As to the report that a further investigation had been ordered and the present status thereof, I have to advise that the inclosed report covers the matter in question and has been completed, no further investigation being now pending. Sincerely yours, J. R. MCCARL, Comptroller General of the United States.

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATION OF ST. ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL CENTRAL POWER PLANT AND COAL CONSUMPTION

During the period from July 1, 1917, to June 30, 1926, the records at St. Elizabeths Hospital indicate that bituminous coal purchases aggregated 212,577.10 tons at a total cost of $1,306,384.59. The inventory for July 1, 1917, shows 8,447.75 tons on hand, the cost of which was approximately $26,610.41. The inventory records for June 30, 1926, indicate that there were on hand at that time 7,040.5 tons at a value of $34,920.88. Thus during the nine years for which usable records are available (fiscal years 1918 to 1926, inclusive) it appears that the quantity of bituminous coal consumed by St. Elizabeths Hospital amounted to 213,984.35 tons and cost approximately $1,298,074.12. The inventories for July 1, 1917, and June 30, 1926, the purchases by fiscal years, the average cost per ton and the consumption by months and years for the period considered are shown on statement attached as Exhibit A.

Since the latter part of the fiscal year 1919, all of the coal purchases of St. Elizabeths Hospital have been made through the Government Fuel Yards of the Bureau of Mines in accordance with the provisions of the Act of July 1, 1918, 40 Stat. 672. During the fiscal year 1918 and the early part of 1919 coal purchases were made through the United States Fuel Administrator. Prior to that year all purchases were on contract made by the Department of the Interior.

All of the bituminous coal used, with the exception of 1,065 tons, was consumed by the central power plant. Due to the unavailability of anthracite coal during the fiscal year 1922, 1,065 tons of bituminous coal, costing approximately $7,000, was burned in the kitchens and greenhouses.

The central power plant was constructed in 1903 and put into operation in January, 1904. The original boiler installation consisted of five Heine water tube, single pass, hand firing boilers with a capacity of 300 horsepower each. These boilers originally supplied heat for the 13 new buildings erected in 1902 and 1903 and provided steam for electric light and power for the entire institution. Other boilers in use at that time consisted of four Keeler boilers of 150 horsepower each that were used to pump and distribute water for the entire hospital and nine, Armstrong and Keeler boilers with an aggregate capacity of 880 horsepower which provided heat and steam power for the old section of the hospital including the laundry and kitchens. In 1909 the old boiler house was converted into an ice plant. An east wing was added to the central power plant and four new 300 horsepower, Heine, water tube, hand firing boilers were installed to replace the nine boilers taken out of the old boiler house. In 1915 the water pumping station was changed from steam power to electrical power and for this purpose two new 300-horsepower, Heine type, hand-firing boilers were installed in the central power plant and replaced the four 150-horsepower Keeler boilers previously located at the pumping station. During the same year all of the boilers were equipped with automatic stokers and coal and ash handling machinery, soot blowers, meters and coal weighing devices were installed. To meet the increased needs of the hospital on account of new buildings which were erected in 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920, one new 300-horsepower Heine, water tube boiler with automatic stoker was installed during the fiscal year 1919. In 1924 three new 500-horsepower, 2-pass Heine boilers equipped with economizers and superheaters were installed to replace the original installation of five 300-horsepower Heine boilers and the one 300-horsepower boiler installed during the fiscal year 1919. It is said that the location of the boiler installed in the fiscal year 1919 was such that it could not be connected with the new installation and the cost to tear down andrebuild was estimated to be more than the cost of a new boiler. No further installations have been made since the replacement of 1924 and the boiler equipment of the central power plant now consists of four 300-horsepower boilers that were installed in 1909, two 300-horsepower boilers which were installed in 1915 and the three 500-horsepower boilers installed in 1924. These provide an aggregate capacity of 3,300 horsepower and furnish heat, light, and steam and electric power for all of the activities of the hospital. The amounts expended for boilers

and extension of power house activities during the period from July 1, 1916, to June 30, 1926 are included in original report on page 147.

In the tabulation marked "Exhibit B❞ there has been set forth the total quantities of steam produced by the central power plant by months, the average monthly production, the average monthly cost in coal and the average number of pounds of steam produced with each pound of coal. Following this statement of steam produced are two statements showing the quantities of steam consumed for heat and power. The statement showing the steam consumption for heating includes also the approximate average quantities and cost of coal required for this purpose. There is also attached as Exhibit C a list of the hospital buildings which are heated by the central power plant. This list shows, as to each building, the cubic contents and the purpose for which it is used. These buildings are situated on two tracts of land and in some cases are as far as three-fourths of a mile from the central power plant. Steam for heating is conducted through underground trunk lines and on this factor no allowance has been made for condensation. Following the list of buildings is a statement compiled to show the annual per capita cost of coal for heating.

In connection with the consumption of steam for power, the approximate average quantities and cost of coal are also shown. The principal consuming agencies of the power operations are:

1. Electric light for all buildings and grounds.

2. Water pumps and air compressors through which all water used by the hospital is raised from nine artesian wells.

3. Hospital laundry which washes over 5,000,000 pieces annually.

4. Ice and refrigerator plants.

5. Bakery and ice-cream plants.

6. Tin and sheet metal shops, carpenter shop, cabinet shop, blacksmith and wheelwright shop, auto repair shop, shoe manufacturing shop, and the brush and broom shop.

7. Electrical apparatus used in the treatment of patients, such as equipment of hydrotherapy, occupational and physiotherapy, vocational machine shops, laboratories for dental and general research, X-ray equipment, violet-ray equipment, diathermy equipment, and equipment of the operating rooms and minor dressing rooms where continuous clinics are operated.

8. Radios, telephones, elevators, fans, and other similar services. The electrical power of the hosiptal is distributed through 10 primary circuits, each of which is metered to show the initial consumption. Meters are not provided for the secondary feeders and for this reason information with respect to electrical consumption for the various power activities is not available. There is attached, however, as Exhibit D, a list of the motors connected to each primary circuit.

During the period from July 1, 1916, to June 30, 1928, the hospital also purchased 9,779.1 tons of anthracite coal at a cost of $109,903.29. Of that amount 9,144.5 tons, costing approximately $102,256.36 appears to have been used. This class of coal is burned generally for cooking in the kitchens and bakery and for heating in the greenhouses, gate houses, and officers' cottages. Accurate figures on the quantities used by these agencies are available only for the past two years. On the statements attached as Exhibit E there are shown the total quantities purchased, the average cost per ton, the inventory for June 30, 1928, the approximate total consumption, the average annual consumption, and for the fiscal years 1927 and 1928 the consumption by consuming agencies.