Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-03

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GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FoR THE INSANE.
The whole number Of patients under treat
ment in the hospital during the year was l.s2C
(the daily average being 1929, the highes,
number yet reached in the history Of the in
stitution. The board of visitors estimate that
$500 500 will be required for current expenses
of the institution and $4,000 for general re-
pairs and improvements for the fiscal year
ending June 50. 1890. For special repairs and
Improvements they recommend the appropria-
ton Of 81 200 for q gate-keeper's lodge as the
lower entrance TO the hospital grounds; "a. 400
for greenhouse for propagating bedding
plants for the grounds and to provide flowers
for the infirmary; 81, 800 for alterations Of the
stable, including provisions for poultry
house; $500 for renewing heating apparatus
Of west wing and lodges, including two new
boilers; $500 for new boiler for engine-house,
and $500 for a steam fire-engine and hose.
They also renew the Recommendation hefVto-
| fore made in their reports of an appropriation
of S6, 600 for the purchase of additional land to
provide pasturage for the herd of cattle--now
numbering over 200-from which the hospital
derives its milk supply. The need of each Of
these special Improvements Is NO forcibly pre-
| sented in the report of the board of visitors
| that their recommendation would seem to be
entitled to careful consideration by Congress.
COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF. AND::DuMB.
| The president and board Of directors report
that 1877 pupils have been under instruction in
this institution since July 1, 1887; in the pri-
| mary department, a; collegiate IS: male, Jos:
female, "a. During the year n pupils from
| the District of Columbia. admitted under the
/ provision OF section 1864. Revised Statutes,
were under instruction, and the number in the
college from the states and territories for
whose who instruction provision is made in section
| 1865, Revised Statutes, was 81, though the num-
Der of students of this class in attendance at
| any given time did not exceed the limit of 49,
as nxed by the statute. The facilities for
teaching natural science have been greatly
| increased by the fitting up of the laboratory
and a number of the students have become
practical chemists. The experiment of re-
ceiving young women into the college was con-
tinued during the past year with good prospect
OF success in this new departure. The receipts
institution, were s64,6slS6; expenditures,
| S64 .55957. leaving an unexpended balance Of
| $125.29. The board of directors ask for an
appropriation of S57, 500 for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1889. and for $1,000 to cover
deficiency in the appropriation for the current
year.
INSTRUCTION OF THE BLIND.
| Provision for the instruction of blind per-
sons of teachable age who are not able to COM
mand the means to secure an education is
made in section 1869 of the Revised Statutes
| wherein the Secretary Of the Interior is au-
thorized to cause such persons to be instructed
| In Maryland or some other state, at a cost not
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state. This expense is betrayed out of a per-
manent annual appropriation for that purpose.
At the close of the fiscal year ended June 80
1887, there were persons receiving the bene-
fits OF the statute in the Maryland School for
the Blind at Baltimore; 8 were admitted and 8
discharged during the year. leaving Is under
| instruction on the 30th of June, 1885, The
superintendent of the school reports that the
branches taught in the school are reading.
writing in New York point, grammar spelling
4 arIt fir nlrv ,no< AL
music, piano-tuning, broom and mattress
| making. chair Gaming, sewing and use of sew
ing-machine, and plain and fancy knitting and
| that the government benefciaries have made
| commendable progress therein.
FREEDMEN's HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM.
The whole number of patients treated in this
hospital during the year, as shown by the re-
port of the surgeon in charge, was 2,254, and
in addition 3,S41 received attention in the dis
pensary attached to the hospital. OF the num-
| Der admitted for treatment $50 were persons
who had served in the army or navy and had
come to the city to look after their claims for
pension without the means of providing for
| their maintenance while here, and % were ex-
soldiers, who were permitted to enter the hos
pitai while awaiting transportation to national
| soldiers homes The expense of providing for
the latter class is reimbursed to the hospital by
| the directors of the homes.
WASHINGTON HOSPITAL FOR FoUNDLINGs.
The report of the board of directors shows
| that their receipts from all sources during the
year were SS,665.05; of this amount $1,000 was
| appropriated by Congress. and the balance was
derived from membership dues, private contri-
buttons and interest on the endowment fund
The whole amount was expended for the pur-
poses OF the institution, of which detailed
| statement is given in the report They ask for
an appropriation OF 81 900 for maintenance for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, and for
"a fOr airsa and For ,1afiv he
| nishing of the building. The number Of chill
| dren in the institution on the 30th of june
| 1887, was IL; admitted during the year, "A; Of
| these were adopted and 80 died. 10 deaths &C.
curing during the month of June last from an
| epidemic Of cholera infantum.
EDUCATION OF FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN.
During the year eight children from the Dis
| trict of Columbia received instruction at the
Pennsylvania Institution for Feeble Minded
| Children, in accordance with the provisions Of
the act of June 16, 1880. The superintendent
of the institution reports that seven of the chill
dren belong to the educable Glass; and are re-
ceiving the full benefits of both the school and
| industrial departments.
| Applications have been made to the depart
| ment on behalf of number of other children.
| who are represented to be worthy to receive
the benefits of the act, but admission has neces-
sarily been denied them. as the appropriation
(S2.500) for such instruction was not suffice mt
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benefciaries. The claims of these applicants
have been NO urgently presented that | repeat
the recommendation in the last report Of my
predecessor. that the appropriation for this
charity be increased to "a, 500.
The Department Buildings.
The bureau of Indian affairs, the bureau of
education the geological survey, and a portion
of the general land Office are in buildings not
belonging to the government, and for which
an annual rental of cal, 900 is paid, besides
$500 for store-rOOm for documents. The ap-
preparation for the building occupied by por-
! ton of the general land Office has been hereto
| fore S1,800, but the owner of that building
reduced its rental from 81 800 to 81 500 for the
| current year, and the appropriation may be
| probably reduced accordingly hereafter. A
building for the pension agent at Washington
| has heretofore been rented at 81 800 per an
mum. but believing the price to be extrava-
| CANT, ! insisted upon n reduction, and the
owner has leased it for the current year at $500
| per annum.
1t has seemed to me worthy of considerat ton
whether in view Of the plan which was adopted
for the construction of the Congressional Ii
brary, looking to a building which might have a
| capacity for many years to come, and furnish
as needs required an expanding supply of
| room. 1t would not be wise to construct q por-
| ton of it with reference to the present use by
| some of the various government Offices scat
| tered through the city in rented quarters. The
geological survey and bureau of education at
least, might be there temporarily provided for