The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-24
IN BILLINGS.
Reassuring Reports Received From the
Ranges.

Ranges.
| Special Correspondence of the Standard.
| Billings, Feb. 21.-The weather during
the last week has been exceptionally mild,
| and most of the snow has disappeared.
This afternoon a decided drop in the mer-
| curry, accompanied by easterly wind.
| occurred, but very little snow has yet
| fallen. Reports from the ranges con-
| tlnue to be reassuring and cattle are said
| to be doing well. Hon. Paul Mccormick
returned last night from trip over his
| range on the Crow reservation. He re-
ports that his cattle passed through the
cold weather remarkably well and are
finding plenty of feed.
| George Pirrie, who is large sheep own
er of Fergus county, is in the city and
says there no losses of sheep in his
section. A letter was received to-day from
O.. S. Erickson. who has a band of sheep
on the Sinking Water river in Northern
| Wyoming, in which he says he was
| caught out in the storm of two weeks
ago with the thermometer at Sc below
| zero. He succeeded, after hard labor, in
| getting his sheep in with the loss of only
| % head. He reports that one sheep man
| lost 500 head and others lost heavily.
Our citizens who have visited the new
! hospital of the Sisters of Charity, recently
| opened for the reception of patients, have
| been astonished and gratified at the COM
| pleteness and capacity of the institution
and its complete adaptabilty to the pur-
poses for which 1t is intended. 1t is indeed
a modern hospital, with everything UP to
date and thoroughly equipped. Nothing is
wanting to complete the comfort of the
patients to add to the convenience of
those who have the institution in charge
| 1t Is called st. Vincents, in honor of the
santed founder of the order of Sisters of
Charity, and it is indeed a noble structure
and a triumph to the architect who de-
signed it and to the Workmen who exc
cuted the design.
The cost of completing and furnishing it,
exclusive of the block of land, which was
donated, will foot up to about $4,000. 1t
stands a beautiful site, directly west
of the city limits, facing due east and
presents a fine view from the city. 1t is
built of brick, two stories in height, with
a lofty, light and airy basement The
| floors are constructed of maple, the stairs
of oak and the wainscoting is of hard pine
| in the natural colors of the wood.
| A notable feature is the thorough system
of ventilation, the pure outer air being
conducted between the floor and ceilings
| where it passes over the hot water pipes
| before it is admitted into the building
while the foul air is continually being con-
Quoted into ducts. which reach the upper
air by the chimney stack and by a spe-
cially constructed air shaft. The ventila-
ton system is very complete. Until the
| city sewerage system shall have been ex-
| tended to that portion of the city, which
may possibly be during this year, the
sewage empties into perfectly construct
| ed cess pool, but it is well taken care of.
| The heating is by hot water radiators
and the entire building is lighted by cleo
| tricity. There are two sets of bath rooms
| and closets on each floor all of the most
approved pattern. The operatin room is
large and well lighted. The floor is tiled
,n tl~ 1,&1 ,,e,t,., ,ts,
and appliances will be contained in the
| adjoining room, which is fitted up with
| glass cupboards. Here are a row of sta
| tionary Washbowls, so arranged that eth
err hot cold water may be turned on
with foot pressure to save the operating
surgeon from using his hands while at
| work.
The wards at present used, about 49,
are on the second floor, except for the
county patients. which are on the third.
| They are all comfortably furnished and
| are kept, is the remainder of the
building, scrupulously clean. large,
| comfortable room is provided as sitting
room for the men, where they may read
| smoke, play cards, checkers, etc.
| In the west wing of the building is the
chapel, where religious services are held.
| The sisters have a cheerful work room
| for sewing, reading, etc, a dining room
| and bedchambers and the superior has an
office near the chapel.
The patients dining room is in the base
ment and contains seating capacity for
| 70 1t is convenient to the large and fully
| equipped Kitchen which, with the adj
| joining china room, is equipped with safe
| covered sinks, which all housewives must
| covet. There is also complete bakery
and the laundry is fitted up with sta
| tionary boilers, Safe washtubs, etc.
There are dust chutes and laundry chutes
on each of the upper floors, by which the
| dust and soied clothes are carried to
| the basement. There are also dumb wal
| tiers by which the food is carried from the
kitchen to those patients unable to go 10
| the dining rooms. Each floor is also well
supplied with linen closets. Altogether this
| is probably the most completely equipped
hospital in the state although there are
several that are larger though none exists
more thoroughly up to date.
Sister Superior Theodore has arrived
from Leavenworth, Kan, to take charge
OF the hospital. She has devoted most
OF her life to the service of God and hu-
manity and appears to be the embodiment
of gentleness and charity. She has about
six assistants and expects several more
shortly.
The several physicians of the city are
attending to the patients. The sisters are
courteous to all visitors and make them
welcome. c. S. HARE of Helena is the
architect and the building was constructed
by Gebhauer Il Wagner of that city.