Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-12
THE NEW WORKHOUsE,


THE NEW WORKHOUSE.
New Quarters to be Occupied by the Fee
male ''VaSs."
HOW THE ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE "FARM''
HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY INCREASED IN RE
sPoNsE TO GROWING DEMANDS = THE OLD
MAGAZINE BUILDING RECoNSTRUCTED.
From time to time since last spring THE
STAR has given its readers brief sketches of the
progress made In converting the old No. 1
Magazine building, located In the Magazine
reservation, now part Of the workhouse
time ago the males and females were huddled
together under one roof making the establish
ment little less thaa = bedlam. The inmates
becoming so numerous that the place was I'M
comfortably crowded, the authorities, after
several efforts, commenced the erection Of q
workhouse for males south of the old establish.
ment The project was to remove the males as
soon as the new building was completed, thus
giving greater accommodations for the female
inmates in the old building. In the course of
time this structure was completed and the male
the ST Sas mot oa
workhOuse became apparent, from the con-
slant increase of this class, during and after
building the same in size and accommoda-
lions as that provided for the males, the old
V"ad ha could be utilized for the
aged ana decrepid male and female inmates.
This plan 1t was thought would afford ample
accommodations for all, and there would be
no demand for more room for some time to
come. The female workhouse, a duplicate of
the new male building, was finally erected and
the females removed TO IL. The old quarters
the meantime Congress passed an act, turning
over to the District authorities all
THE OLD MAGAZINE GROUNDS,
including the improvements thereon, consist
Ing OF several dwellings for the offices and all
the costly magazine buildings, for the future
use Of the Washington asylum establishment
Ihe fences separating these two grounds were
torn down. For a considerable time not much
use was made Of this new addition. The Police
Court meanwhile was turning out its grist
and In due course Of time tile several work.
houses were filling up again. For two or three
years anu an urgent demand has been made for
ceiyed the plan Of changing the old magazine
building into q female workhouse. Plans were
made for the cost of the work, materials. &c.
Bios were called for and the contract awarded
to Mr; Columbus Thomas, who commenced the
Is now about completed and the new building
thus made will soon be ready for occupancy
the numerous female household waiting for it,
and whose places in their present quarters will
be Immediately filled on their removal by the
male inmates. who are now numerous enough
TO I'LL nearly all of the buildings.
THE NEW WORKHOUSE.
This new workhouse is thirty-six by one hum
dred and two feet and three stories high, and
will have cost about $4,000. The contract
price was Sic, 800, but departure from the
original plan, notably, that Of furnishing sta
tiOnary iron pipe hunks for the sleepers and
$4,000 It is safe to say that no other build
Ing of It's character in the United States can be
found TO equal this one III the sOlidity and Sc
curlty OF It's construction. The old roof of the
magazine building was carefully taken or and
the rafters, sheathing and slate used, SO far as
sound and good, in the construction of the new
ROOF The walls under roof and the top surface
OF old arches were well cleaned and wet before
applying the new work necessary in raising the
building two stories higher.
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION
The walls were started on the old works, to
set in two and one-fourth inches from outer
face and the offset covered with beveled
brick, and on the inner edge q three course
footing was laid projecting four inches from
the face of the upper wall. The old magazine
walls were four and one-half feet thick, all
third floors are formed and carried by four and
one-half inch segment arches. Wherever
stone work is used, it is of the best quality of
The iron work is of the best character. All
the exterior windows, except those of the
with three cross bars two by one-haif inches.
the ends. The doors in the second and third
-
sills, the doors of single cells two by six feet,
and in double cells two feet six inches by six
feet. Wrought plates are bOlted to each door,
and tum bier deadlocks OF the best make
rivetted on the plates. All the locks on each
separate floor are worked with one key, and
the balls shoot directly into the solid iron
tambs. An iron bar door like the cell doors
has been placed in the south door
opening of first floor. The third floor
is supported by iron beams. The stairway
is constructed with center, out and wall carri-
age, and slate steps. The carpenters work and
material are of the first order as to quality
throughout.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE BUILDING.
On the first floor there is one work-room lax
% feet; store-room, 13lax131a ofice-room,
hall, ID feet; stair-hall, 14x22 laun-
dry, 26x30 feet; drying-room, 22xI2. filled up
with eighteen drying-horses 13 feet long each
heating and other purposes where power is re-
Quired, 12x26 feet and one story high. Twelve
WINDOWS have been pierced In this old maya |
zine wall, which ia ~ feet thick.
The second-story has cells 10l1x1Ola, all |
peaceable inmates. There are cells in the |
east end fitted up as prison cells with iron doors
and hunks, for the patients found to be disor. |
derby and turbulent Through the entire |
center lon feet wide with cross-han 12la feet |
wide with cells on each OF the Sides
The third dOOr Is lifted mp more as q regu-
ar prison. with 16 single cells and double |
,nes On this noor the corridor runs the full
side.
The first story is feet 6 incnes in the clear;
;econd story lS feet, and the third story IL
The Church OF the Covenant.
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