Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-12
THE IMPROVEMENTS RECENTLY
ACCOMPLISHED.
New Buildings Erected and Occupied
Modern Facilities Installed
Suggested Legislation.


June go 1904
Inc report covers the operations during
the first year of service of Dr. William A..
or the hospital are entered into and there
are tables included showing the work of
olHerent departments of the hospital. When
nnalIy issued the report will be illustrated
py series of photographs of a number of
the new buildings comprising the extension
to the institution, as well as a block plan of
the entire hospital
The report shows that the total number
or patients under treatment during the Da st
year was 3,135, of which 23f6 were men
and f69 women. There were admitted in
the year referred to 76i inmates number
ing oS4 men and 1S2 women. The total dis
charges numbered CAB classified as follows:
recovered. 235; improved 1870; unimproyed.
"a; not insane. 1; died, 243. There remained
June 81. 1904. 2402 patients under treat
ment' ls61 of whom were of the male sex
Year Of Unusual Activity.
Inc report continues: THE past year has
peen one or unusual activity owing to the
coihpietion OF the contract work on the hos
pitai extension. comprising in all fifteen
ouiiulnsS ana representing approximately
an outlay of S,50O.000. The contract for
the eleven buildings for the accommodation
or patients was completed January o: the
contract for the new Toner kitchen was
completed the Goth of the same month: the
contract FOR the new administration build
ing was completed April % and the final
contract on the new power heating and
ightlng plant was completed July 20 The
nnlshlng of the contract work upon these
structures. however, by no means put them
IN condition for occupancy. They were left
without paint, without water hot or cold
and in many other ways were Incomplete
Not the least difficulty in occupying them
resulted from the fact that after the con-
tractors left them there were absolutely no
walks or roadways prepared in any direc-
tlon, so that In the event of wet weather
they were surrounded by mud to an ex-
tent that made them almost inaccessible
In order to continue work upon these
buildings and get them in commissions re-
course had to be had to Congress and spe-
cial appropriations obtained. This. of
course, necessitated some delay. Congress-
however, appreciated fully the necessities of
the case and with the assistance afforded
by their very liberal appropriations the fol-
lowing results have been obtained. Eight
inch sewer pipe has been laid from the west
side of the grounds to the east side, ,49S
feet. Drainage and sewer connections have
been made from the main sewer to buildings
l., j. X, r, Q. n, p, A and the power
house. A six-inch water main has been laid
from the west to the east side of the
grounds a length of some 1,200 feet, and
ings R. I. N. P, B. A. c, NJ, E. Q, and K.
-~' Hot Water Heaters Installed.
Both the contracts for screen doors and
windows and that for window guards
throughout the new buildings have been
completed. contract was let for making
all necessary hot and cold water connec-
lions In the various buildings of the ex-
tension and placing the necessary hot water
heaters in position therein. This work has
been completed, water heaters having been
placed in buildings A. B. c. Q. R and l..
the heater in Q supplying E and M, that in
r supplying /. and P, and that in l.
supplying the Toner kitchen. Runways have
la1 hnYf f.
ties so that the different parts will be ac-
cessible for workmen In making repairs,
running wires. getting at piping. etc.
Heating and Lighting Plant.
1.-The central power. heating and light
ing plant has been in operation for some
time 1t furnishes the hospital extension
with heat and the entire institution with
light The old power and light plant has
been dismantled and the engines and gener-
atorS set up in the new power house. A
defective shaft in the large 310-horse pow
err engine has been removed and contract
was let to Wallace Stebbins & Sons of Bal
timore to make a new Shaft and install
same the necessary expense to be betrayed
from the money retained on the original
contract. This work has been completed
and the old engines and generators are
now in operation in the new power house.
August IL, 1904, the first of the group
of buildings on the east side of Nichols
avenue was occupied. On that date 60 col
ored male patients and 60 white male pa
tients of the disturbed class were taken
from the wards of the old construction
to building P, the largest building in this
group. August %. 1904. 108 white male pa
tents of the infirmary class were moved
into building r. the building next in size
to p, of this group.
I'm addition to the work discussed above
which was all connected with the placing
in commission of the buildings of the hos
pital extension large amount of other
nrly nf
repairs. etc, was undertaken during the
year.
"A study of the water supply has been
made with the result that plans have been
prepared with a view to having a separate
supply of water taken from the river for
use at the power house and the laundry and
IL the condensing apparatus of the cold
storage warehouse The river water Is con-
sumption and should therefore not be
pumped through the same pipes that sup
ply the hospital with drinking water
Fireproof Construction.
Contract has been let for the installation
and maintenance of a fire alarm apparatus
The location of the manuals has been decid-
ed upon and workmen are at present en-
gdsed in running wires throughout the
buildings. In connection with the general
problem of fire protection two iron stair
ways inclosed in a fireproof we'll are be-
ing constructed in the relief building and
tutSide Hre escapes are being placed in po-
5ition on the laundry, the east wing of the
main building. East Lodge and Atkins Hall.
The use o. Oil lanterns by the several night
nurses and attendants throughout the
wards has been abolished. The older por-
ton of West Lodge is being torn out with
a view to fireproofing 1t. thus making the
entire building of freproof construction
"A system of lighting the grounds by arc
nights has been projected. the material
bought and its installation in progress and
plans have been drawn for the extension of
the present cold-storage and ice-making
plant.
Health of the Patients.
Special attention is directed to the great
decrease in the number of cases of malaria
and the total absence of typhoid fever in
fection during the past fiscal year In 1901
l01 cases of malaria were reported in
1902, 81 cases; in 1903, Al cases. During the
present year only two cases are reported
in both of which the aestivo-autumnal form
of parasite found. This remarka BILE
decrease OF malaria in the hospital is with
out doubt due TO the complete drainage OF
surface water. absence of cesspools and the
more liberal use of window screens.
I'm view of the numerous epidemics of
typhoid infection which have occurred in
this country, and the marked increase of
the number of cases in the District of CO.
iumbia In c Ora tffyipp tp raj that tho