The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-11
THE NEW ALMSHOUSE.
Need Of > County Hospital to
Be Filled &C Last
MODERN AND HUMANE IDEAS.


Those who paae sJong the county road
o. the electric line 70 River and South
PAIRS. about three miles south of the city,
wAi notice on the county farm, about .
quarter Of . mile north Of the present
aimshouse and hospital, rising walls Of
orfck and stone. surrounded BY huge piles
o. euudinG matariala. while the ring Of
the ssowsl and the thinking music Of the
ssonseuttss's hammer and chisel may b
heard. Inquiry viii reveal the fact that
this Improvement, which 10 evidently upon
large scale, il the building Of the new
hospital and almshouse for King county.
The work has bssn In progress about
month, and the walls are nor beginning
TO assume form. The building 10 to cost
$5y. 100, and John Rigby b the contractor.
The plans were prepared By W. A. Richie.
who Was also the architect Of the King
county courthouse.
The need Of such . building has bsen
felt BY the commissioners for . long time
and Il has grown moro pressing every day.
The old building, never . good one from
the standpoint Of sanitation or convent
sncs. 10 now entirely inadequate to the re-
Quiroments and 10 unhealshfui and danger.
Gus. A POsr-fsTELLIGKscER reporter Who
visited II > fev days ago bscame convinced
OF this. - Will any one who. taking 0c-
casion 70 inspect il, sees the suffering hui
manisy huddled together, BY foscs Of in
sumcisnt acc0mmodations-th scrup1lous
neatness maintained and indefatigable
care Of the resident physician. DR.. +. B.
Whiting, and Of the keeper and farmer, C.
]. Dearborn. and the masron. Mrs.. Dear
born. hsing Ill that prevents the
hospital bsin turned into . house
Of contagion and death. In . build
ing which should not b required to
shelter moro than twenty well persons an
average Of seventy paints, in all stages OF
diseass and decreptude. some Of them
seniis from pain and old age. and major
ity Of them helpless from disease. are COM
PEELED TO make their home. The wards,
small rooms. not more than fifteen feet
square. each have ct least i've cots and,
Notwithstanding tho care exercised, be-
come loathsome and sickening In smell
when ct night each cot 10 filled with . pa
tisnt. the majority Of whom have hurts
and diseases which give rise to the worst
of odors. The building has no means Of
ventilation save by the windows; it has
no convenisnces. and 10 . finder box
that would make = horrible holocaust
il ever tire should get fairly started. for
very few patients would have strength or
presence Of mind to lind their way through
the corridors and down the steep stairwa ys.
While the hospital Is haven Of refuge for
many Who would otherwise die Of neglect
and suffering. 1t il not . tit place for .
Christian community like that OF King
county TO use for the care Of its INDECENT
aged. sick and feebIe-minded charges, and
the commissioners have been forced into
erecting the new building. Speaking Of
these points TO Posr-ISrRIIldExcxR re-
porter . few days ago. Chairman Gasch
said:
Our board hes realized the absolute necessity
OF providing additional room and suitable
quarters for the ca1s OF the alex and ind.m that
must b cared for By the county. and have gath
cred all Of the inform alton possibis from expe-
rsncs dearly bought In Eastern states. With
this data aud information we have, after .
years study. perfected the plan Of the proposed
building. emoodying In this plan all OF the good
aud desirable fsatures OF the Older established
and time tried inatitutions OF this character for
the proper separation OF the sexes ANA cianes OF
ths inmates and for tho proper care and eco
uomtcal handling OF the institution. We have
provided rooms for general working OF sewing
rooms Tor oil those who are able to do even an
hours work each day. for IL IL the intention to
make this an industrial. home 40 well a. IA aims
house. and TO compel all who are able to do
some kind Of work during . part Of
each day. and thus help to make
the institution ss!f-supror,ing one
Any person who will take the time AID interest
In this matter 70 visit the county farm and will
take look through the present building, viii
then realize what . condition OF affairs exists
out there and the great need OF suitable quar-.
tiers for the s!ck and crippled that must be cared
for thss~ While the Management uses ell
efforts possible TO care for the inmates properly
and to cure the sick 80 that they may leave the
place and support themselves again. yet the con-
ditou OF the present building, crowded ~ IL 10
with more than three times - many patients