Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-30
HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT
Progress Of Improvements at
st. Elizabeth's.
ADDED FACILITIES
OUTLINE OF PLANS OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT.
Fire Escapes to Be Installed-Recon-
struction Of Laundry Plant
Water Supply.
ADDED FACILITIES

The completion of the thirteen buildings
comprising the extension to the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane, on which
work has been in progress since October,
1901 the transfer of which, with the ex-
ception of the administration building, to
the government from the contractors, Hor-
ton & Hemenway of Providence, R. l., was
reported in The Star recently, has brought
about no cessation in the line of projected
improvements at the hospital. On the con-
trary, the delivery of these buildings will
result in further progress in the way OF en-
largement, remodeling and increase Of ia
c.]ites commensurate with the national
character of the institution. The plans of
the superintendent. DR.. William A. White,
both tentative and those in readiness to be
carried out, have been framed in the d.
rectiOn indicated.
With the hospital extension buildings in
such condition that their occupancy may
be counted on within a reasonable time. the
older section of the institution will natural
ly be given ton, which the ex-
traordinary improvements under way have
not permitted heretofore. These improve
mentS in this part of the hospital will be
necessary, that it may conform to the aids
and appointments afforded by the build
ings of the addition that stand beyond 1t.
The fireproofing of portions of the older
section of the institution has been decided
on as an immaculate Step, dIO lHS SupSi AZ
tendent has placed contract with the
Charles H. White Company of this city
for the installs ton of fireproofing in the
relief building, one of the large structures
providing for several hundred male pa
tents among the detached buildings. TWO
fireproof stairways are to be constructed
at once at a cost of $500 each. In this con-
nection DR.. White las asked the Dlstrlct
Commissioners to advise with him regard
ing the fire escape having official approval
in the District. 1t is the intention of Dr.
White to provide a number OF these nre
escapes on the older buildings. Inc com
missiouers have furnished plans of the f1re
escape desired The urgency deficiency ap-
preparation bill, as passed, makes the sum
of $33 COO available for this hreproohng ana
construction of fire escapes. AS far as the
new buildings are concerned, they have
been built SO as to be practically hreproof.
The Fund Provided.
Plans for increasing the size and capacity
of the ice-making and refrigerating plant
are now occupying attention also. The pres
emit plant, which is situated In the central
storehouse, was completed in 1900, and has
a capacity of five tons of ice daily. in ad-
dition to providing for all the refrigera-
ton required The two condensers in use
are to be supplemented by twenty-ton
condenser, thus practically doubling the
power Of the plant. Besides this the plans
show a brick addition to be constructed
between the storehouse and the general
kitchen. in which will be located dupii-
cate of the present room for prime
tanks on the first floor, a duplicate
of the apartment now used as meat
room on the second story. In addition to
this and directly adjacent will be provided
a supply room, to which Will be issued daily
the supplies from the storehouse TO the
general kitchen, which furnishes food each
day for over 1000 persons. The facility OF
this arrangement Of supply to the Kitchen
is apparent, and 1t is regarded that TINS
l.,.:Il fipfc nor mi
of great size perform an extremely I'M
portant function of the daily administra-
ton. The increased capacity OF the plant
will be called upon when the buildings OF
the extension are occupied When the
new compressor is installed it is planned
to alternate it with the present machinery.
The cost of this work Is estimated at about
$4,000
A still further contemplated reconstruc-
ton Is the extension of the laundry. This
structure is already a large one, with ma
chnery of the latest type, but the de-
mands that will be made upon 1t with the
added population that will come when the
new buildings are in use will be so great
that it's enlargement becomes necessary
For this purpose the sum Of $4,000 is car
ried in the sundry civil bill, now under
consideration by Congress.
Satisfactory progress is being made in the
removal of the pathological laboratory from
it's present site to the westward of the
thoroughfare directly opposite. In addi-
ton the structure will be much enlarged
The foundation for this work has been pre-
pared, and the sum of 5000 will be ex-
pended.
Owns It's Own Locomotive.
The hospital will shortly have new
locomotive on its tracks. which lead
through the grounds from the Baltimore
and Ohio freight line at the river, as pur-
chase of a fine one has just been made
from the Baldwin locomotive works of
Philadelphia at cost Of 5000. The en-
CINE that has been In operation on the
tracks for the past three years has be-
come inadequate for the performance of
the work required. The locomotive on
these tracks hauls vast quantity Of coal
to the institution from the freight road
named in the course of the. year.
River water is no longer used at the in
stitution for drinking purposes. as sat
:sfactory solution of the water question
seems to have been found In the six wells
that were sunk couple of years ago. and
which have been improved to a consid-
cradle extent recently. These wells are
over 500 feet deep. and furnish as nigh as
225 gallons of water per minute under high
pressure. The water is regarded as pure,
and is said to have some mineral proper
ties Frequently the consumption of water
at the hospital in a day amounts, in round
numbers. to 1,OO9,O00 gallons This well
water is also supplied to the laundry for
washing purposes but 1t is the intention
of the superintendent to have the water in
directly from the river. The water from
the wells Is not considered adapted for
washing purposes. 1t requires a great
amount of soap, and, taken all in all, econ
omy and better results in the washing will
result it is believed from the use of river
water. This river water will also be
pumped direct to the boiler room and the
condensers in the ice plant. leaving the re-
mainder of the institution supplied from
the wells.
System of Roadways and Walks.
Although as stated, the buildings OF the
extension of the hospital stand virtually
completed. the system of roadways and
walks that must surround them has only
been started. In effecting this improve
ment Dr. White is following we'll defined
plan. of landscape nature, part of which
includes some decoration, made necessary
by conditions. This latter portion will
consist of the planting of about 81 900
worth of trees and shrubbery. rhe neces-
sity that brought about division CT the
new buildings. placing four of them across
Nichols avenue adjacent to Congress
Heights, Is responsible for the work re-
ferred to. The structures across the high
way must be screened somewhat from the
public view, to which end 1t Is required
hat he ode of bo dx,ax 81,