REPORT OF THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL FOR FOUNDLINGS FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 21, 1888. SIR: The board of directors have the honor to transmit herein a report of the Washington Hospital for Foundlings, as required by act of Congress approved July 5, 1884, for the year ending June 30, 1888. The Washington Hospital for Foundlings, situated on Fifteenth street, between R and S streets, No. 1715 Fifteenth street northwest, was opened for the reception of children January 4, 1887. The value of the buildings and grounds was estimated December 1, 1886, to be as follows: 38,220 feet of ground fronting on Fifteenth street west, between R and S $38, 220 25,000 Total.... CAPACITY OF BUILDING. 63, 220 Fifty children (babes) can be accommodated, but all the attendants necessary for the care of the same could not be accommodated in the building. It is estimated that the cost of maintenance, not including cost of additional furniture, beds, bedding, etc., insurance, and repairs, will be about $7,000. OPERATIONS DURING THE PAST YEAR. On July 1, 1887, there were in the hospital 11 children; 44 were admitted during the year, making a total of 55. Of these 5 were adopted, and from July 1, 1887, to June 1, 1888, 20 died. During the excessive heat of June, 10 died from an epidemic of cholera infantum, making a total mortality of 30. Of this number 7 children died within from five to twenty-five days after being admitted, having been congenitally diseased. A daily average of inmates would be difficult to give. The children were received as follows: EMPLOYÉS. The employés consist of a matron, head nurse, janitor, cook, two laundresses, housemaid, two nursery maids, and eight nurses; a total of seventeen. The following are the amounts paid to employés: Salary and wages, including seamstress. House furniture, hardware, crockery, glass, china, baby carriages, stoves, bedding, etc Medicine, bottles, sponges, disinfectants, and other nursery supplies.. Printing, blank books, advertisements, stationery, and postage. Insurance.. Paints and oils. Cost of cows. Miscellaneous.. Repairing steam heater, stoves, etc., and plumbing Expended for special purposes, as directed by the contributors . Construction: $7,000.00 463.64 686.00 69.01 281.40 165.00 8,665.05 $2,864. 48 877.45 173. 81 215.77 62.96 562.61 216. 10 1,527.52 521.79 179.83 133.87 133.57 40.00 14.96 109.00 119.45 206.93 165.00 314. 19 225.76 8, 665.05 The building is still scantily furnished, and for further equipment to accommodate the increasing number of children a considerable expenditure of means will be required. It is hoped that these expeuditures will be largely met from voluntary contributions. For the maintenance of the institution it is asked that the sum of $7,000 be appropriated, and for the purposes of repairing and furnish ing of the building to completion the sum of $3,000; making a total of $10,000. In behalf of the board of directors. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. Mrs. J. CURTISS SMITHE, Secretary. REPORT OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. OFFICE OF ARCHITECT UNITED STATES CAPITOL, Washington, D. C., July 1, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to report the following relative to the various works connected with this office, showing the progress of the same; also the disbursements made on account thereof during the last fiscal year: THE CAPITOL. Several changes have been made in the occupation of rooms in the House wing which have required considerable work in preparing them for their new use, particularly in the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, where counters and railings had to be placed. The walls and ceilings of the Law Library have been painted, and the shelving for books in the same room somewhat extended, and additional shelving and drawer cases provided for the Library of Congress. The public records and documents have accumulated to such an extent in the Capitol that rooms have had to be fitted up in the cellar for storing them. Several vault rooms have also been fitted up in the south terrace for the storing of documents, which rooms have been rendered as suitable for occupation as is practicable by the introduction of steam heating; nevertheless I do not consider these vaults suitable for the storing of such a vast number of books as are now there, if the same are to remain any length of time, for there is at times a dampness in these rooms which is likely to promote the growth of mold on the books, much to their injury. I recommend, for the better protection of these books as well as the saving of expense in their handling, that a brick store-house building be erected for the storing and folding of books to be distributed by order of Congress, thus saving the rent which is now paid for buildings used for this purpose, but which I understand have not sufficient capacity. The elevators for the House and Senate wings have been completed, and are working satisfactorily. The amount appropriated for that of the Senate was $15,000, of which sum there has been expended $7,976.84, leaving a balance on hand of $7,023.16. For the House elevator $12,000 were appropriated and $7,870.62 expended, leaving a balance on hand of $4,129.38. A ventilating apparatus consisting of fan, steam-engine, and ventilating pipes has, with satisfactory results been placed in the kitchen |