New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-19
EXPLORING THE NEW EDEN
PRESIDENT WILSON'S VISIT TO RIKER's
ISLAND.

HE FOUND THAT REPORTS WERE SLIGHTLY EX-
AGGERATED. But THERE is A REMARK
ABLE VEGETABLE GROWTH
MISREPRESENTATION OF
THE RIVERSIDE
HOSPITAL.
There was double purpose in President Charles
q. Wilson's tour of inspection yesterday after
room. Primarily he wanted TO inspect RIVERSIDE
Hospital. on North Brother Island. and then ne
wanted 10 take look at Riker's leland ABOUT
which so much has been said in the last DAY or
two. The Health Departments steamer FRANKLIN
Edison left East Sixteenth-st at S:l5 p. m' with
President and Mrs. Wilson. DR.. C. H. o. STEM
sleek. resident physician at Riverside Hospital;
Dr. Albert T. Swan consulting physician to the
Willard Parker Hospital and Tribune reporter
on board Speculation rife on the way up the
river as 10 the real extent OF the vegetation on
Riker's Island. concerning which such fabulous
reports were brought in on Saturday. Mr.. Wilson
in particular wanted 20 ascertain for himself
whether or not the garbage put there year ago
was in reality nuisance.
NOT AN INSPIRING OUTLOOK.
From a distance the outlook was not an IN
spring one An old shanty. where the workmen
used to sleep when the garbage was being car
RED there. the only building the island.
doomed up with anything but hospitable look
TO one seeking a new Eden or even
respectable farm. When the Franklin Ed
son rea ched the wharf old scow loaded
with ashes had TO be clambered over. and then
the visitors were prepared to find almost any
thing from orange tree to a turnip. President
Wilson and DIT Steinsieck started to walk down
the shore while the Tribune reporter wendell his
way carefully through the long grass toward
what seemed to be the most promising place TO
pick oranges or to make a luncheon on water
melons
He had gone little distance when call
from Mr.. Wilson brought him back to the shore
Here on the western side OF the island is a long,
wide stretch inclosed from the water by high
breakwater where the garbage had been dumped
and subsequently, covered with plentiful layer
of ashes cinders, broken glass and tin cans The
reporter found Mr.. Wilson looking carefully at
huge vine loaded with tomatoes. Here, then,
was the beginning of the garden. On the way
along the shore scores OF tomato vines were
passed. and occasionally muskmelon vine would
catch the feet of the explorers. while melons,
whiskey bottles and beer corks were lying about
in hopeless confusion
THE GARDEN DISCOVERED.
II was not until the southern part Of the island
was reached that an abundance was found.
Here along the shore a more fruitful soil had
been placed over the refuse and Hubbard squash,
oats. pumpkins citron. watermeons and turnips
were running riot The vines looked as II they
had recently been disturbed, some good resident
of the mainland. knowing good thing when ne
saw it. having probably paid weekly visit to
the island a sort of foraging expedition me
garden was not quite large enough to provide all
the wards OF the Commissioners of Charities ana
Correction with vegetables but II was large
enough to teach its little lesson
Mr. Wilson said. while looking at some OF the
specimens: Look at these vegetables Here this
garbage has been covered with foot or more or
cinders. glassware and all sorts of things least
likely to support vegetable life; there has been
no cultivation, no water except what is received
from the rains. and yet here we have quite a
supply OF market produce. Why cannot all this
garbage which has been such an elephant on the
hands OF the city. be utilized Cor some valuable
purpose? If what we see here can be accom-
plished by nature unaided. what might not be
done with little discretion as to the distribu-
ton of the refuse and a little care after the
seeds are planted? Here is this island Of over
one hundred and forty acres, and with as many
more covered by shallow water that might easily
be reclaimed and yet 1t is doing any good.
So far as the nuisance is concerned. there is no
iii smell here. hot as the weather is.
THE RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL.
Gathering a few specimens. the party trudged
back to the steamer looking like small crowd Of
farmers When all were on board the ropes
cast off and the Edison started for North Brother
Island. which lies just the northwest of Riker's
Here is the Riverside Hospital. commonly known
as the pesthouse for patients suffering from con-
tagious diseases The ordinary mind has horrl-
bic aversion for this place. but ii is not revolving
at all The first building visited the engine
house, opposite the wharf. Here are the boilers
for supplying the wards with heat. and also the
gas machines etc Next came the doctors and
nurses building on the ground floor is the office.
where experiments are made and where visitors
don robes before visiting patients. A board in
this office registers the number OF and also
the number Of attendants. At present the num-
Der of patients is twentyfour. and there are fifty
two attendants.
The south end of this building is used for the
apartments Of the resident physician and his
sistants. and the northern end for the matrOn and
nurses. Everything was In ship-shape order and
neatness itself On the lower floor the offices
and two dining rooms. one for the nurses and the
other for the physicians. The nurses dining
room Is exceedingly attractive. with tall side
board at one end of the rOOm decorated prOfusely
with china. Upstairs the nurses have sitting
room and library, with fine outlook on the
water.
The manner Of conducting the laundry shows
how careful the authorities Every piece Of
clothing that goes to the laundry is subjected TO a
heat of 24O before ii is touched. Then II Is thor
oughly boiled and again subjected TO 24O Of heat
before being Numbered.
The administration building where the cooking
is done. is a model of cleanliness. One OF the
scarlet-fever wards being vacant, the party
taken in The room. which had ABOUT twenty cots
in IT. was large airy and pleasant Each ward is
entirely isolated. The smallpox wards on the
only one occupant, who was seen by the party
they took the steamer lying on the grass in the
shade watching the boats on the river and evil
IDENTIFY thoroughly enjoying himself
President Wilson well pleased with the
diton of the hospital