Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-05
WASHINGTON ASYLUM
REPORT OF INTENDANT STOUTEN.
BURGH FOR PAST YEAR
Estimates Submitted for Appropria.
tions Aggregating $780, for Main
tenance-Other Items Included.

| District workhouse, the almshouse and the
asylum hospital today submitted to the
Commissioners through the board of chart.
ties. the annual report of the institutions.
The daily average number Of persons sup
ported during the year including employees.
he said. was 769. showing increase Of
seventy, or about 10 per cent over the pre-
| vious fiscal year.
This clearly demonstrates" continues
| Mr.. Stoutenburgh. the fact that this insti-
tuition cannot stand still Shelter and ac-
| commodationS for the increasing numbers
who seek an asylum here must be provided
! for. The largest increase In any depart
| ment was in the workhouse. where today
there are confined IA prisoners, a greater
number than contained in the whole
| institution when L was assigned to duty
| here.
The extension and completion of the new
work house for males is imperatvely need
ed. Safety, health and decency of conduct
! among the prisoners demand it. and the
health and comfort of the employees and
guards require it. l trust your honorable
| board will urge such action by Congress as
| may result In It's completion at as early a
date as possible.
Amount of the Estimates
In his estimates Mr.. Stoutenburgh asks
| for maintenance expenses to the extent of
S70,023, and $3.50 for installing laundry
machinery. Some of the principal new items
| in the estimates are:
For administration building and doctors
quarters for hospital including furnishing.
$4,000.
For additional wards for the treatment
of tuberculosis and other kindred diseases,
| including furnishing, $1,000.
| For the establishment of a workhouse
cooking department, dining room for Off
| GERS and dining room for female prisoners,
| building and fixtures, 81 500.
| For additional oven, $500.
For improvement of hospital kitchen and
cooking and kitchen appliances. $500.
| For continuation of the construction OF
the workhousc for males. as per the APPROX
ed plans. $4,000.
For an addition to the almshouse annex
| for colored women, so, 900.
Needs Of the Hospital.
On the subject of the hospital Mr. Stout
| enburgh says:
THE hospital department is greatly in
need of additional wards for the proper
| separation and classification of patients.
and the medical staff of better and more
| room for work, recreation and rest The
| accompanying report of the visiting ply
| stefan. d. z. Hickling, Md, which sets
forth the needs of the hospital department,
is explicit on these points. and I trust will
| meet your approval.
| The report of Miss S. c. Francis. super
| intendent of the training school for nurses
| and nursing, will show the growth of the
| school, the work accomplished and it's
! needs. No better work - done anywhere
| than that which is the -esult of the COM
| bined efforts of the ne,.'ral staff and nurses
| of the Washington Asylum Hospital, and L
| ask your corporation and encoura cement
| In asking congress to provide facilities to
| meet the modest demands set forth in the
| above alluded to reports.
| 'In reference to cases of tuberculosis sent
| to the hospital department for treatment 1
must say that our means for handling this
| class of patients. have not been improved,
| and remain about the same as at my last
annual report. 1 have estima ted that
| building for their care and treatment can
| be erected and furnished for 81 800. and ask
| that appropriation for this purpose be
made, to be Immediately available.
| "In view of the proba BILE postponement
| or delay in the completion of the proposed
| municipal hospital for period much great
er than was supposed last year I recom-
| mend and strenuously urge upon your hon
| orable board the necessity of making pro-
| vision for the care Of this class of patients
| in a separate temporary frame building
that will last until other arrangements can
| be made for them In the contemplated
! municipal hospital.
| IAN addition should be built to the aims
| house annex for the housing of the colored
| women. who are still kept in the top of the
| almshouse. This would be great blessing
to these old. helpless women. as it would
enable them to get out In the fresh air and
| sunshine, and would add greatly to the
comfort of the white female inmates Of the
house by reason of the additional room.
| Floor space for forty beds should be added
| to the present annex building"
New Equipment for Kitchen.
Mr.. Stoutenburgh asks for new equip
ment for the kitchens, the bake shop, &c.
He concludes:
MY work for several years past has
been with the idea of the final segregation
OF the asylum into two. or possibly. three
]
cally Independent of each other and the
! aSked-for additions would facilitate and
| make possible such procedure which
| believe Is not only practicable but deSir-
| able.
| 1.-The increase in the number of over
| seers for the coming year from ten to fifteen
has resulted in total increase to the
| force of overseers and watchmen of only
| two, as two watchmen only were provided
for instead of five, formerly.
| THE of the newly erected portion Of
| the male wOrkhouse will require relays Of
| officers. fe.. day and night guards. Ia
| order that efficient work may be done. off,
GERS must be increased in proportion to.
the number of prisoners guarded.
| "At least three men should be detailed to
| duty at the Old Mems Home as care
! takers and Waterman. therefore to cover
| these two very important points l recon-
mend that six additional watchmeh, at
| $3.50 per annum EACH be provided for. and
that promotions be made from this class to
that of overseers as vacancies occur.
Increase in Compensation.
II desire to recommend to you slight in
| crease in the compensation of two faithful
| and efficient employees; that Is. the carpen-
ter and blacksmith and woodworker. These
| men very valuable, each of them being
| able and willing to fulfil any requirement
| made upon them in any line of work that 10
required in interest of the institution.
| THE blacksmith is an al-around me-
| chanic. able to do all kinds Of smith work.
| paint and tire wagons. repair harness and
| build wagons or CARTS etc The carpenter
| has the ability to do all kinds of carpenter
| work direct or do plaSterng. cement pave
ments, tin roof work, etc. and often works
| Sundays and holidays to facilitate the work
/ of the institution. L earnestly urge that
| their compensation be fixed at $500 per an
mum EACH
| There were fourteen escapes during the
| year, five of the prisoners being recaptured.
The Fountain of Youth.
| From the Saturday Evening Post.
Like pretty much everything else, this
| matter of having children has two sides to
| it, AS a great many children are failures
| and as children are the joint product Of