The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-18

VISIT OF THE SUPERVISORS, ETC, TO THE coUN
BUILDINGS.

Kings County Aims House.
VISIT OF THE SUPERVISORS, ETC, TO THE COUNTY
BUILDINGS
The new Aims House for the county Of Kings,
being now ready for occupation the Superntendents
Of the Poor for the county, of which there are five
Messrs Rhodes and Rushmore, for the city of Brook
Ign; Mr.. Ripley, for Williamsburg; Mr.. Vandeveer,
for Flatbush, and Mr. Stilwell, for Gravesend-iu-
vted the Board of Supervisors, Tex. and presently
the heads of all the various departments, and the
leading county officers, to inspect that building and
the adjoining ones, ON Tuesday last. The call was
very generally responded to, and large party as
sembled shortly after the appointed time.
The new building to which attention was more
particularly called, is plain finished brick one.
comprising a main erection and two WINGS the
whole being l76 feet long, by so feet Deep and con-
tains three stories and basement, of equal alti-
tude throughout
The basement on the left Of the entrance, is d.
vided into a dining room for female inmates at the
rear, 10 feet long by 2S-and in the front are
cells for the restraint of those whose conduct may
render confinement necessary, and q room for the
steam apparatus, by which the entire building is
heated. The basement on the right hand side con-
tains dining room for the Males Of similar dimen-
sons as that of the females, and in the correspond
ing positi"n-f. G. the rear. The rooms in the
portions ofthe two wing intended as dormtories
and are capable of accom- odating about five hun
bred pers Ons or more.
The main building is principally devoted to tho
purposes of business ard the residence of the keeper
and family, except the basement, in which are q
kitchen, bath, store, and visiting room, and one
for the use Of the physician. On the first floor is
dining room, and the board rooms OF the supervi-
sors and superintende nts which latter is also used
by the keeper as his office The persons for whom
this asylum has been erected are now lodged in
wooden or frame buildings, termed shanties, at the
rear and their transmgration is intended to be eff
fected as quickly as possible, only awaiting the
completion of some minor interior arrangements.
The visiters all, or nearly 80, proceeded to IL
spect the Lunatic Asylum, which is located close to
the above establishment OF the crowded state, and
general unftness of this edi6ce, We have before
spoken, and have but to add that there are at pre-
sent crowded within its wooden walls-for it Is q
frame building-l2l patients, it having been org-
nally designed for the reception of about 60; aud
consequently the opportunities are much abridged
for administering tofthe peculiar wants and circum
stances Of the unhappily demented objects Of the
confined in one apartment, when it would be desra-
BILE to have separate ones for each. The major part
OF them appear to be harmless, the number, male
orfemale under restraint being very limited. One
half old, three Of which sas mas passed in her pre-
sent domcile particularly attracts attention by her
utter idocy she is, though small of her age, Wei
formed child, excepting the head, which is of
most extraordinary dimInutive size. Her antics
are those of totally uninteectual being, and she
seems incapable of any perception beyond that of
the matron's kindness, to whom she appears much
attached. Some few Of the present inmates are
from Queens county, there being no such asylum
there; and having been so for long time the SUPER
intendents are unwilling to discharge them, though
their limited accommodations have compelled them
to abandon the practice Of receiving patients from
other counties.
The plans and estimates for now building, moro
commensurate with the want, Of the county, are all
prepared, and as bill has lately passed the Legs
ature, authorizing the supervisors to raise the
sary loan, operations will be commenced soon as
a site is fixed upon. 1t is in contemplation to
locate 1t in some other situation, than in the imme-
date proximity Of the Poor House. II should be
observed that all the patients in this asylum not
pauPers. If the views Of the majority are car
red out, the asylum will equal any thing Of the
like nature in the United States.
The nursery and hospital are of uniform character
with the new Aims House In the former are about
two hundred children, well fed, clothed, and caredr
as their appearance bespeaks. The pital con-
tains, at present, about one hundred and fifty pa
tients, being usual the extent Of the capacity Of
that and three shanties Qong frame buildings
attached.
There is particular case, or class of cases. call
ing for particular notice, the ship fever from which
there were, some time ago, so many suffering hav-
ing abated, and the number nov being quite insig-
nifcant.
Throughout all these establishments the extreme
order ana cleanliness observable, and the free VEN
tilaton secured TO every part, is well worthy Of
tice and commendation. The boards, stairs, Sc,
all bear unmistakeable evidence of constant care
and cleaning and induce a ready belief the sssu-
rance given TO our reporter, that they not in
- holiday garb for the occasion, but in their ordi-
nary daily condition
After visiting the above, the company, to the
number Of upwards Of fifty sat down 20 a most ex-
,elleDt and plentiful dinner, prepared ut the Aims
House, and their various conveyances being in
illness, they returned home apparently as well sa-
listed rs II dozen speeches had been maie-a per-
ormance which was entirely dispensed with.
The DISCRETION of an EuQl1sh Soltier.