The Staten Island location was bought about 1830 and consists of 200 acres of land. The grounds are beautifully laid out with lawns and flower gardens. There are a number of brick buildings, including the main building, the hospital, the Governor's house, and separate houses for the help. I called at the governor's office and inquired abut the management of the institution. The official in full charge of the entire food supply took me through the dining rooms, one capable of seating about 500, and the other two nearly as large, although the average number of inmates is 750.
Every modern improvement is used for cooking and serving food.
On looking over the menus for one month I noticed that they had everything in season that can be purchased in the market, fresh meat, chicken, vegetables, etc., in fact everything that can be procured in a first class hotel. Except for a small summer garden, nothing is produced on the place but hogs. About 25 hogs, weighing 200 pounds apiece, are killed every month, which supplies the institution with pork. The inmates as a whole appeared to be happy and contented, although I was told that like all institutions, there are always a few chronic kickers. Even though they have the best of everything in the market and are paid for any work they may perform, such as kitchen work or waiting on table, they still find fault, which is the experience of every official who has charge of an institution.