Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-23

The work is going steadily forward on the eastern
wing, and it cannot now be very long before the
whole front will be completed and covered in. Two
of the most important of the utbuildings also
covered and occupied by the contractors and work
men. The main edifice of the Asylum extends along
the summit of Dix Hill, fronting eastward toward
Raleigh, and commands fine prospect in that drec-
ton. Two miles at least of the Central Railroad
will be visible from the portico, and the scene pre-
scented by the frequent passage along the horizon of
smoking engines, and their attendant trains of freight
and passenger cars will be one Of uncommon anma-
ton and interest. The whole front is 726 feet long,
and the width of the wings 40 feet. The central ed
ifice has so feet front by 40 in depth 1t is sur
mounted by beautiful observatory, from which a
noble panorama can always be enjoyed, which will
richly repay the visitor for the trouble of ascending
! to it.
The two wings are designed for the accommoda-
ton of the patients for the males, and the other
for the females, and the two will thus be COM
pletey separated from each other. Each wing con-
sists of basement and three stories Each story is
! divided longtudinally by orridor, with rooms
opening into it from both Sides and it also divided
by line intcrsecting tie corridor, into two wards
Each of these wards has parlor dining room bed
rooms, &C.. for class of twenty patients The whole
building will therefore accommodate at least 240 in
sane persons, and will be amply sufficient mag
ine for the wants of the State for many years to
come The centre building consisting of a base
men four stories and attics is designed for the
rous officers of the institution and their families and
is constructed a scale fully commensurate with its
objects. The first floor is divided by a very wide
passage, rather, immense hail. into two suites
of large well lighted rooms and offices The second
floor is arranged very much in the same way, and
will be used for chambers, nurseries, and other pri
vate purposes. The upper stories are divided into
varons apartments the uses Of which WILL of course,
be various or as circumstances may require. In
of them is fine large room, intended to be used
as chapel. In others tanks to be constructed
to maintain head of water for the whole building
Just the fourth floor the DOME lighted by the
windows of the observatory above, expands in noble
amplitude, and WILL when the work is finished, give
IN of nd chn TO
part of the structure.
1t is proposed to light the Asylum with rosin oil
gas, and to furnish every part of it with an abund-
of water from the stream flowing in front This
will require considerable force to raise it to such
height and the character of the agency to be used is
not yet determined upon. j,
1t is also contemplated, we understand, to heat
the whole establishment through the agency of steam
Along the middle of the basement the entire length
of the wings, run three parallel chambers, de-
slgncPto contain the conductors of hot air for dis
tfibutlon through the edifce another for cold air,
water, and perhaps gas pipes, and the third to be
used a passage way by which the dumb-waters
will convey their edible contents to the extremities
of the wings. There chambers in all the walls
by which the several meals will, by this means be
carried to the dining rooms in the various wards.
There arc also number of dust holes communicate
ing between the Prssagcway and all the hoors thro
which the sweeping will be removed.
The top Of the observatory which adorns the CEN
trail building is 100 feet high 1t is very evident to
the eye, viewing the whole from distance, that this
height is less than architectural symmetry demands
The great length of the front the structure to
look much lower than it actually is. This excess in
length has however. some advantages connected |
with the treatment of tho insane which ought to be
considered before any serious objection is made a
ganst the plan upon which the buildings have been |
Eighty feet in the rear of the central part of the
main building stands another large cdcc called the
Kitchen but reality designed for several purposes
1t is 81 by IS feet. In the lower story there is |
baU1 hOrf TO ,n lDto
will be distributed over this and the main building.
Above this will be large kitchen, bakery, pantry.
matron's room; and in the apartments above, lOdg
ing rooms for servants. One hundred feet in the
rear of the kitchen is the laundry, in the basement
of which the boilers for the generation of steam, will
be situated; and above them washing, ironing and
drying The latter process will be effected by
hot air introduced from below.
All of these cdificeS are to be handsomely succeed
externally, and appropriately furnished within. The
estimated cost of the whole when completed will be
about $4,000. The work appears to be substantial
y executed. Mr.. Mcknight, the contractor for brick
work, and Mr.. Conrad contractor for wood work,
ire both generally on the ground, experimenting
he progress of the hands in their respective depart
ncntS We do not doubt that they will finish their
OBJ in a manner creaitable to themselves and salts
aotory to the public.
The number of insane persons in the State accord
ng to the census of 1850, is 40 Many of these
in private confinement, in the COM
non ails, exposed to the neglect capriccs of gno
ant and antecling persons, and it is therefore very
iesrabe that the Asylum should be opened for their
admission as soon as practicable. We hope that
lnder the efficient supervision of DR.. Fisher, whose
ea in the discharge of his duties, does him much
redit the work will be pushed rapidly to its com
'ction When finished and in operation, it will
tand enduring monument of the benCficent leg
station of the State. Weekly Post. .
TIE CLAwsoN HEIRsHIP. Some time since it was
umored that the wife of the Rev. Samuel Clawson,
lad fallen heir to immense fortune in England
he Weston (Fa) Herald says the facts of the case
re as follows:
''There was originally the of thirty-six mil
ons of dollars the estate of the Earl of Lancaster,
England, and upon the death of the Earl and his
rothcr, dispute arose between the house of York
nd the house of Lancaster INSTITUTED by the form
because ofan intcrmarriage between the two hous-
81 the house of York suing for the heirship. The
nit was protracted, from the lower to the higher
ourts, from fifty to hundred years. and was final
decided at the exchequcr (the Queens bench,) in
of the house of Lancaster After this decision,
advertisements scattered abroad overthe world
Or the heirs of the Lancaster estate and the mother
Mrs Clawson, wife ofRcv. Samuel Clawson, is one
the heirs Attorneys employed by the heirs
secure their interests and it is supposed that the
hole affair will be settled up during this winter,