Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-02
TRANSPORTATION AT THE FARM,
improvements Made at the Washing.
ton Asylum-A New WOrkhOuse Made
Out Of am Old Magazine-The New Hos
pifai-HOw Great Changes Have Been
Made at Small Cost.

In no branch of the District government SER
vice has there been more Improvements made
during the past five or six years than in that of
the Washington almshouse, and more especially
within the last two years. Originally, the three
District Commissioners took charge of the work
in common, but, by experience, it was found
best to make division of duties, and upon the
advent of Commissioner Dent in the board def
mite duties were confided 70 each member This
has been found much more convenient than
the old plan in the reference of papers and the
correct and prompt dispatch of business gener-
ally. The management of the affairs relating to
the Washington almshOuse was inherited by
Commissioner West from ex-Commissioner
Morgan, who gave this branch his special atten-
ton while in office. SO many changes and i'm
proVementS have been made during the last
year that visitor To the almshouse of a year
ago returning to-day would scarcely recognize
many OF the surroundings The Washington
asylum comprises both the work and aims
houses, and all their respective details and i'm
provements have necessarily kept pace with the
increase OF inmates from Il growing population.
The recent liberal cesson by Congress gave to
the District the care and control of the old mag
a ianat grounds With appurtenances. lying add
Jacent 10 the Washington Asylum grounds.
which, altogether, constitutes q large farm. suf-
hcient Tor years to come. There is now a 'front.'
age OF upwards of 900 feet on 10th street east
and the grounds run back to the AnacOstia or
Eastern branch.
THE OLD WORKHOUSE
during the last year has been entirely remod-
eled and renovated. New blinds have been
made, the roof repaired, glass re-supplied, the
interior changed in many respects to suit the
needs of new wards which have been added to
the service. the floors renewed in many in
stances and all the wood work inside secured,
painted and grained in light oak color. The
outside has also been cleanSed and reDainted
giving rejuvenated appearance to everything.
This old workhOuse has been utilized since the
completion o! the two new workhouses-one for
men and the other for women-aS an aims house
Tor poor old women and Tor hospital purposes.
Mr. West has continued in the supervision of
the work and aims houses ever since he entered
the Once, and has been fortunate in having for
an intendant Mr. w. II. Stoutenburg, to whom
belongs much credit for the fine condition of the
entire property at this time. In consequence of
the numerous commitments made to the new
workhouse ii has been found necessary to have
still more room, TO obtain which Commissioner
" est has conceived the idea of changing maya
zine No. L, q pOnderous OLD ammunition vault
with an arched roof and walls four feet thick
made of the best hard brick and cement into s.
workhouse to be occupied by the female prs-
oners, thus vacating their present quarters
which he designs to turn over to the male prs,
oners. attording more room for them and re-
leving
THE CROWDED CONDITION
of both warehouses. Plans for carrying out
this project have been made by Mr.. Brady the
architect, the proposals advertised and the bids
opened on Tuesday, Mr.. c. Thomas being the
lowest bidder. He is to set about the work very
soon, and it will not be long before the building
Will be completed. The vauted roof has to be
taken oil, and the walls, eighteen inches thick
will be run up two stories higher. The internal
divisions of rooms will be made to suit the SER
vice required. Thus complete separation of
male and female prisoners will be effected.
Machinery and appliances for first-class laun-
dry, and rooms for sewing machines are among
the things contemplated, SO that all the cloth
Ing used on the place may be manufactured
there Other industrial pursuits tor the female
prisoners Will be considered afterwards.
stated m o.
aZlne grounds, coded by the government of the
United States to the District for the enlarge
ment of the asylum grounds, had been con-
structed three imuIense fire-proof buildings for
magazines to contain fixed ammunition and
shells for use during the war; and three more
OF SINH lar character for use of the Navy de-
partnent. These most substantial structures
having served their purposes, and having been
given with the grounds to the District, will all
be utilized to serve the needs of the asylum.
The erection during the past winter OF
MODEL STABLE AND BARN
has added another new feature to the institu-
ton. This was made from another of these
masazines-the shell house, which was care
fully torn down and rebuilt on the middle
plateau of ground, between the Anacostia
branch and 10th street, convenient to the
whole farm. A basement was dug eight feet
deep and foundation walls laid of brick and
cement, on which has been erected the super
structure. The basement floor was graded con-
venlently for drainage, and the whole area
paved, making convenient place for the
ments of farming. The plans were drawn by
Mr.. Brady, OF the building inspectors office
The building is so by 100 feet, with a row of
commodious stalls for horses, perfectly fur
nished, with the most approved fixtures, run
ming the whole length of the building. All the
cows and other stock on the place have been
provided for. On the main floor there are also
stalls and pens for sick horses and other ami
mails, scaffolds for hay, bins for short feed and
all the conveniences generally found in a first
class stable. roadway has been graded and
paved to this stable making it easy of access
and exit. This valuable improvement will
result In the demolition of all the old frame
shanties on the side of the hill and near the
old workhouse, in which We're kept the horses
and cows attached to the place. The building
is already in use. The cost was trifling com
pared with many other buildings on the place
The work was done by the Inmates.
NEW HOSPITAL WARD
The ward for aged female invalids, begun
last summer, has been completed since The
STAR published its last description of improve
Inents at the asylum grounds. This also has
been accomplished at comparative small
cost. The old hospital ward for these women
in the old wOrkhOuse was totally inadequate
for the purposes, and by system of economy
practised by all in charge enough was accumli-
lated to warrant the Commissioners in the cree
ton OF the new building Its location is in close
proximity 10 the dlspenSary on the high ground
fronting 18th street 1t has capacity of % or
30 beds. Its plan is in the form of a Greek
cross ana but one story high, the roof running
up to high and sharp point, and pierced on
every side for windows, which are opened and
smut from the floor by means of hand lines and
pulley blocks. Female attendants are en-
ployed and all the female wards are under the
management of Mrs. StOutenburo the much
respected matron of the institution. The cree
ton OF this ward saves the District considerable
expense in the treatment of the class of dis
eases such are treated here.
Another good work done during the last year
has been the removal OF a frame building be-
longing to the District from the commons be-
tween the WOrkhOuSe and jail, west of 18th
street, originally a chapel, but subsequently, a
schOOl-houSe, TO the other side OF the dispen-
sary, on the high ground fronting on 18th street
III mas been ntted up as Il sick ward for men. and
very comfortable one il is. 1t accommodates
twenty-five to thirty patients. In the southern
part OF the original wOrkhOuSe grounds are
about ten acres, occupied the last ten or twelve
years by the parking commission for the culti-
walton OF young trees for use by that commits
sion In the characterization of public reserva-
lions throughout the city. 1t is said that there
are now about 100000 of these trees in
healthy growth and ready for use. They COM
prise many of the best varieties. The construc-
ton OF
A HANDSOME GATEWAY
at the Estreet entrance of these asylum grounds
is now going on. This is the old entrance to the
magazine grounds, and adjOins the easterly
line of the Congressional cemetery. The new
gate will be a handsome arched structure, The
cost will be comparatively nothing, the mate
RAJ and labor found on the premises being utiI-
lied The abutments and connecting walls are
OF brick and cement. When completed this
gateway Will correspond with that at the north
ern portion of the grounds, near the old work
mouse. The taking away by Mr.. Stoutenburg
improve the appearance of the farm greatly
heretofore the fields have been divided off Inv
OLD post and rail fences, with brush of all kinds
growing up about the decayed wood giving a