedto asite near the ASYLUM
building, for use as stable. 1t is large and
viii afford all the stabling room necessary for
the horses and cows The present stable ac-
commodations are totally inadequate. being
nothing but old sheds without floors There
ere several buildings. heretofore used as officers
quarters, which are occupied by old coored
women who are unable to work
The LOng-ramge Rifle Practice at BEN.
Eiay's.
TO the Editor of the EVENING STAR:
''Pro Bono" in your paper Of the 22d instant.
exhibits either great ignorance or a total disra-