Evening star., 1901-06-21
TOCOST ONE MILLION
Addition to the Government Hospital
for the Insane.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. APPROVED
New Buildings to Accommodate
One Thousand Patients.
SOME CHANGES IN VIEW

SOME CHANGES IN VIEW
The tracings of the plans for the addition
to the Government Hospital for the Insane,
authorized by Congress to be constructed
at a cost of 81 600 600. have received the
final approval of Secretary Hitchcock of the
Interior Department and Dr. A. b. Rlch-
ardson. superintendent of the institution
and have been forwarded to the proper per-
sons for the preparation of the blue prints
1t is estimated that 1,400 sheets of blue
prints will be returned for the use of the
department and the bidders. The plans as
approved provide for the construction of
fifteen buildings, to be occupied by inmates
and employees Several domestic buildings
such as kitchens. boiler house, etc, remain
to be provided for
The extension has been designed, as Con-
gress specified, to accommodate not less
than 1000 patients and 2O3 employees. Dr.
Richardson, superintendent of the asylum
last evening expressed himself gratitied
that the labors of the board of visitors and
himself in conjunction with the firm of
Boston architects, covering a period of a
number of months. in the preparation of
the plans had been so satisfactorily closed
DR.. Richardson stated the plans are as
complete in every particular as any of a
to the most minute detail. He added that
there has been no extravaganza aimed at
or attained in the treatment of these new
buildings. They are to be rather plain in
the exterior. with comparatively little stone
trimmings while in their facilities for the
care, treatment and housing of the insane
they will be as modernly equipped as any
in the world special attention having been
given them in these respects.
Style of Buildings.
bo h,,il5 y,il ha ad i,, hot
is called the old Maryland farm house
style. of either pressed or red brick. with
slate tile roofs.
1t is expected that bids will be advertised
for by July 1 next, and that the contracts
may be awarded in August. after which
time is to be lost in starting work. With
the construction of the asylum addition
will come throughout the institution a gen.
eral and better classification of inmates
than now exists. This feature DR.. Richard
son kept in view while planning for the ex-
tension.
ings to be constructed on the present site
of the asylum buildings west Of Nichols
avenue, and seven buildings to be placed
Immediately opposite east of Nichols ave-
nue. and adjoining the town of Congress
Heights. A subway beneath the avenue
will connect the two sites. The buildings
to be erected on the main asylum tract
have been located in the vicinity of what
are called the Toner buildings, in the
southern limits affordfng the best site and
view obtainable for additional new build
inSs on the home tract. These buildings
will be reached from Nichols avenue by
gate near the proposed subway and from
the present populouS part of the asylum by
a handsome winding boulevard, to build
which the old stables, the gas house and
the large gasometer are to be razed.
To Front on Broad Court.
These new structures will front on a
broad court. In this section of the plans is
shown a group of three buildings within
easy access of the entrance from Nichols
avenue and bordering upon the boulevard.
They are to be a new administration build
ing and two hospital structures. and will
be connected by colonnades. Each structure
will be about 80 feet long. The adrninis-
traton building. where the offices of the in
stitution will be located. and which will
serve as a central distributing point will
be three stories in height.
One of the hospital buildings will be for
males and one for females. West of the
Toner group is shown a building for con-
valescent female patients, accommodating
fifty inmates, and provided with single
rooms for special classes of cases which re-
quire particular treatment. This is a two
story building
Due north of the Toner buildings there
Will be placed one two-story cottage for "a
medium class of fifty female patients.
Southwest of the Toner group will be con-
structed cottage two stories in height
for female epileptic inmates, with provi-
SlonS for about fifty patients. In this build
ing there will be a large observation DOR
mitory, where the inmates will be always
under the eye of the nurses after retiring
hours. Just south of the Toner buildings
on the old orchard ground, DIR. Richardson
has located another cottage for a medium
class of the female patients. All the cot
tageS will be two stories in height and all
will have sitting rooms with adjoining
verandas on the first floor and sleeping
apartments on the second story.
AT the south end of the court before
mentioned and next to the south wall of
the institution will be constructed one of
the two buildings for female employees
This Will accommodate 100 persons chiefly
nurses and attendants, and will be a three
story building. On the. first floor will be a
general reception room, library and music
rooms, in addition to bath rooms On the
second and third floors will be the sleeping
apartments, each to accommodate two
nurses. The subway will be constructed ar
the extreme southeast corner of the main
grounds and will be about 500 feet long
1t will be wide enough to admit of th.
passage of teams and food cars 1t will
be provided with ornamental retaining
walls and will be paved throughout and
have the sides lined with enameled brick.
1t will be so constructed that future i'm
provements to Nichols avenue will not be
an interference with it's use.
Quarters for Violent Patients.
In the group of buildings located on the
plateau adjoining Congress Heights. and
which likewise front on circular court.
will be large somewhat isolated struc-
ture, capable of accommodating 12O violent
and disturbed female patients. The build
ing will have four wards and white and
colored inmates will occupy separate wings
1t will be 800 feet long and will have two
stories. Each ward will contain single
rooms, and there will be an associated dor
nlitory, large sitting room and covered
pOrches adjoining.
In pleasant location fronting on Nichols
avenue there is shown a three-story build
ing for male employees, the principal build
ing OF the group east of the avenue 1t is
similar to the structure across the street
for the use of the female employees Back
and to the east, arranged around a court
400 feet wide. is a group comprising three
cottages. similar to those in the female
section, and one building for the disturbed
male class. and one for the untidy and de-
structive male patients. With the excep-
tion of the employees building and the one
for the disturbed female patients. this pla-
teau group will be devoted entirely to
white male inmates.
Changes Rendered Necessary.