New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-10
CITY OFFICIALS ON A TOUR.
BELLEVUE AND BLACKWELL'S ISLAND
VISITED.
MEMBERS or THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE GO TO
SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHERE MONEY

SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHERE
Is NEEDED
Commissioner John p. Faure. OF the Department
of Charities and Correction. conducted Corporation
Counsel Francis VI. Scott and President Jeroloman'
Of the Board OF Aldermen. through Bellevue Hospl-
tai and the city institutions on Blackwel's Island
yesterday.
Last week Mayor Strong. who has mace seVeral
trips to the institutions invited the members OF
the Board OF Estimate. who have been asked oy inc
Charities Commissioners for largely increased APP
propriations for next year. TO make a tour OF
Warts and Blackwelrs Islands and see for them
solves how badly money was needed. They accepted
the invitation OF the Mayor, and gathered at Belle
yue Hospital at 10 O'Clock. But the Mayor did not
appear. After keeping them waiting for nearly an
hour he sent word that he would be unable 10 &C
company them.
president Barker OF the Department Of Taxes,
went to Bellevue and then went home so did
President Porter, OF the Department Of Charities
and Correction and Commissioner Wright
Commissioner Faure first took the two members
of the Board OF Estimate through the buildings
connected with Bellevue. DR. W. y. Polk. chairman
OF the Committee OF Inspection. and DR.. Joseph ID.
Bryant President Cleveland's physician, went along
TO explain things from a medical point OF view.
Warden ORourke compIimented for the cleanli-
ness found everywhere and for the order that pre-
vailed.
First the visitors examined the baths watch
are in course OF erection. They to cost $4,000.
They are to be Turkish. Russian and indicated
ba his and DR.. Polk sad that they would compare
we'll with any in town. He took the occasion to ask
the members of the Board OF Estimates to give two
more nurses be employed In bathing the patients
Every moment some would point some needed
Improvement until Corporation Counsel Scott SAID:
us there any who does not want anything
Repairs and needed Improvements have been put
off for eight years and longer, ana so no wonder
we want them now" responded Mr.. Faure. Then
the laundry was visited and the washing machines
were found TO be out OF date The drying room was
also inadequate and the Commissioners ASKED iof
a new building
Next was the boilerhouse. II Is too near the hos
ptal and the boiler is old The kitchen was next
entered The chefs" busy broiling steaks.
In covered compartment on table solitary
chicken was discovered. Warden O'Rourke ad-
mittcd that the chicken looked lonely. but said that
as a rule the patients who had been ordered by
the doctors TO have chicken were we'll supplied.
Commissioner Faure said that a new emergency
hospital ward needed and that II the board OF
Estimate gave the money asked for 1t could De
erected. The ambulance quarters were inspected.
Two new ambulances were admired. lhey hau
rubber tires and INTERCHANGEABLE parts.
Commissioner Fdure said that a new alcoholic
ward vas needed. He also proposed that the
Morgue be butt over the river and that the
eryslpelas ward situated in the loft of the
building the pier. have a building.
and a few moments later Backwe's Island was
reached The little craft pitched in the wake Of a
ferrybost and the spray drenched several OF those
aboard
Arrived at the Island DR.. c. f. Bruce took the
party in charge While some distressing FACTS
were discovered by the visiting party 1t was ac-
know. edged that the conditions were all due 10 the
lack of money. Everything that the present ohi-
cla.s could DO without the aid OF money had been
done the visitors concluded. In the city Hospital
and the Almshouse most of the startling Things were
found Or. Bruce in describing one wari III the
Amshouse said: 1T Is a death trap some time
there will be fire and many poor wretfheS VIII oe
burned There Is ire-escape and IN other respects
The building is wofully insufficient Many Of the
inmates have to sleep on the floor. Tney nave 10
descend an outside staircase in the middle or winter
which l. a great hardship Until recently the
stones in the wal could be picked loose the build
ing IL so Cd. The stones have been liked Out the
OH TSe pWerkhouse was visited and found to be in
good condition Warden Dunphy who has been In
charge for years. conducted the visitors through H.
Eyeythng was og Tyea in T ih ase furnished
house OF Warden P.ilsbury. The Warden took the
Kan Of The css ana the good discipline were noticed
and provoked favorable comment a new wing Is
our several small buildings which had been built
b. convict labor. lie said that ne wanted three
Then came the cy Hospital where ,Ss. ys'tE tors
found muen to be a2ne He ROOF an w'S the
falling away ThS paint vas Pssns o 0m des . 70
"" treat a patient ali right when ne Is dead, but
the Accommodate for the living are awful What
do YOU think Of ianicrn to light up ward
Win twenty-eight patients? II a patient has a
hem)rrhage he must beed to death The light Is
insufficient for us TO stop the flow Think Of that
gentlemen. Life sacrificed because the gas pressure
IS so low to be OF no use at this end OF the
island The wards crowded at times. The food
il not sufficient. People come here suffering from
starvation. and-we.l some Of them are suffering
vet Why. some patients kept alive on the
food provided hy frieEds The Commissioners are
doing everything in their power, but more money Is
ed
have 10 be swahbed out with brooms.
whats that?' asked one OF the visitors
why | have seen the pals In which soup Is
carried cleaned by running a wet broom around In
SIDE OF them Then the broom is used for other
| nllrnnscs. The garhlge Is pAced right near the