Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-01
4 ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
A LETTER SHOWING THE REQUIRE
MENTs OF THE INSTITUTION.
Additional Buildings Needed to Meet
the Demands for Increase
of Patients.

\ mas received q communication from the
secretay Of the Interior inclosing
letter from the executive committee of the
board of visitors for the Government Hos
pital for the Insane and the superintendent
of that Institution. calling attention to the
| necessity for extensions and improvements
at the hospital and recommending that APP
populations therefor be made. Il
The letter is follows:
LAS members Of the executive committee
of the board of visitors of this hospital,
and as superintendent, We join in present
ing for your consideration certain facts and
recommendations relating to the present
wants of the hospital. and the necessity for
certain extensions and improvements as
follows:
LAS already brought to your attention in
formally by the superintendent. the present
number of patients in the hospital is more
than 100 IN excess of its actual capacity.
The ratio of increase in the population of
the hospital annually, including patients
ana employees. is from 100 to 10. 1t is our
opinion that the present condition of over
crowdng ard the future requirements of
the hospital tor greater accommodations de-
nland that immediate preparation should
| be made looking to the necessities of the
hospital for at least ten to fifteen years in
the future, and that in pursuance of this
the extension should be made sufficiently
broad lines to meet these necessities.
We believe that additional accommoda
tons for not less than 1000 patients should
be Immediately provided for; By the time
the necessary buildings can be constructed
this much additional room will be required.
and the hospital will only then be enabled
to properly provide for the number of pa
tients demanding care.
Additional Accommodation Needed.
ITO carry out these suggestions will re-
auire additional land suitable for a building
site for the proposed buildings. 1t Is our
suggestion that the present opportunity be |
embraced to construct a modern h0sDitai
for all classes Of acute insanity on the most |
approved lines which have been developed |
by recent experience In asylum archltec-
ture. and that the general plan of detached |
classes be followed. This will then make !
possible the Encouragement and reconstruct
ton Of the old parts of the present buildings |
and regroupng Of the patients In a more |
satisfactory manner separating to a great |
extent the sexes and races.
1T can be operated most conveniently in |
direct connection with the present build |
entrance, enabling all business to be con-
Quoted from a central point and the dis |
tribution of patients and visitors therefrom
to all the departments of the institution
I'VE fnclose herewith a proposal from the |
owners or the property to sell to the hos
pital for this purpose this tract of land. |
consisting Of not less than 14O acres at |
$1,000 per acre. providing that an appropria- |
ton therefor is made during the present |
session of Congress.
AT this price we recommend the purchase |
for the reasons set forth herein. This
price Is less than two-thirds of the origi- |
nal asking price of the owners. and Is con- |
siderably less than the estimate placed |
upon the tract by two disinteres,ed real !
estate men of the city. We believe that the |
price Is less than would have to be paid |
by condemnation procedure. and for this |
reason urge your favorable recommended |
ton to Congress Of this purchase. |
Money That Will he Required.
I'VE would also respectfully recommend !
that appropria tons be asked of Congress
in the furtherance of this purchase and |
the proposed extension of the hospital as |
follows.
For the purchase Of not less than 40 acres !
OF land adjoining the present site of the |
hospital on the west. S210000. for clearing.
fencing, building roadways and grading the |
proposed site of the extension herein de-
Scribed s23,008.
We would also respectfully suggest that |
the board of visitors and the superintend-
ent be authorized to prepare plans. speci- |
fications and estimates for an extension Of |
the hospital sufficient to provide for 1,GW |
patients, said extension to be of freproof
construction and suitable for all special |
classes of acute insanity, and to include
all necessary domestic buildings and al |
buildings required for the proper care of
1000 patients and the requisite nurses and |
employees: said plans. specifications and
Inmates to be approved by the honorable |
Secretary of the Interior. and the total cost |
of all the buildings, machinery and equip
ment, including heating. lighting, sewerage
and water supply, not to exceed 81, o00.USt.
I'VE would also respectfully suggest that
authority be given the honorable Secretary
of the Interior to ask for proposals and to
let contracts. after these plans shall have |
been approved. under these restrictions and |
to this extent. and that the sum of $50 900
be appropriated for the preparation of said |
plans, specifications and estimates and the |
commencement ef said work.
Railroad Switch.
Your attention has already been drawn
to the necessity for the construction of a
railroad switch from the present line of the
Alexandria branch of the Baltimore and |
Ohio railroad to the boiler house of the hos
pital, and we would suggest that for this
purpose and for the construction of a spur
from this switch to the site of the proposed |
boiler house of the extension, as contem-
plated. there be appropriated the balance
remaining unexpended in the appropria ton
for construction of the sewerage and drain
age system, available during the present
fiscal year, after the full completion of said
system, and in addition thereto the sum of
81. 600.
THE only water supply available at pres
ent for the hospital in case Of fire is a
small tank over the main building of the
hospital. containing about 125 barrels and a
reservoir in the rear holding perhaps $500
to 5000 barrels This amount is so clearly |
inadequate, and the necessities Of the in