The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-07-24
Illinois Hospital for the Insane.

As much interest is felt abroad, and O. -peca'ly
in distant portions of cur own state IN regard To
the present condition and prospects uf this Insti
tuition, We have taken some pans to collect such
Information concerning II, as might be either use.
fu or interesting to our readers. For this pur
pose We paii it a visit few days ago, and pass.
ed through tie whole building. accompanied by
Dr. Higgins, Superintendent, and Mr.. Gulta the
Architect. under whose supervision the work Of
comIlc,itn Is now rapidly going on. To the kind.
ness Of these gentlemen we are indebted for a
foil explanation Of the numerous ingenious con.
rIvanceS, which make this building one Of he
most convenient Of the kind in the United State.
Great pains have been taken to procure model.
OF similar Institutions in :he different states, and
a most successful effort has been made 10 com
bne the eYcrleucies OF each in this
The length Of the entire eGitice as it now stands
- 3OJ feet. The centre or main building has 90
feet front, by 80 feet in deph. Its height j. 6
stories. and the root is surmuunted by large aud
beautiful Observatory at least 100 feet above the
Foundation The prospect from this Observato.
~, when L shall have been finished. will well
compensate one for the toll Of climbing OF s
flights ui stairs.
This part Of the building ia now nearly com.
y,ctel and will be devoted to the use Of the OF
/
ants and the attendants upon the patient. The
dining halls attached to each ward are in this
part uf the building.
Extending east and west from the central por
,on, are wings each 100 feet in length For
72 feet these wings rise to the height of stories
but at the ends mos; distant from each other
they are stories high and support small ohser
vatores, similar to The larger one on the main
binding. The east wing j, now completed, and
in use for the accommodation of patients. The
w'rS in the west wing is progressing and it i.
expected that ii will be ready or use IN the Cours.
of the next morths The plan OF the 2 wrgt
Is precisely s'milar Each will contain wards
/ i on each f1oor-nnd when both are cumpl ted
they will accommodate about 900 patients. tn,
intuntl arIaug emtIts Of the building are most IN
/ gen,ous. Pipes containing water, both hot an,
cold, run through each story from reservoirs il
| the main part Of the bblldiug.
/ The table supplies for each ward are elevntec
/ by machinery from the basement A building
80 feet 10y 60, . stoces high, withAn attic is nov
in process Of erection 40 or so feet south Of tn,
main ed'tice This building will answer the pur
pose of a kitchen, bake house, wash house. &c
for the Institution, and will contain the furnace,
| for warming the whole. Pipes from the furnacr
will conduct the heated air under the surface o
the ground into vaults in the basement, from
these it rises through iiaes into all parts Of III,
| building
S nee the opening Of the Institution in las, 40
vemtcr to the present time, there have beer
lS0 applications for the admission of patients
but on account Of the unfinished state Of the bull
ding only about one half of this number coult
be received. The whole number received il 9.
Several of these have been discharged more o
less benefited and Others will soon follow them
either wholly or partially restored.
The uhoe plan of the building, when co,nplet
Cd, will make il about 500 feet IN length. an,
Will double its capacity for the accommodation q
patents lri,conli tc completed immpdael,
there is m doubt hat 1t could soon bt filled will
this unfortunate class of beings The building
ms it now stands is monument TO the phau
thropy Of It's projectors at the head Of whom "
place Miss Dix, and the sli irit Of enterprise an
beneicicnt which Influenced our state IA gislatur
in is munihcent endowment
The work, SO far as we are able TO Judge ha
been done in a most substantial manner an
does the highest credit to the skill Of the Arch
tect who has superlnlended it,-Morgan .ou,
nal!