Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-18
THE I11Nar1e. ASYLUM.

7
The length OF the entire building is 726 feet, the
width of wings 40 feet width of central portion
of building 80 feet with front of 40 feet There is
handsome dome top of the central building,
commanding an extensive view of the City and sur
rounding country. The wings are designed for pa
tients for females and the other for males and
three stories in height. Each story is divided
longitudnally by corridors, with line of sepa-
ration for division of patients; each corridor
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 sashes, the upper half of which will be gla
Zed and the lower half without glass, with wooden
| glazed sash adjacent to it. to be hosted 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-
sons connected with the institution 1t rests upon
brick walls 81 feet thick at first and q feet thick to
the roof There is magnificent arcade in front,
resting massive brick columns pillars
The first floor of central building is divided by
an immense hall into two suites of rooms and Of
fees in front, with commodous dining room,
rooms for Steward and Matron-on one side having
dumb waiter closet, and on the other side apothe-
carries apartment The ceiling of the hall is supper
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
ligious exercises on Sundays The base of the
tunda supporting cupoa above will be used water
tank rooms where constant supply 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 pa ssage on each side
for purposes connected with the building one of them
being appropriated to the landing of dumb walters
from the rooms of the patients above, the other will
be occupied by the main soil pipe running horizon
tally, and connected with the certicaL pipes fro IN
water closets above. The air will be heated by
steam contained in coils of pipe placed in sec
tions OF the chamber and will be conveyed to the
apartments above through fues opening into CORR
ders and throughout the entire building.
Each corridor will likewise contain foul air tues for
the escape of foul air to the external atmosphere
through ventilators in the 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 currents of fresh air during the summer MONTHS
which will add much to the comfort of ALL
The entire building is supplied with gas pipes for
lighting it effectuay with rosn gas, to be manufac-
turcd 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 so feet by 40, and three sto-
ries high The food will be prepared here, and
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, it ensures system and regu-
arity and obvates the necessity of passing
through the main building with food, &c.
One hundred feet in the of the kitchen stands
the boiler house, intended for steam engine and boil
ers. There are 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-
ficency 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 summer
months.
The building is to be succeed and is intended to
represent light sandstone. The cornice around the
entire building the sub ject of admiration by every
visitor
The site of the building is most eligible and com
handing Early steps should be taken for complet-
ing it, for furnishing it, and for making the
ry enclosures and improvements the grounds.
We learn that the institution is designed to &C
commodate $50 patients Judging from appearances.
it will require twelve months to finish and fit
it for their reception.
The brick-work, learn, done by Messrs.
Lane & McKnight-the stone work by Messrs.
Stronach & Co.-the carpenters work by Messrs. j.
C j. w. Conrad-the gas and steam pipes by Jos.
Mason, Esq, of New York, and the plasterng and
stuccoing by Mr.. P. H. Russell.
The Commissioners of the institution, who, by the
way receive compensation for their attention and
services are entitled to the thanks of the public for
the interest they have constantly manifested in the
work. and for their efforts to bring it to completion
OH the most economical terms, having reference at
the same time it was their duty to do, to the
fact that is building intended for the benefit not
merely of those of to-day, but of many generations;
and that the laudable wish of the Legislature,
bodied in the act establishing the institution requir
ed at their hands not only economy, but such ar
engagements of loca,i)n, such apartments, such inn
proSements of grounds, and such attention to the
personal quiet and comfort of the insane would
be most likely either to restore them to to