Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-17
THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
The Intendant Makes His Annual Re.
port to the Commissioners.

Mr.. W. r. Stoutenburgh, the intsndant Of
the Washington asylum, has made his annual
report to the District Commissioners. He
states that there are now $50 inmates Of the
aims house, $50 having been admitted and SOC
discharged during the year. At the end of the
fiscal year there we're AS prisoners in the work
house, s,5S3 having been received and 8,444
discharged during the year. He recommends
that action be taken providing for the payment
out Of the pension fund for the support Of PEN
sioners in the asylum. OF the aims house Mr..
Stoutenburgh says; THE ho7se is clean, COM
Portable and well warmed during cold weather.
The diet is amply sufficient to sustain them In
good physical condition, their meals are regu-
lar, and the general conditions are such a. to
conduce to long life."
Many, he says, are admitted in o half fam
ished condition who, when they are restored
and able to work, are impudent and unruly
This class, he says, should be discharged and
kept OUT After describing the various inn
provements made about the building during
the year, Mr.. Stoutenburgh urges an appro-
priation for the erection Of an additional ward
to the hospital for white males. and recon-
mends an allowance sufficient to secure q better
class Of nurses and cooks for the hospital. He
asks ~ $40 to provide for . lavatory bathing
facilities, clothes room. sewer connections and
fuel vault for the male work house. He thinks
these improvements will relieve the building Of
most OF its present obnoxious features, prevent
future unpleasant comments aud add much to
the comfort and health Of its inmates.
THE FEMALE PRISONERS.
There are ninety-eight female prisoners now
In the work house, q greater number than ever
before. THE majority Of them" the report
says, ''are dissolute young colored women Of
the very vilest class. They are beyond the
sense OF shame and deaf to reasoning advice,
and delight In nothing so much as the most
obscene language and lewd actions. In order
to bring them to some sense of respect for the
rules of the house there should be a place con-
structed and a mode devised for short, sharp
and decisive punishment. For this purpose I
recommend the construction of a small build
ing divided into separate small cells ventilated
and secured against the escape of sound Such
building would require appropriation of
$500" He urges that some employment be
provided for female prisoners and that pro-
vision be made for sending small boys, now
sent to the work house, to the reform school.
He recommends that the Potter's field and
smallpox hospital be removed to the outskirts
OF the city. The Potters field, he says, has
been buried over several times, SO that 1t Is
now almost impossible to dig grave without
turning up the remains Of old collins. He sug-
gests that provision should be made for the
turning over to the medical colleges of the
District the criminal and pauper unclaimed
dead under proper regulations. He estimates
the value Of farm and garden produce raised
and consumed at "a. 126. 80. the value Of labor
performed by prisoners in grading and clean
ing streets at sz7. 069. and the value Of work
done in the shops aud grounds at $4,000.
THE ESTIMATES.
he estimates for the next fiscal year daily
average Of 625 persons at cost Of 800 per
annum each. He asks an increase of the clerks
salary to S720 year, an addition of $500 year
to the intendant's salary, an additional overseer
at $500, one at $500, one watchman at S365, one
night Waterman at 1856, one tailor at $780, one
ambulance driver at $500, and an increase Of
$40 per month for one Of the keepers of the
female work house and for the hostler or driver
The total amount estimated for the next fiscal
year is $50. 800. including $52, 500 for general
expenses, ZOO for new hospital ward, o., 500
for an addition to the male work house, S9, 900
for making habtation for male paupers out
OF magazine No. 2 and o. 500 for dining room
and punishment cells at female work house, and
S575 for new tin roof for the male work house.
The remaining items are for salaries.