Evening star., 1954-09-29
Center 10 Treat
D. {. Alcoholics
Scars in Cost
New Estimates Ruise
Muirkirk Project
By $1.4 Million
BY John w. Stepp

~Sssss We StVPP
The Health Departments
$380,000 preliminary estimate to
build an alcoholic rehabilitation
center at Muirkirk. Md, under
shot the mark by well over $1.4
million, it was learned yester-
day.
The new cost figure inserted in
the fiscal 1856 budget estimates
is $1.8 million. It raises the total
department construction requests
to $5,811,500 and the total esti-
mates of all District government
operational' and construction
needs to $192.266.711.
DR.. Frederick c. Heath, deputy
health director, said that even
department officials were sur
priSed at the difference between
the tentative and the final esti-
mates.
He said the initial figure was
reached by the department staff
on the basis of average costs per
square foot, rather than a de-
tailed breakdown of cost items.
The Districts Buildings and
Grounds Department, which fig
ures out final cost estimates for
general construction projects,
supplied the new estimate after
a detailed analysis of what Heath
Departments wants at Muirkirk.
Apartment House Added.
Two other elements contrib
uted. DR.. Heath said. The de-
partment added an apartment
house for employees of the con-
templated decentralized institu-
ton. A large item of furnishings
and equipment also was omitted
from the original low figure.
The Commissioners have been
notified of the changes. The
health budget, along with those
OF the other city government
agencies, will be subjected to
public hearings tomorrow.
The idea of a rehabilitation
center on the District-owned
Muirkirk tract was conceived
several months ago, when Com
missioner Renah F. Camalier
and other public officials made
a personal inspection tour.
The land, 143 acres just east
of U. S. Route /. once was used
by the Public Welfare Depart
ment for detention of delinquent
girls. The lone building remain
ing from that abandoned oper-
alton stands Quilted and unusa-
BILE. 1t will be demolished if the
new plan goes through.
Tree Nursery, Also.
Although the District Highway
Department would have a hand
in the proposed center, too, that
agency has made no fund re-
quests to that end in fiscal 1856.
Plans call for closing the High
way Departments tree nursery
at the south end of South Capt.
tol Street Bridge and establishing
it on the Muirkirk tract. AS
part of their rehabilitation pro-
gram, the. alcoholic patients
would help tend trees, among
other things. Highway would
use about 80 acres of the prop
erty for its purposes.
The Health Department bases
its building costs on plans for
two cottage-type dormitories,
housing 100 patients; a kitchen
dining hall; a combined in
firmary-central heating plant, an
apartment house for employees
and their families and an oc-
cupational therapy building.
A "very simple economical
construction of cinder block
walls and cement and asphalt
tile floors would be a feature OF
the proposed undertaking. Oper-
ational cost estimates are placed
at $5.25 per patient day..
Ultimately, the health official
said, the proposed center at
Muirkirk could be expanded to
provide for rehabilitation OF
narcotics addictS. a small num-
ber of which are now authorized
to be sent to a Federal institu-
ton at Lexington. KY.
Outdoor Recreation.
Outdoor recreational facilities
such as volleyball courts and
baseball diamonds. would be
provided. There has even been
talk of building a golf course
and damming up nearby
stream to give the inmates fish
ing grounds. but these possibil-
tiles are not mentioned in the
official justifcations.
To underscore the depart
ment's wishes for a rehabilita-
ton center, health officials
pointed out that the Districts S
alcoholic rehabilitation program
has handled more than 5000
patients. Recently a limited re-
Mobilization program to accom-
modate 25 patients was started
at Occoquan Workhouse.