Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-12
CITY AND DISTRICT,
The Columbia Ho<nita


The Columbia Hospital.
SPECIAL APPRoPRIATIoN OF $40, 900 NEEDED
FOR AN ELEVATOR. AN EXTENSION OF THE
LAUNDRY. ETC.
The board of directors of the Columbia hospi-
tai Tor Women and Lying-in-Asylum have sent
10 the District Commissioners the annual state.
ments OF the surgeon in charge, of the treasurer
and OF the other officers of the institution, and
say: "These, we believe, will amply show the
satisfactory condition of the institution, and
the valuable service it is rendering under faith
1ul, economical and successful management
incorporated by Congress in the year 1866, the
institution, situated on the northeast corner of
2oth and streets northwest is the property of
Inc United States. 1t has q capacity of sixty
beds. The total number of patients the past
year was 397. this being the largest number of
any year since its foundation. The treasurer's
report shows that, in addition to SIG 900 annu.
aiiy appropriated by Congress. an income of
S4,221 has been received from pay patients.
Ihls sum happily supplies a resource for what
would otherwise prove deficiency in the years
expense. But owing to the number of beds re-
served for pay patients, the total mum Der of pa
tlents admitted can never be as great as when
all the beds shall be made free, since patients
ance at their homes, and only when unable to
incur such expense will seek treatment at the
hospital. In addition to the $4,000 needed
LOT current expenses, we renew the request made
last year for special appropriation of 900
for an elevator and for the extension of the
laundry. These are both greatly needed, and
nave already been recommended by vote of the
directors, and approved by the honorable Com
missioners OF the District
REPORT OF DIR. MURPHY.
DIR. T. j. Murphy, surgeon in charge, in his
report again calls attention to the extension of
the cottage for lying-in purposes, and says:
During the past summer there were twenty
patients at one time in the cottage, with accom-
mediation only tor twelve. We had to put those
patients awaiting delivery into the main build
ing, which prevented the necessary cleaning
and disinfection of the wards to be used during
the winter months. 1t would be- as before
stated, OF incalculabe benefit to the patients If
the two departments OF the hospital could be
isolated. The hospital is indebted to
Col. John NJ. Wilson, superintendent OF public
buildings and grounds, and also to the ladies
OF the Flower Mission, for many donations of
flowers, always acceptable to the sick.
THE REPORT OF DIR. c. H. CRAGIN, TREASURER,
shows receipts OF the hospital for the fiscal
year ending with June so, 1886, as follows:
From United States Treasury, S15,OOO from
pay patients, S4,227; making a total of cash
receipts, S19,227. There was a balance of cash
derived from pay patients on hand July 1,
1850, amounting to $1.350.52; which, added
to the years receipts, makes S2O,5S6.52 Elk.
hand, S2,74O.93. Deducting from the total
the sum Of s1,717.ss for repairs. and 500 for
permanent improvements, and S51.25 for fire
insurance of personal property, making a total
The daily average cost of each patient is found
TO be ST. Comparing this result with the
average daily cost OF patients in other hos
pitfalls OF similar character, with the same de-
auctions and exceptions, the economy OF the
hospital administration will be apparent.
Peabody Education Fund.
To the Editor OF THE EVENING STAR:
On taking the chair at the twenty-fifth meet
ing of the trustees OF the Peabody education
fund at the Fifth Avenue hotel, the 9Th of Oc-
tober, Hon. Robert G. Winthrop, after prelim-
mary remarks, said:
1.-THE income from our twOmilliOn fund seri-
ously diminished by the reduction of interest
on our bonds since they were originally given
us by MI ,Psa6ody has been quite Insufficient
sired to accomplish, and all that we might have
accomplished with larger means. We may re-
tOice, however, and be exceedingly glad as we
look back on our work during twenty years
which have elapsed since the creation OF our
trust, that SO much has been done, and done
by our founder. We were called to enter into
an entirely new field, and to initiate measures
for introducing systems Of common school edu-
cation where none had before existed. We now
see, as primarily and principally the fruit of our
counsels and labors-effcctive and excellent
school laws in all the states to whose children
our fund was consecrated; model schools in not
a few OF the cities and towns; normal schools in
many of the states; and more than all, an earn
est and eager interest in education awakened.
never again to sleep throughout the sOuth.'
Mr.. winthrop expressed himself strongly In
favor OF their memorial, presented to Congress
In 1880, praying for asuch aid az may be re-
quired to secure to the colored population of the
southern states the education which is neces-
sary to fit them for the discharge OF their duties
az citizens of the United States" He called
special attention to the necessities of South
Carolina, and particularly to Charleston, on &C
count OF the earthquake, and the executive
committee were authorized to increase the
usua! apportionments for that city. Since the
appointment of the general agent, Hon. j. l..
NJ. Curry, as minister TO Spain, the duties of
such agent have been performed gratuitously
by Hon. Samuel A. Green, one OF the trustees,
OF Boston, and he will continue SO TO perform
them the present year, thus saving the whole
salary of the agent to the educational fund, the
principal OF which go, OOO,OOO) has never been
diminished by the action OF the board, while "a
sum considerably more than million and
hall OF dollars has been already appropriated
to the southern schools, from The income
thereon, with the most satisfactory results" 1t
is gratifying to observe that hereafter Florida
and Mississippi will be omitted in the appor-
tionment OF scholarships" as those states. to a
greater or less extent, have hitherto been
passed by in the distribution of the fund, on ac-
count OF failure to pay the interest on bonds of
those states held in trust by the board. States,
as we'll as individuals, will yet learn, If they
have not already, that honesty is the best
L