The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-27
Will Be Built at Base Hospital
for COnValeScentS.
Building Will Be in Form OF
Greek Cross 100 Feet Long.
CONTRACT LEI LAST WEEK
Structure TIC Be Completed and
Ready for Occupancy June 1.
Will Be Furnished With Easy
Chairs and Writing Tables.

One of the most important under
takings planned by the American RED
Cross for the army cantonments is the
erection of houses in connection with
the base hospitals to be used for the
amusement and recreation OF con-
vaiescent patients 1t is expected tnat
about twenty of these houses viii De
completed early in June. A contract
has lust been closed for one of these
buildings at the base hospital at Fort
RILEY. 1t will be erected by the Army
City Construction company, OF JUNG
ton City, who have very patf1otlcally
taken the contract on terms very
favorable to the Red Cross at
nominal profit. The contract calls Tor
completion by June 8.
The Red Cross building at Fort
Riley will be erected in close prox1mi-
ty TO the ten new hospital barracks
now in course of construction there.
These barracks are located in two
groups of five each with a broad space
between them and the Red cross
building will be placed approximately
in the center of this space 1t VIII
be connected with all of the new hos
pital barracks by covered corr1dors
which will enable men to pass 70 ana
fro in the severest weather without
danger to their health.
The ground plan of the building has
been appropriately given the form
of a Greek Cross, the length each
way being 100 feet. The main as
sembly room and lounge is % by ~
feet with a raftered ceiling two fun
stories in height At one end of this
room is a glassed in porch four steps
above the main floor level. which can
be used either as sun room or as q
stage for any sort of entertainment
which it may be desirable to provide
for the convalescent men
The assembly room. will be furnish
ed with easy chairs and writing tables
and will afford a comfortable ana
homelike place for men to pass the
weary hours, reading. writing letters
CT playing cameo. The wing OPPOSE
the glassed in porch and stage Will be
a solarium on the same level as the
main room. On the two sides OF the
main room are large brick ffreplaces
which will not only add to the COM
fort of the room but viii furnish per-
feet ventilation.
Will Have Library.
In the wing to the right. as one
stands facing the stage, Is a library
Is by 20 feet in size which will be
well stocked with books by the Amer
lean Library association, which is al
ready carrying on such splendid work
IN the environments In the left wing
are the offices of the associate field
director. who will be in charge of the
building, and his assistants On the
second floor of the two wings are a
NUMBER OF DeQ rooms TOT inc elmer
Eency use of the relatives of sick men.
It is believed that these quarters will
fill a much needed want as there is
ct present no place nearer than juno
ton City where such visitors can be
accommodated.
The associate director in charge of
this building, will, in addition to hav-
ing general supervision of the activi-
ties carried on within the building,
be in charge OF REQ Cross bureau
of communication. which will be or
Gsnized for the purpose of keeping
relatives and families of soldiers ad-
-vised as to their condition and prog
ress while they arr sick at the hos
pital.
1t Is thought that nothing which the
Red Cross is doing in this country will
be more appreciated by the families
of soldiers than this communication
work. The government has recog-
nized its usefulness by appointing the
Red Cross the official medium thru
which it is to be carried on.
AS soon as suitable arrangements
can be made the Red Cross proposes
also, to erect a nurses building at The
base hospital. This will be connected
by corridors with the nurses quarter:
and give to the nurses a comfortable
and roomy place for rest and recrea.
ton during their leisure hours. Sur.
project his unqualified approval, say.
ing that it will improve the service
rendered by nurses and thereby
greatly benefit sick soldiers. The Rec
Cross is losing no opportunity to hell
nd 70