The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-09


House Building, upon Rand all's Island.
The native Common Council have wound up with
the commencement of an act that does theminfin
credit, and if carried out with the spirit in which it
is commenced, will endear them to those that follow
us upon this ransitory globe. The corner stone of
the New Aims House, building upon Randall's
Island, laid yesterday afternoon, in presence of
a select number oflnvlted guests including members
Of the Common Council members elect, His Honor
the Recorder, General Talmadge, Justice Gilbert,
Ex-Justice Matsel, VIM. NJ Price, members of the
press, NC. &C. The charity Is noble one, and 1t is
to the present Common Council that we owe the
carrying out of the project for which the island was
originally purchased by the city, upon resolution
offered by f. A. Ta[madge, (now Recorder, then
The proposed buildings are to be erected upon a
scale at once magnificent and useful. The island
contains 1873 acres Of land gradually rising from the
waters edge to considerable elevation, the surface
undulating into hull and valley, so that from the
summit upon which the buildings to be erected
a magnificent and diversified prospect may be had.
The main building intended for the Aims House,
Deep pointing to the south; it is to be four stories
high in the centre, and the end buildings three
stories high. The building to have four wings 65
feet wide, and 100 deep. The height of the first
of the building to be ten feet of the cellars and
passages between them, seven feet six inches and
OF the space beneath all the other parts of the first
story floor, except in the rear building, to be two
feet, all in the clear when finished.
All the buildings to be composed of blue building
stone quarried upon BackwelPs Island, by the pri-
soners. The main walls to be about twenty-four
inches thick the partitions to be OF brick. The
brown stone. The building is to be provided with
water closets, sinks, &c. &c porticos on the out
side, &c. NC In the building, chapeis to be cree
ted capable Of holding about 1900 persons. The
Ioy cd
field, of 100 Nassau street.
The cost wilprobably be from $3.50, 900 to $500 900.
The buildings are to be erected by the LIST Of Sep
TENDER, 1886
The other building is intended for the Farm schools
and is already in an advanced stage of forwardness
is to be $50 feet long, three stories high, and built
of blue stone quarried on Blackwel's Island. There
are to be three wings 100 feet deep and 40 wide
tlty OF domitorles, play rooms, eating apartments,
&c., &c.. The building is capable of accommoda-
ting 1900 children, more than double the number now
in the institution This building is to be completed
considering the size of this building, and the man.
ner in which it is to be built, is extremely cheap
Attached che to this building about IT. la ais to be
drcn according to the English system The island is
pablo producing with proper cultivation sufficient and
treble the number Of paupers depending the city
beside furnishing pasturage for about sixty head of cat
The Committee on Charity and Aims House, who have
projected the buildings upon the island are-Wm s. Mil
W. dsns oma
spofford '' '''' -'' -A'"a'
The company having walked about the island and re-
Of the building Committee returned to the of
Of the main building to witness the interesting
We're deposited IN tSy Mr. whtney the Clerk so
York Ordinances Of City Proceedings Of the Board Of
assistants Comptrollcrs Rcport Memoirs of the
dermen Documents Of sSe D0f Repor Of
the Committee Charity and Aims House ;
with tho resolutions and specifications in relation to the
new Aims House, specifications Of the Nursery buildings
Common Council documents, City Inspectorss Report
City Directory, Statement of the City Officers for is44
Funeral Of General Harrison the great Metro
polls OF !S4 all the daily papers of the city of May sth
ooa Of nS of the city These
Chairman Of the Committee mounted the base and after
promising that until last evening he did not anticipate
would devolve upon him. he had not sufficient time to
prepare himself he wished he delivered the following
address:-We have assembled here to lay the foundation
of charitable institution of character calculated to
exert the ideas of situation here and upon scale
with its present great and its rapidly in
creasing extent and population It isnow some years
since this beautiful Island selected by prcdeces
sors, for the purpose to which il is now dedicated In
carrying out their views but lend them cordial
cooperation in work. the necessity of which their pro.
vden foresight anticipated and in the spirit which
has been thus and conducted to its present
stage, look forward confidently to the ready assist
ancc OF those who come after us to complete and
asylum for helpessness sickness and poyerty. Il ha,
selected with the view of separating the unfortunate
from the criminal in the administration Of munich
pal charity II is to be the home of those whom crcum
stances have incapactated from making home for them
selves; for infants thrown upon the world, without
protector or provision for the invalid and those who
are without assistance and supports the able bodied poor
rendered destitute by misfortune, and the aged who in
secrpua0 ana ines o. advancing years are
community for their individual relief We have thought
that in aaordng this provision, it duty to pre-
vent as far as possible the association Of charity with
punishment and for this have designated this
Island and the establishment about to be erected
upon it, to furnish exclusive retreat and shelter for
those, whomadverse circumstances have thrown with
eaa aa .na s as city 70, their
retreat, and Exhibits all the natural advan-
tages that could in any wise be sufficiently remote from
idle curiosity The grounds sufficiently extensive to
afford ample opportunity to all for employment in the
exception Of the Inhabitants from diseases which attach
to other places less fortunate in this aspect Its dvers
fed surface including HILL valley and grove gives It
great capacities for cultivation and ornament and with
suitable and labor may be rendered in all respects
capable of very highest state of cultivation. com
presented to the eye Of man, Water will
be introduced in abundance from the beautiful and mag
nicent reservoirs which the enterprise and energy Of
our predecessors have introduced, which will form for
ages monument Of wise and benifccn policy Of the
government Of our city, less than the liberal anu
y
cure the comfort health and webcng Of the very nu
mcrous class dependent upon the city charities, and
whose wants thus relieve without exposing them
to any degrading painful associations compelling
them to feel that in the eye of the community poverty
hclplcssne regarded in the light of public offences
charitable institutions upon this island, to educate
infant pauper in such systematic habits of industry
application, will train them in mind and body for use
full services in the employment to which they may be
transferred on leaving the asylum to exact from the
able bodied poor certain amount of labor the condi
ton of their relief and to afford hospital retreat for
those who are untitled for all labor by decrcpudc
other bodily inirmity The building is designed
asylum for the infant poor childrens farm scho OIL
already far advanced towards its completion. We
lay the stone of the main edifce Of the island
which is intended to afford shelter for the invalid aged
and poor which may become charge upon the city from
their nrmtes other adverse and unfortunate crcum
stances To have been instrumental in the establishment
Of charity in such location upon scale so cxten.
svc and honorable to the city and in the of
policy, SO bcncfcent and humane, must be a Of
lasting qualification. Gentlemen, to all Of who are
lated in the present Naturalization of the