National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-22
wAsHlNGroN,s woRKuouS,E.
The Colony OF Paupers and Eril.Doers-Im'
prOyements In the Institution.


There is no department of the city govern.
ment that supports itself so well and has been
so greatly improved rs the Washington asy.
lum, which includes the workhousc, aims
house, and hospital. Up to two years ago II
was but a small department Of the govern
ment now 1t is verltablc colony, aud there
are 43s souls confined in the institution. The
grounds of the institution comprise many
acres, and every part of them are utilized
Almost everything that Is done about the in.
stitution is done by the chain gang so that the
district saves great deal Of money that would
otherwise have to be paid outside. There are
over thirty buildings on the grounds Tho old
frame fences that formerly surrounded the in
bic brick walls, which were erected
by convict labor The building
occupied as the almshousc, has been put in
thorough repair, and the interior presents
new and clean appearance. New window
blinds are being put on the bnilding The
building will be repainted and men are now
at work on II. There are now six hospital
wards nearly all of which arc old buildings
used during the war, and some of them nre
becoming unfit for use. one of these build.
ings was formerly school building that stood
on the commons in the rear of Lincoln park.
IL was removed to the asylum grounds year
ago, and is used Gs one OF the principal wards.
new hospital is being erected between the
workhouse and the almshouse, which when
finished will be an exceedingly fine one IL
will accommodate between thirty and forty
invalids, and Is elevated SO as 10 obtain the
best ventilation and light possible, Beside
this improvement, the other wards that are to
remain are to be painted and rcflrnished;
Each of the buildings now used is neat and
clean and the patients say that they are very
comfortable.
Some months ago the three brick buildings
used during the war as an army magazine
were transferred to the district, and will be
fitted up rs wards and prisons for females.
One of these buildings Is u regular fortress.
The walls are over four feet In thickness, and
buildings are 100 by ~ feet in size, and are
very well adapted for hoptal use. The work
of fitting them up for hospitals will be begun
in u short time.
Men have been at work on the lower part of
the grounds in grading 10 space of about 100 by
20 feet, for frame barn, which the district
will move there. This barn will save the cx-
pcnsc of building another, and In fact the ell.
tire institution Is worth considerable more
than tn district has ever expended on IL. II
has complete farm, stocked with cattle,
swine, horses and poultry, and nearly all of
the work about has been done by prisoners.
They run the farm keep the building IN repairs,
and improve the place generally. In addition
to improving the institution the prisoners are
sent to improve the streets of the city. The
women cook, wash, and iron, and the truck
gardens attached to the institution fur
nishcs all the vegetables and the like consumed.
department of the city government, and re-
porter went through the entire grounds and
buildings yesterday, and everywhere the
changes appeared for the best. The asylum
and other buildings are under the superinten-
dence of Mr.. Welton StOutenbcrgh.