The evening times., 1895-12-11

Washington Asylum is placed by Col.
John Tracey in, his report upon charities
| and reformatory werk here at tie head Of
| all such Institutions In the District. A
memorandum is Incorporated in the report,
explaining why certain changes, invoiv.
| ing net Increase of S23, ,443 in the appro-
priation. should be made.
| Col. Tracey says: Congress has for the
past two years allowed $4,000 and 81, 800,
| respectively, for hospital construction.
With these sums two excellent wards have
| been provided, and by utilizing basement
rooms in the one built this year the medical
| service Of the hospital will be placed i'll good
Heating arrangements. however, are an
tiquated and defective, as well as lacking
in cleanliness. 1t is proposed. by locating a
small boiler-house at the lowest point on the
hospital grounds. toesta blisb a central heat
ing station for the dispensary. physicians
quarters, nurses quarters, and the seven
wards comprising thegroup OF hospital build
ings. This work. including a II necessary ap-
piiances of piping, ETC., for heating by steam
or hot water. is to be done at. cost not
exceeding $4,000. Very great progress has
been made within three years in transform
ing this hospital. and feel confident that
Congress will allow the change to be conf
pletcd by the necessary improvement now
proposed.
''Thc present place of deposit for bodies
of the pauper dead is too far from the ccme-
terry. and is onground now turned over tOtGe
parking commission. which Il SKIS for removal
Of the nuisance. The appropriation of 5000
requested for building vault iii the rounds
OF the potter's field cemetery is one of those
connected with administration not strictly
within the province of The Washington Asy-
lum. but associated withits service as a mat
ter of economy and convenience
EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NEEDED.
For painting tin roofs, reiaying floors
and resurfac cling walls, So 900 is requested.
The condition OF the almshouse and the
male workhkouse is such as to necessitate
extensive repairs. A beginning has been
made in one part of the almshouse by re-
surfacing walls. 1t is necessary to con-
tiDue the work throughout the almshouse
and male workhouse. Brick floors have
become very much worn and uneven, SO
that it is impossible to keep them clean
and dry and TO preserve sanitary condi-
tions in the crowded buildings. There
should be substituted concrete or cement
floors TO prevent dirt and disease. Two
Of the floors in the male workhouse are
in such condition that rela wing is impera-
tive. Several Of the roofs OF the large
nubmer of buildings constituting the asy-
>lum establishment require repair and paint
ing, for the protection of inmates and
the preserratioDiof the property.
1.-THE $500 requested can be expended
to good advantage in hospital furnishing
and appliances to replace wnrn-out ar
ticles and supply medical and surgical IA
cilities suitable to the requirements of
modern surgery The hospital, the only
medical aud surgical Establishment of the
III
the Commissioners without the interyen-
ton or corporation of any institutional
board, does important work, surgical as
well as medcak as general hospital for
the eastern section Of the city, and 1t should
be as well supplied In proportion to its ca
pacity as the other hospitals OF the city,"
The increase Of the contingent fund from
$44, 900 at present to $4,000 for the next
year is based ON a calculation of 500
year for each person supported,
''The per capita is the 10 west 1t is safe to
assume, and the average last year was low,
from various causes, Including theincreased
number of shorttermed commitments to the
workhouse as compa red with previous long
er terms, and the sentencing to jail of classes
of offenders formerly sent to the workhouse.
1t is quite probable that the average of in
mates during the next fiscal year will reach
900 instead of last years 522."
THE PAUPER DEAD.
Heretofore, with the exception Of $300for
coffin-making in part ensationfor such
work, allowed from the District fund for
the relief of the poor, the entire expenses of
burial OF the pauper dead OF the District
have been borne by the contingent fund Of
the Washington Asylum. II the work is to
be continued In the asylum's charge 1t is
asked that 81, 500 be allowed for it. This i
would, OF course, virtually. proporttonately |
the money allowed for asylum use. i
II would hesitate to recommend it were
1t not that see occasion for improving the
quality and variety of the food furnished to
tn. almsh0use and the shospital.s especially
to tie inmates of the latter More generous