The building, although it is simple and without luxury, is quite solid and safe. It is entirely fire-proof. In order to reduce to a minimum the cost of maintenance, the inside facing of all the outside walls and of all the divisions other than those which are glazed has been made of pressed brick. The foundation walls are of stone concrete. The floors, which are all of concrete finished with cement, have a slight slope, which permits of their being thoroughly washed. A steam and hot water heating system runs through the whole of the building. The tank is provided with a heater for summer. Improved appliances (among others three fumigators of the most modern type) have been installed in the laundry.
The walls have been constructed sufficiently thick to support the additional stones which may hereafter be erected. The Meurling Municipal Refuge is now, in 1914, in full operation.
The following table shows the number of destitute persons who have been harboured gratuitously in the police stations and night refuges since 1901:
| 1901 | 55,125 |
| 1902 | 50,207 |
| 1903 | 46,685 |
| 1904 | 61,400 |
| 1905 | 65,184 |
| 1906 | 62,228 |
| 1907 | 59,713 |
| 1908 | 78,548 |
| 1909 | 59,097 |
| 1910 | 58,726 |
| 1911 | 76,334 |
| 1912 | 82,731 |
| 1913 | 90,076 |
| or 7,345 more than in 1912. |
As will be seen by these figures, the establishment of a municipal refuge could no longer be delayed. The Meurling institution is undoubtedly of great service to the homeless poor.
Among other relief bodies are:
Refuge de Nuit (Ouimet); Refuge Français, 71 Viger Avenue; Refuge of the “Union Nationale Française,” founded October 20, 1886, by M. Victor Ollivon.
III
SICK VISITATION AND NURSING BODIES
GREY NUNS—SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE—OTHER BODIES—THE VICTORIAN ORDER OF NURSES