New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-20
WEDNESDAY,,
MARCH 20, 1895.
UNFINISHED AND RICKETY.
SHOCKING STATE OF BUILDINGS FOR THE
CITY'S INSANE.
CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNFULFILLED
AND woEK THAT HAS BEEN LET SLIDE
ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE
PRESENT WORKINGS OF THE
CHARITIES AND CoRREc-


CHARITIES AND CoRREc-
TON DEPARTMENT
In the discussion OF the Pavey bill providing TO-
the division Of the Department OF Charities ana Cor
rection, attention has been mainly directed, up 10
this time to the fact that 1t Is considered meas-
ure OF humanity and Justice to the inmates OF DOS
pitfalls and asylums TO separate them from tho
management OF the prisons and penitenuares' ana
to place them under the charge or one Commis-
sloner, who could become expert in matters per-
tanning TO their proper treatment. Attention is no"
being called to another extremely important consid-
Grafton in favor OF the Pavey bill, and that is the
impossibity under the present system Of placing
all these institutions under a single commission OF
enforcing the fulflment Of contracts owing 10 tho
immense amount OF work devolving upon the exist
ing heads OF the Department Of Charities ana Cor
rection, they entirely unable to maintain an et-
fectve supervision over the erection OF new ouho-
ings and the repairs and alterations OF old build
ings. and this account thousands OF collars OF
the city's money wasted. and thousands Oh It's
dependent wards forced 20 live In overcrowded
and unsantary quarters. As an illustration Of the
inecency OF this department In the construction OF
buildings, attention is called to the meagre results
from the expenditure Of $4,000 authorized by the
Legislature of 1892 in compliance with the recon-
mendations OF the Advisory Commission on the Care
Of the Insane appointed by the Mayor
UNFINISHED TWO YEARS AFTER.
In November 1892. contracts for the erection OF
three groups OF bailtngs at Central Islip to De
completed within 100 days were lei, which were 70
accommodate 4s6 patients. the total amount appor-
TONED for expenditure at Central Islip being 1885,
ISL In spite OF the fact that the buildings were to
be completed within 100 days ana In spite OF the
urgent necessity for their immediate use. owing TO
the extreme overcrowding in the institutions on
wards Island the buildings are not. at this date,
two wears and four months after the letting OF the
contract all of them ready Tor occupancy. instead
OF 466 patients being accommodated IN the ne"
buildings at Central Isp within year after the let
ting OF the contracts and similar number eacn year
thereafter as was the original plan. there are now
1874 patients occupying buildings provided since 1877
For this excessive delay nobody seems to know VINO
f. responsible and the penalties prescribed IN the
contracts for delay in the completion OF the "orA
have not been enforced This delay In itselt Is
most grevous injustice TO the dependent insane OF
NewYork City.
YAWNING HOLES AND CRACKING boAhDO
But this is net all. These new buildings are so DE-
fectve in construction 10 be practically unnt TOT
use even before they are occupied. Gaping hoors:
warped and cracked doors imperfect joints ana
cracked ceilings abound About two weeks ago .
number OF patients were removed from Wards ISL
and TO one Of these new pavllons. Withln Gay
or TWO. and while several OF the patients were In
the layatory the cement floor broke under tneir
weight; The patients suffered no serious injury iot
underneath the cement was bed OF shayinss an1
~ buiIinr had been Completed. the refuse and
debris had been dumped here and over TINS founda-
inch in thickness had been laid. III, 49,, h.
As oniy three OF the nine pavillons nave peen
occupied II is impossible 10 say Just now 70 "nAt
extent this particular kind OF louhdAtio ION ,oss
~ the other buildings give susplclousy mono"
sound as 30 also the tiled doors in the closets
These nine buildings were accepted az SoihpTT.so
by the Commissioners on November 3 1884 Two
y; The payilIons have not been occupied because
there is as yet sewerage connection. ana 10 me
other four there is no connection with inc eecttc
scribed as being In unsatisfactory and diminished
condition In one Of the buildings the cement noor
OF a closet been destroyed by me action OF ny
FROST The wood used In the construction OF the
buildings seems 10 have been In many cases I'M
seasoned and in nearly all cases very pady put
together From the interior OF one OF the dining-
seen between the wall and the roof Inc noors are
badly mt down. are warped and In some places
snIin,ered or the four boilers used for running
and heating and lighting plants, tWS Ca i NC
used bee ause the brick arches are broken DOWN.
r.or no amount OF money expended n me
construction OF new buildings at the state hospitals
nlar the State Care Appropriation act OF 1871 mere
would have been provided Satisfactory aNS"'H"'u"'
lions for 80 patients
THE RAIN HAS AN EASY TIME TO GET IN
In regard TO the new pavilion erected on Wards
Island a similar account must be given. In no less
than thirty OF the rooms the roofs already leak
badly 50 much that pals placed on the moor 10
catch the water must be empued frequently when
there il a ranstorm In some cases the rooms
bave had TO be deserted and two beds placed In
rooms intended for but one In regard 10 the wails
and floors the criticisms must De maze as OF
those at Central Isp. The cellar Is extremely
damp and cannot be used - - .,..,-
That such buildings can be erected at the Guys
EXPENSE and accepted by its oncals Is sunlcens
nroof that a much more effective supervision OF