Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-02

One of the most important and
valuable of these, though costing
comparatively a small amount in ac.
tual expenditure, is the little item of
new locks to the doors of the rooms
occupied by the patients i'm the sew.
eral wards The new locks are of
the latest improved make for asyums
They are so constructed that the
patient cannot open his door when
it is locked, though an attendant can
throw the door open from the outside
without the use of key and the doors
of an entire ward, thirty or forty in
number can be unlocked and opened
| by a single attendant in as many
seconds with no apparent effort 1t
is a great improvement over the old
clumsy lock and key and is great
safeguard i'm case of fire.
New lavatories are being built and
fitted up and arranged for the pur.
pose of greatly improving the sani
tary conditions which are already far
in advance of those in any other
similar institution on the coast. These
new lavatorios, some of which are al
ready completed are fitted with the
most modern and up-to-date plumbing
automatic flushes, and the best en-.
! ameled bath tubs, with shower baths
in connection and the floors of ce.
ment, the bathrooms and lavatorieg
all connected with the big state
sewer Hot and cold water is avail
able for the bath, and an attendant
controls the flow of water through
the showers, at the same time regu,
lating the heat, for a thermometer
attached to the fittings records faith.
| fully the temperature of the water
in use. This arrangement Is as per
feet as it can be made and the i'm.
provement in this regard is invalu.
able.
Closed Cottage.
The closed cottage built at the
cottage farm last summer, and now
about to be furnished and fitted up
for use, will relieve the crowded con.
dition of the asylum to great ex.
tent. This structure was built at the
earnest representation of Supt. Cali
breath, who was anxious to provide
more room for patients not only, but
to place more of his patients who
are not convalescent, on the farm for
work, for IL has long been known
that the best workmen and the most
active, are not those who can be
placed on the trusty list, butthose who
must be constantly guarded and
watched. For this reason, and to re.
lieve the congested condition of the
asylum proper the closed cottage
was erected at the farm, five miles
away, The new building is 1876 feet
by 40 feet, two stories and basement
| II will provide ample room for 81
patients, who will there be as secure.
| ly housed as at the main building,
and yet will be available for the work
they are at times expected to do.
The new building is thoroughly
plumbed and fitted up as a modern
asylum, and in case of necessity can
be used as an open or closed cottage
as the circumstances may require
The building was constructed at
total cost of about $50 600 and is a
valuable addition to the farm con
nected with the asylum.
At the farm are now kept about
27O patients. These are housed In
the several cottages built there from
time to time since the farm was ac-
quired. and they are being made as
comfortable as at the main building.
Extensive repairs have been made at
that place during the past year for
the Improvement of the service and
for the benefit of the patients. One
of the most necessary of these was
the renewal of the foundation for the
water tower surmounting one of the
buildings, which had become so frall
that danger threatened the attendants
quarters below the tower. This foun.
dation was renewed with concrete,
and the tower is now absolutely safe.
An extension to the dining room,
40 feet square. was also built at the
farm and the second floor of this ad.
dition provides comfortable and home
like quarters for a number Of the EN-.
ployees Of that branch of the asylum
Wards Painted.
The main building has seen many
minor improvements during the past
year, and a full force of men is con.
stantly engaged looking after the re
pairs of the institution. Two men
have been at work during the en-.
tire ~ mOnthe Of the mast wear Daint.