Evening star., 1901-01-08
EXTENSION PLANS
Work of Enlarging Government Hos
pital for the Insane.
One THOUSAND ADDITIONAL PATIENTS
Arrangements for Special Prepa-
ration of Diet for the Sick.
TIL E DAIRY A FEAT U r Z

The work of preparing, modifying and
getting in shape generally the plans for
the extension of the Government Hospital
for the Insane. authorized at the last seS-
sion of Congress. is now engaging the at
tention of the firm of Boston architects Sc
lected to draw the plans and sketches and
that of the superintendent of the insttu-
ton, DR.. A. 3. Richardson, together with O
subcommittee of the board of visitors cho-
sen for the purpose. Recently Mr.. Shipley
OF the architects firm visited the govern
ment hospital in order that he might be-
come familiar with the Institution ana Its
surroundings and confer with the supcrin-
tendent concerning the plans for the pro-
posed extension, which is 10 be designed to
accommodate 1000 patients ami not less
than 200 employees, the total cost, including
heating, lighting. sewerage and ventilation,
not to exceed s975,0D.
The belief is that the plans will be in
such shape as to permit of advertising for
the contract by the middle of March next
or by the LIST of April at the latest 1t Is
considered that work may be commenced
by the 1st of July next, and II is the opin-
ion of those who have had the subject un-
der consideration that the entire work OF
construction should be completed at the ex-
piration of year.
The Proposed Site.
The architects and other men possessing
judgment that is held valuable in such mat
ters who have inspected ST. Elizabeth's
Asylum, it's grounds and contiguous terri
tory, all have decisive preference for the
wooded land of Pencote Heights as the site
for the new buildings. Mr. Frederick Ohm
stead of Brooklyn. a wel-known landscape
architect was among those who visited
the hospital and looked over the situation
with reference to suitable building To-
cation. In the last report of the hospital
ta6 ic hn
land referred to above is most essential to
the future development of The institution
and its purchase is urged The land ad-
joins the government hospital on the south,
and Congress has been asked by three su-
perintendents of the institution to make
provision for its acquisition by the govern
ment, while at the !ast session of Congress
the plan was favored by the appropriations
committees of both houses.
Pending the erection of the new buildings
DR.. Richardson is making every effort to
relieve the overcrowded conditions at the
asylum and is bringing into service every
place that can be made to accommodate
the insane. The Atkins Hall building has
undergone some remodeling and Is now
again occupied by patients. The first floor
of the home building has also been UNDER
going improvements and once more is Civ
ing shelter to a large number of insane,
while the Allison buildings have been re-
fitted and improve. in the search for room
until now there can be given accommcda-
tons there for about 100 bedrdden cases.
All the while the increase in the number
OF admissions to the asylum Is going on.
and it will not be very long, it is thought.
before there will be actually in the inSti-
tuition as inmates 2100 persons.
The Farm Dairy.
In the development of st. Elizabeth's
Asylum the farm dairy will be a conspicu-
Gus feature. During the past year the dis
covery was made that large percentage
of the asylum herd Of cows was afflicted
with tuberculosis. These animals have
now all been disposed Of however, and DR..
Richardson is making arrangements to re-
new the herd with sturdy stock, having
closed a deal recently for fifty cattle for
this purpose 1t is the intention to devote
much Of the farm lands near the main
asylum tract for the Of the herd with
view of supplying the hospital with a
daily output Of 800 gallons Of milk or more.
This will mean a large sum to the asylum
in the course of year The maintenance
of such herd is regarded one Of the
very best uses to which certain of the farm
lands can be put. practical dairyman
will be put in charge.
There has just been constructed at the
asylum a kitchen where it is proposed
that the entire diet of the sick in the insti-
tuition shall be prepared. DR.. Richardson
has engaged as superintendent of this spe-
cial dietary young lady graduate of the
Rohrer Cooking School at Philadelphia She
is to have entire charge of the sick diet
and will also give instruction in the same
to the nurses at the hospital. She has as
sumed her duties at the kitchen, which is
a separate building from the other asylum
kitchens.
Central Store House.
Progress on the three-story brick cellar
and central store house and cold storage
plant at the asylum, designed by DR.. Rich
ardson is being made rapidly and the
building is now about under roof Here all
goods coming to the asylum are to be first
received, ice made for the of the in
stitution and the refrigerating of several
rooms, where fruits, vegetables. etc, will
be stored, to be accomplished. The facilf-
ties of the ice plant are such that four tons
of ice may be manufactured daily. This
building is entirely the conception of Dr.
Richardson. who felt its need soon after
assuming control Of the hospital
Work upon the railroad switch that is be-
ing constructed near the St. Elizabeth
wharf from the Alexandria branch Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad through the
grounds of the asylum to the boiler house,
along which coal and material may be sent
to the asylum, is being pushed at a salts
factory rate 1t is now expected that the
work will be completed within thirty days
from date. The switch will extend dis
tapoo of 4 OOO feet and will cost S1S 600.