Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-11-22
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The length of the entire building is 726 feet, the
width of wings 40 feet width of central portion
of building 81 feet with front of 40 feet There is
a handsome dome top of the central building, |
commanding an extensive view Of the City and sur
rounding country. The wings are designed for pa
tents for females and the other for males, and
arc three stories in height Each story is divided
longtudinally by corridors, with line of sepa
ration for division of patients each corridor con-
tanning sitting room, dining room, attendants rooms,
bath room, space for dumb waiter &c. The windows
of the patients apartments are to be supplied with
cast iron sashcs, the upper half of which will be gla-
zed, and the lower half without glass; with wooden
glazed sash adjacent to it. to be hoisted when
necessary desired; thus preventing escapes
through the windows, and furnishing at the same
time the necessary ventilation. The appearance
on the exterior of the window will be that of sim
gle frame work. The central building, four stories
in height, is designed for the officers and other per-
connected with the institution. 1t rests upon
brick walls 81 feet thick first, and 24 feet thick to
the roof There is magnificent arcade in front,
resting on massive brick columns or pillars.
The first floor of central building is divided by
immense hall into two suites of rooms and Of
fees in front, with commodious dining room,
rooms for Steward and Matron-on side having
dumb waiter closet, and OH the other side apohe-
carries apartment The ceiling of the hail is suppor-
ted by four handsome columns of cast iron. The
second floor is arranged in somewhat similar style,
and is designed for private chambers The third
floor contains bed rooms, and large Chapel for
gious exercises on Sundays. The base of the ro-
tunda supporting cupola above will be used water
tank rooms, where constant supl y of fresh water
will be kept for distribution over the building by
means of pipes.
The walls of the basement which extend through
out the entire building of stone and very substan
tally constructed The middle of the basement will
be the air chamber, with passage each side
for purposes connected with the building, of them
being appropriated to the landing Of dumb walters
from the of the patients above the other will
be occupied b. the main soil pipe running horizon
tally, and connected with the rerticaI pipes from
water closets above. The air will be heated by
steam contained in coils of pipe placed in
tons OF the chamber, and will bc conveyed to the
apartments above through tues opening into corri-
derS and rooms throug ghout the entire building.
Each corridor will likewise contain foul air ues for
the escape of foul air to the external atmosphere
through ventators in the centre of the two wings;
and fresh air will be constantly introduced into the
warm air chamber through apertures on the sides
of its walls. By the aid of large fan in connec-
ton with the steam apparatus it is intended to sup
ply the apartments of the main building with abun-
dant of fresh during the summer months,
! which will add much to the comfort of all.
The entire building is supplied with gas pipes for
lighting it cffectually with rosin gas to be manuac
turcd on the grounds of the Asylum. This mode
of lighting commends itself both by its safety and
economy, and will be great improvement compar-
ed with the ordinary method.
Eighty feet in the Of the main building stands
the kitchen, which is 80 feet by 40, and three sto
ries high. The food will be prepared here and car
ried to the basement of the main building, whence
it will be conveyed to the upper apartments by
dumb walters, before referred to- This arrangement
is quite important, as it ensures system and regu-
arty and obvates the necessity of servants passing
through the main building with food, &c.
One hundred feet in the rear of the kitchen stands
the boiler house, intended for steam engine and boil
ers. There arc rooms here for engineer for fuel
&C., and the floor above will be used as laundry
and drying room by steam power. Near this build
ing is large well, from which it is expected suf
ficiency of water will be obtained for the institution
Force pumps, oy steam, will be used for delivering
it at points where it may be needed. Some 10, 600
gallons per day will be required during the
months.
The building is to be succeed, and is intended to
represent light sandstone. The cornice around the
entire building is the ubject Of admiration by every
visitor.
The site of the building is most eligible and COM
manding Early steps should be taken for complet
ing it, for furnishing it, and for making the
ry enclosures and improvements on the grounds
We learn that the institution is designed to &C
commodate 25O patients. Judging from appearances
it will require twelve months to finish and fl
it for their reception.
The brick-work, we learn, was done by Messrs
Lane & McKnight-the stone work by Messrs
Stronach & Co.-the carpenters work by Messrs. j
& j. w. Conrad-the gas and steam pipes by Jos
Mason, Esq, of New York, and the plastering and
stuccoing by Mr. P. H. Russell.
The Commissioners of the institution who, by thu
way receive compensation for their attention and
services entitled to the thanks of the public fo
the interest they have constantly manifested in th
work, and for their efforts to bring it to completion
on the most economical terms having reference
the same time, it was their duty to do, to th'
fact that it is building intended for the benefit no
merely of those of to-day, but of many generations
bodied in the act establishing the institution, requr