Evening star., 1901-10-30
ASYLUM EXTENSION BEGUN
CONSTRUCTION WORK ON ST, ELIZA
BETH HOSPITAL ADDITION.
Twelve Buildings to BE Constructed-
Proposed Exchange of Land
Said to BE Abandoned.

Work on the construction of the twelve
buildings Of the extension of the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane will go for
ward in earnest from today. With the pass
ing of the hour of o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon expired the last hope, so far as the
Interior Department is concerned, of eff
fecting an exchange of land between the
owners of Wilson Park Congress Heights,
and the department. The negotiations with
| this end in view have been carried on under
the authority of Congress, in order that a
better site might be secured for the new
buildings than the ground owned by the
asylum offers.
Mr.. A. F. Randle of Congress Heights re-
opened the negotiations for the trade Mon
day by withdrawing from the department a
certain letter he had written and substitut-
ing in its stead proposition for an ex-
change Of the land at Congress Heights
for a part Of the government farm land at
the same place. His proposition was de-
clined, and the Secretary of the Interior
made a counter offer on behalf Of the gov
ernment.
The hour of 4 pm. yesterday was named
as the limit of the time when an answer
would be considered. Yesterday Mr.. Ran
dies answer came, but he did not accept
the Secretary's proposition and last night
he notified that his last tender prac-
tically the same as the one made by him
ment, which action must be considered as
absolutely final, he was informed.
Near the Toner Group.
DIR. Richardson had work started today
upon the third new building within the
main asylum grounds near the Toner group
This building would not be placed there
had an exchange of land been made, as it
would occupy site in that event on the
park land SO obtained. The remaining new
structures around the Toner group will be
begun in rapid succession, 1t being the in
tention to keep the main body Of workmen
on the eight buildings in this locality, with
smaller force on the four buildings across
Nichols avenue, adjoining Congress Heights
on the north.
The laying of the brick foundation on the
two large hospital buildings, for which ex-
cavationS have been made near the Toner
group was begun today.
The building started, which is understood
to settle the question of the exchange of
land, is designed for the class of female
disturbed patients" Across Nichols ave-
nue. the excavations for the large building
in which will be accommodated 120 of the
class of disturbed male patients has been
practically completed. The representatives
of Horton & Hemenway of Providence, r.
l., the firm which secured the contract for
the construction Of the asylum extension,
have had erected on the scene Of the work
inside the main grounds of the institution
neat office building, which will contain a
public office, a private office for General
Superintendent Holmes of the firm and a
plan room. Donald G. Mitchell will be the
superintendent of construction for the gov
ernment. Mr.. Fairchild will do the book
keeping in the Office building and Foreman
Zerbie of the building firm will superin-
tend the brick work.
Selection of Material.
The common and face brick to be used in
the buildings has been finally selected. They
are known as common repressed brick, and
will come from the yards Of Diggs & Co.,
across the river In Virginia. Dr. Richard
son expresses himself as highly pleased
with the brick selected. The excavations,
concreting and brick work are to be done
under the immediate supervision Of the
contracting firm 1t is the understanding
that the firm has practically completed the
letting of three NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for
heating. lighting and plumbing James
Nolan & Sons of Washington will do the
plumbing, it is stated; the National Elec-
trical Supply Company of Washington the
electrical work and Buerkell & Co. of Bos-
ton the heating, the last contract amount
ing to something over 100000. There are
about twenty teams at work on the
grounds and about seventy laborers