The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-30
THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.

THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.
A,C--nssvs Enlargsment-iSsser1pe1 s4thc
Present Building and the Intended WIZ.
The extraordinary increase Of population IN tho
extension of this city have long required engsssnt
of the New York Hospital The Board Of Gevsrprs,
therefore, not wishing to be behind hand have aserned
to erect extensive wing the southern side, fonng
on Duane street.
The history Of this valuable institution very interest
ing indeed It may be classed among the most nor-
tant charitable institutions Of this country It waDri-
gnaly established by private subscription, in The
17os and Incorporated by charter from Governor ms
more. on the 18th Of July, l77o This charter
armed by an act Of the Legislature, dated March IT,
1910. In the year Its, the building was destroysby
fire. and before another could DO completed the bike
out during which the British converted the uAnniled
apartments into barracks. In 1871 it was reopened q
hospital for hesick and disabled and afterwards exhd-
ed to inHrm and destitute ssamen. The money airing
from private subscriptions having been found inadequte
to pay the expenses Of this rising thee.
gslature induced at various periods confer grs
upon out Of the public treasury. These nsrssd
from time to time. until the 14th Of March, 1906 WIN
an It was passed authorizing the payment Of sl2,o
annually 10 THIS lnsutution ous VI L0 uoues VA Pssc
auctions, until the year 1857.
The area upon which the hospital now stands ID te
block of ground bounded in front by Broadway, in %
rear by Church street. Anthony street the north, ID
Duane street on the south The ground 10 4o6 feet R
and $50 broad The whole Is enclosed with brick va,
ten feet high. The site Of the building 10 consderaf
elevated above the level Of the neighborng Streets Al
is built upon the highest ground in the lower part OF
city. In front of the building is an extensive law
sloping towards Broadway, with paved walk, shaded
row Of venerable elm trees both sides. The hospit
is situated in the centre of the lot about two hund
feet from Broadway and is constructed Of gray sto
with roof of slate It is 124 feet front on BroadwA
its depth is fty feet in the centre and at the wing
which project each side eightysx feet; it is thu
sories besides basement and aftyt two feet high with
fine cupola, which commands extensive panoram
view Of the entire city, and Of the barber and count
beyond to q great distance The first story is fourta
feet high and is covered in 'front.' less, with Il
branches of the ivy green" This floor contains roo
for the governors, in which is valuable medic
and scientific library, parior bed rooms
the superintendent and matron, an apothecai
Shop and room for the clerk. In the cent?
there is hall and . large staircase leading to u
floors above which apartments or wards, as they o.
called are used for the accommodation OF patient
There are sixteen wards in the building which win easf
accommodate three
third story near the northwest Of the buildi
is the theatre fer surgical operations The basem&
story contains two Kitchens laundry, bathing roo,
three store rooms and ward for those patients who
disease requires that they should be kept separate fro
all Others The whole number of apartments in II
building thirty nine exclusive of the surgical theatre
Outside and within the walls of the main building thei
are wash house, bathing house, ice house, stables and
kitchen garden. The rest Of the ground is laid out
walks and planted with trees and for the benef
Of who take exercise in these grounds whe
| the weather is fine.
No spot on the island could be better chosen to build
hospital than that which the present edice stand
II is one Of the most healthy places in the city; an
although there are number Of lofty buildings in tn
neghborhood the elevation of the hospital secures
the sick all the advantages Of free circulation Of air
When this excellent institution was hrst contemplated
the situation selected for It's site quite distant from
the limits Of the populous parts of the CITY and 80 con
tnued for than twenty years; but the increase
growth of the city has caused it to be in the centr
Of the metropolis and to be surrounded for miles Wit
the noise and turmos Of active and busy population
The extraordinary of population and tn
extension Of the city, have, we have said before
required enlargement of this valuable institution
Accordingly the Board Of Governors have determined
erect an extensive wing on the south side fronting
1
twenty feet front Duane street. eighty eight fee
| Deep and four stories and basement high. Tn
walls to be constructed of gray stone and brick tn
ground viii be excavaed fifteen feet below the carriag
way Of Duane street. The foundation walls will be tire
feet thick and will be built In q solid manner the stone
intended for their construction being average from
Eve to feet long and from ten to sixteen inche
wide These walls to be built of blue building stone
laid in cement well bonded together and to be Hrm
| bedded the natural earth. The basement and frs
story walls will be constructed Of brown stone laid up
cement All the outside walls above the second story vii
be built Of blue building stone hammered straight tn
face and laid in The stories, which win be Of
large size to be jointed the face with cement
The building win be well supplied with cold and he
air Hues; two sewers will be built connecting with thu
In Duane street. and will be laid up in hydraulic
nent. The beams the basement floor will be fou
inches wide and fifteen Deep those the upper sorie
will be three inches wide and ten inches deep, all
which will be placed sixteen inches from each other
All the floors throughout the building will be laid will
clear narrow, well seasoned inch yellow pine plank
The basement first second third and fourth story floors
viii be deafened in the usual manner with me sand
hair mortar IL inch thick. Four bells and four speak
ing tubes win through the buildings also set Of
dumb walters. The staircases, from the 6rs to the
fourth foor viii be constructed of cast iron of
"
anchors to the walls The ballustrades and rails viii be
made Of the best St. Domingo mahogany. There viii be
four ventators built the roof with stationary blind
Stats. The inside Of the building win be lighted by
excellent dome, with skyght twelve feet in diameter.
The woodwork will be painted in q handsome manner.
both in light oak and stone color The windows will be
shaded by Venetian blinds the inside to protect the
patients from the strong effects of a summer sun.
The contractors are making their estimates, SO
that the work viii begin In few days. The building,
according to contract will be ready for occupancy the
first Of November 1854.
In January last the officers of this institution publish
ed address, stating their intention to enlarge the
building and for this purpose they would require the
of $3.50 the greater portion Of which would have
to be raised by private subscription The pecuniary
limited that the have
appealed to the baty of the people, and there Is prob
ably object in the city worthy Of donation than