Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-30

painting force that has been at work there
for the past three weeks. The furniture
remains to be installed, however, before
the building can be occupied, which will
The interior of the structure presents q
handsome appearance after painting.
Progress on Other Structures.
The painters have already begun work in
building e. Immediately adjoining which is
the female nurses home, and in building
P, adjoining cphgress Heights, which is
counterpartoof building @. The con-
tractors continue at work on the admins
tration building. the central building and
the costliest one of the group, but it is
promised that 1t will be in readiness by
height. has trimmings of white stone. quar-
tered oak In the interior, and marble being
used throughout! 1t is here that the ex-
ecutive offices OF the government hospital
will be located. Rooms are provided in
the upper stories for the medical officers.
The building has two separate dining
rooms.
An improvement that is to be effected
later is the providing Of q kitchen in
building R. In the section across the high
way. In addition to the new Toner kitch-
en- in the extension three other kitchens
are provided in the new structures.
The new power plant recently completed
at a cost of $4,000 is now in successful
operation. It's equipment comprises two
Seymour Mcintosh engines, d:rect-connect-
ed to two Westinghouse dynamos of 800
kilowatts each, which are situated in the
upper story of the building. Each Of these
engines and dynamos weighs about ninety
tons. Immense bases running far beneath
the building were constructed to bear these
engines. The plant is a model one and is
much admired The huge Custodis stack
may be seen from many portions OF WASH
ington, being 225 feet in height and said
to be the largest in the District. On open
ing the door at the base of this stack
miniature maelstrom of SCOT and air may
be viewed as 1t whiris upward with cyclonic
fury, testifying to the fierce draught that
seems strong enough to carry skyward
human being. The remaining engines and
dynamos of the former equipment Of the
institution are being installed in the same
building
The Allison Department.
There are four hospital wards in the AL
lison department of the government hos
pital. where aged men are cared for. These
wards are stated by competent judges to
be truly models of their kind. They pro-
vide for the care Of about ITO patients, in
GLIDING a tubercular class, and both male
and female nurses are employed in attend
ance upon the sick. The immaculate con-
dition of these wards is worthy of COM
ment. Several of them are equipped with
outdoor, glass-inclosed porches, where the
sick may repose day and night, If neces-
sary, receiving the benefit of the sun and
air, and at night sleeping without any IN
convenience heat being provided inside.
The ward for the tubercular cases is in
particular conducted in this way.
Dr. White will establish similar ward
for female tubercular patients in what is
now called the Oaks building, in proximity
to the new buildings and now occupied by
males, who, with the others in that sec
ton, will be transferred to another portion
of the institution to make room for the
600 women patients who will live in the
new buildings in that section.
At no place in the District Of Columbia
do the feathered songsters give evidence
that spring is at hand earlier than on the
grounds of the institution. The birds have
been there for nearly a month. Numerous
robins appeared in force. followed little
later by the noisy blackbirds These mem
bers of the feathered family seemingly
have but little fear of man. The bird and
animal life appears to be pleasant fea-
ture of these grounds, where even the tim
orous chipmunk has lost his fear and will
approach close enough to almost take food
from ones hand. The ravines and gulleys
contain many of these squirrels, as well as
some of the gray species. AS may be read
lily supposed, no one molests them. and
they are allowed to roam about the grounds
at will. f-{S