New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE MONEY.

THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE MoNhi'
A PLEA FOR IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED IN THE
BUILDINGS on DLACKwELLs ISLAND.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir During the last year severe crlucisHl' VI
the Department OF Charities and Correction nave
been published by the press of this city anu III
many cases the Of the evil criticised mas oee',
found in the standard Of care set by the a'i"u''
appropriations. The time is at hand wheh 'he "P
propriations for the coming year are 10 ~ "N''
by the Board of Estimate and Apportonneht'
which defines within narrow limits what the COM
missioners Of Charities and Correction can TOT Il
year to accomplish "a servants OF the pun
lie Is not this therefore. the time when "a'ch-
full press should scrutnlzc their plans. insist upon
the supply OF sufficient FOR useful ends anu
protest against ill-judged expenditure
As a contribution toward this end, ask you
TO grant me SPACE to recount such needs OF the
DEPARTMENT as have particularly impressed the
members OF the New-York County Visiting COM
mittee OF the State Charities Aid Association IL
would Of course be unreasonable to expect ali ue'
ncencies to be supplied in single year; and
where so much Is wanting opinions may well III
fer as which need Is most urgent
The recent investigation of the city asylums mas
7 think demonstrated that the standard of care
for the insane should be higher. and especially
that there should be better class OF ATTENDANTS
trained for their duties. The asylums have al
ty years and it is be hoped that their progress
may be continuous.
The hospital department OF the aImshouse IL
| sadly wanting in respect Of appliances diet ana
| care Better trained nurses and more OF them are
| here too the most obvious need
on the wonen's side OF the New-York City Cor
merly Charity Hospital. Backwelrs Island
there IS need of towers such have been erected
on the mems side to contain bathrooms. etc the
existing plumbing Of the womSns wards Is III I"
The supply OF gas on Blackwels Island Is en-
trcy Inadequate to light the numerous bu u. n,
| there and the consequent unaVodibl" use IN SON"
buildings OF kerosene lamps ana lanterns "to't-
the FISK Of re 9spSTrh workhonse hep Hn
| improved gas supply or an eectric-hght pant -
None Of the docks used by the Department Of
Charities and Correction are rooted over, atnouEh
thousands Of passengers. many of them SICK or m
firm and very large quantities OF provisions ana
! other freight pass over them annually ana the
must he considerable 1t is to be wished that one
dock may be- covered over each year. until all
In the opinion Of the Visiting Committee. many
! Correction arise from the custom or Transferring
| nlslcmeanants from the workhouse to serve In
various capacities IN other insu'ut1ns' t' nmCe
be expected that this, custom SIoui nr al on,e
and entirely stopped. but something might b" ac-
| complished bv the enlargement of the workhouse
plant. so that more work might bc sent tnrtr
| from other Institutions something also by extend
! keeper bodies Of workers to scrub. dig or what
! not returning them nightly Ia the wofkhous"
| This would probably involve an increase oil 'he
! force OF keepers.
! The COMMITTEES has had frequent occasion TO
crticisc the condition OF the Gouverneur Hospital
| but il may be- passed here. since "" under
| stand that a special appropriation for liz recon-
struction Gt requires no less) has already beth
made
! To mention an the repairs. alterations ana m
! rrovcm.nts needed would undUly prolong TINS ley
Ter l. however will refer 10 one project set forth
/ not long since I'm some OF tn" daily papers whch
| appears 10 the Visiting COMMITTEE" an cNdinpI" or
! bnw money should not be spent II has been pro-
po.eI that high brick ami stone wall. with an or
ra, tai ptfs b.
! ~ side ~ the Bellevue grounds The need Of a
! gh wall arises from tn" employment OF work
| house men and women. who must b" treated 1S
! prisoners and I'm our view Il would he better II
| nxpenl money In reducing N" number ~ them
i employed IN the hospital. while 10 construct or
uarnents for Institutions which Lack 50 much mat
! would o.. useful IS Ike putting lac" runir on a
/ man Who needs flannel shirt
! trust that the community being informed may
/ give some heed TO thee things \. bl i.tN .
Pres iIcnt Ncw-NOrk County VISITING committee. or
the Siat. Charities All Association.
! Ncw-Ycrk. Sept .. 1927.