The times., 1898-07-31
THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
Intendant Stoutenburgh Submits
His Annual Rerort

Mr.. Walter II. Stantenburgh, intendant
of the Washington Asylum, fled his an
nual report for the year ending June 80.
1885, with the District Commissioners, yes
terday.
The document is lengthy and covers In
detail the workings of the institution IN
cluding the workhouse.
The estimates for the maintenance OF
the asylum and for improvements during
the present fiscal year, aggregate $l6i,Sl4.
The daily average of persons maintain
ed last year was Co., at an annual per
capita cost of s72.16.
Recommendation is made in the report
for a separate building for colored wom-
en-, and an appropriation of $4,000 is ask
ed for its erection.
Among the other appropriations asked
for are $50 600 for a central building for
a work house for males, $4,000 for an
additional story to one of the Old Mems
Home Buildings, 5000 for a maternity
ward, $500 for equipping the hospital
$3.50 for repairs, s6O,500 for contingent
maintenance expenses and s193l4 for
salaries.
Inc report O1 MI III
part, as follows:
THE health of the employees and in
mates generally has been good and the
death rate has somewhat decreased from
that of former years.
The hospital was crowded to overflow
ing during the entire winter, notwith-
standing our efforts to keep 1t within its
proper bounds, thus showing that more
wards will be necessary for the proper
care of the sick and destitute. The work
Of the hospital has been satisfactory, so
| far as our facilities go.
An expensive steam heating plant
| was erected and operated during the win
| ter. The plant and building cost IS, ,0S6. A.
Seven buildings are heated by this sys-
| TEN.
THE greatest need now is receiving
| and new maternity ward, and funds TO
provide a more generous diet for the sick
1.-The asylum building is in fair condi-
| ton, but is very much overcrowded in
| winter-in fact. is full now An addI-
| tional wing should be added, and the
expense would be about $4,000.
t'The male workhouses is entirely too
small for the proper housing of so great
la number of prisoners. During nearly
the whole of last Winter men were dou-
| bled in beds, temporary bedsteads were
y
| prisoners were obliged TO sleep on straw
beds on the floors of basement rooms and
| Railways. The construction of this build
| ing is bad, and the plan Is the worst that
| can be conceived for prison, namely
| the congregated cell plan.
Through your honorable board the at.
| tention of Congress- has been called tc
the very inadequate provisions made fol
| this class Of prisoners, but no appropria.
| ton for relief has been granted. The
I time has now arrived when further de.
| lay is dangerous to the health or safe
| keeping of these prisoners. The presen
building is faulty In construction and sit
| uation and the plan is the very wors
| that could be devised for the proper keep
| ing of prisoners The present congestet
! condition is detrimental to health, com
| fort, order, discipline and safe keeping
| With slight alterations, this building
| would make suitable quarters for tn,
male inmates of the almshouse which
| also must have added space, as botl
| white and colored quarters are nov
| crowded to the danger point.
II therefore recommend the construc
ton of a new workhouse for males bacl
from the street front, and also the altera
| tions needed to make the present build
ing useful as an overflow for the balanc
| of the institution.
1.-THE time made and estimated value 0
labor by the prisoners of the workhous
in street grading, farm and shop worl