New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
FOR THE CITY'S WARDS.
IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED BY THE CON-
MIssIoNERs OF CHARITIES.

PUTTING THE APPROPRIATION OF 100000" TO
GOOD usE-NEw BUILDINGS AND CHANGES
ON BLacIcwELI;s ISLAND.
Under the provisions of the act passed last year
making an appropriation Of sl.oN.ooo for improve
ments in buildings under the control OF the De
partment OF Charities, plans Tor large a"io""e "
work have been made by the COMMISSIONER ro'
.oma Of II contracts have already been let ana 'he
work has been begun: in other cases the plans
have been drawn and awaiting approval AS
,bev have to undergo approval by the state BOARD
OF Charities the Board of Estimate anu 'ho "
partment OF Buildings. It Is obvious that co'si"e'
able time must elapse after the Commissioners Vi
Charities determine upon project peio'' IL '
actually be taken In hand
To bring the physical equipment or the DePaiF
ment up to the proper standard mas rea"iieu 20, .,
outlaws since the reform administrator 'oon II III
charge for the rule of the Tammanv oii'" We"
10 neglect improvements and crown peop'. ~
se,ber IN the hospitals the almshouse anu 'ho
-, institutions then under the controi OF ''e
commissioners Of Charities and Correction without
the slightest regard to the comfort Oh Tue 'i'
so long record Tor eeohon''
created The reasonableness of such liberal eN
penditures as have been made Is apparent "
little objection was raised when II war p'opo'''
last wear 10 appropriate s1Oo0oo for the purpose
One Of the changes contemplated is the removal
of the headquarters OF the Department ~
building which it has long occupied nj INN ,a'e
and Eleyenth-st The two-story bricK pui'ulns
was erected about thirty years ago, anu '''
,or,,,ent ~ Charities and Correction took possess
atom of II In 1865 1t is believed by the commas
sioners that 1t will be TO the advantage Oh INC D
nartment and the public II the centrA ohio0' "
brought closer to the main channel OF inc D'P".
nnen,'s business and plans have been drawn loi
Tho FRACTION of steel shed the entire ehs III Vi INV
n,.r q, Fast Twenty-sixth-st. 1t Will ne TWO
stories In height. The upper floor VIII DC use
Offices and underneath will be the ois'rtpu Is
storehouse which is now on BlacK"ens is
This change will leave the building at hieNe"
for the use of some other department or prahc" Vi
the city government
AT BELLEVUE AND CITY HOSPITALS
A. and near Bellevue Hospital work has been
besun on two or three buildings Ihere Is 10
be new Morgue the old one being 700 sni S,
This has already been moved back ana 'he TIC" oI'o
will be erected over the river. paVihoh Wo
stories high for the isolation OF cases or suspected
cases OF contagious diseases. Is being bult ana
also a new boiler and laundry house Plans nave
been drawn for building Tor the use o. in
conveniently housed over the oilces on she pie 80
r9Sm n reet bndnr for when plans have not
yet been provided Is an energency pa pa ola FIRE
eneine-house is now used but il is ILL adapted for
such and is 100 far away from the seiei al "o'
AT the city Hospital Blackwels Island com,
monty known the Charity Hospital an linpoi tan.
chanse is being made by the provision OF new
kitchen in the dome Of the main BUILDING a, Al
present there five different kitchens conneS'eu
with the institution all the ground floor ana no In In
some the food, after being cooked mas 70 me
ar IS n,e Gui The large humber Of kitchens in
evaby t to w sSse ap Khen planned for an
elevator will be proyaed for carrying 1000 Shn
thus be rapid and The food W be from Te RaT 1
Tn Kitchen I pf n the upper part Of the building
the odors of cooking will not psrmeste the warTs
this department under the direction of single
"'I needed improvement at the hospital is a shed
and waiting room at the pier as patients ianaing
from the boats are now o ve TO i b made for
this work. Work is under way however on Two
veniences that have hitherto been lacking Water
to the island from 5hs T5O5En
through the buildings properly on o 1 fhe law
wain hps only are TO be employed in the
pal. but suitable quarters have not yet neen SCI
Changes 0 now going on rooms will be provided
about forty.
ALMsHoUsE IMPROVEMENTS.
At the Almshouse also the Charities Commits
'sioners are making important improvements Chief
among them Is the erection OF six stone and brick
pavilions each two stories in height. They will
contain twelve dormtories. each with room for lS
inmates. 1t is proposed TO set aside two Of these
pavilions for the of blind and women.
proved sanitary ventiating and heating apparatus.
and will be provided with exterior iron starcases
are now heated with stoves Before the cold
season comes it is the intention to run steam pipes
10 all of them.
A three-story building in contemplation will be
built Of brick and stone. and will contain bake
oven. butcher shop and refrigerators, storeroom,
engne-room. etc. with a laundry and dining
room and dorunitores for the help employed.
Water towers for layatory purposes will also be
erected here: the dining rooms TO be enlarged.
and four elevators provided the old veranadas will
be rebuilt and iron stairways will be substituted
for wooden.
At the beginning OF last year the law separating
the Department of Correction from that of Chart
ties took effect. At that time II. II. Porter retired
from the Department. Commissioner Wright
put in charge OF the Department of Correction. and
Silas c. Croft and General James r. O'Beirne be-
came Charities Commissioners. with John +
Faure, who had been appointed by Mayor Strong
in the previous April Mr.. Croft elected presi-
dent Of the Board.
When asked in regard to the plans of the De-
partmcnt. the president referred the writer to Gen
eral Inspector James 5 Knowles. After Mr..
ticle, President Croft said that the Commissioners
trying TO do all in their power for the benefit
Of the large number Of persons intrusted TO their
care. He refused 10 make any comparison between
the present administration and its predecessors
and preferred the whole TO let the improvements
<Ar cxix.ao