New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-21
Neh Orleans Bully Crescent.
The Touro AImshou.e.

| The Touro AImshouse.
1t gives us pleasure to state that the noble bequest
of Judah Touro for the establishment OF an Aims.
house in this city, is growing steadily and surely TO
| its consummation. p"
So little has been known in regard to the action Of
Mr.. R. D. Shepherd, the residuary legatee Of Judah
Touro, and of the other parties empowered to exc
cute the Almshouse bequest that great portion Of
the population are still in doubt as to whether the
"Touro Almshouse" is "to be, or not to be-whether
it will be forever fiction, soon solid reality 1t
is on this account that we feel pleasure3n stating
what we know about it. There was never yet any
bequest for public charity certain Of fulfill
ment than that of Judah Touro for an Almshouse in
| New Orleans. The following are the facts OF the
| case:
l. Judah Touro donated $780, 900 for the erection of
| an Almshouse.
q R. d. Shepherd presented, for the same purpose,
large tract of land in the Third District, valued at
from $4,000 to $4,000.
8. The $4,000 left by Judah Touro has increased,
under the careful and judicious management of Mr..
Shepherd, to the sum Of $115OOO.
a. R. D. Shepherd has agreed to contribute from
his own fortune $4,000 to the common fund.- in order
to carry out the design Of the tesator on splendid
SCALE and to carry out that design soon as possible
| s. The plan of the Aims House has been adopted !;
estimated cost sl5O,O0O.
g. Total amount now available to consummate the
charity (and independent Of the land already donated
by Mr.. Shepherd), $l65,0OO.
The above are the plain hard facts, going to show
how healthy and sure is the incubation of this great
public charity.
The Directors Of the Almshouse last spring offered
| and adyertisod prapipn, of SSnO r,o,t
able plan and specifications for the building of the
Almshouse. During the year, plans were sent in by
thirteen leading architects five being OF this city,
and eight of Northern cities. For long time these
thirteen plans have been under the careful examna-
ton and consideration Of the Directors and on Mon
day evening last, the Directors met and decided
which they would adopt. The plan adopted was that
Of New Orleans architect; our talented young
townsman, whose architectural genius is already to
be seen in different parts of the city-Wm. A. Freret
This plan we have had an opportunity of inspect.
ing. The building is to be Of colossal dimensions and
grand exterior 1t is to face the river between Piey
and Desire streets in the Third District The ground
donated by Mr.. Shepherd includes the whole width
between the two streets and much greater depth
the front being 3lS feet and the depth 500 feet The
main building is to have front of 290 feet and an
average depth of y eet is to be built in the richest
style OF Gothic architecture, three stories high with
towers and turrets, and broad galleries along tbs
reaches on both sides. 1t is to have large vestbule
in the centre of the ground floor, entered by mag.
nifcent doorway between two massive towers. On
every floor broad corridor is to extend from end to
to end and on these corridors, the multitudinous
rooms Of the establishment are to open.
Back of the main building, and connected with ii
by covered passage, is to be large two-story
building, of corresponding architecture, for the pur
poses of cooking and eating On either side of this
building, are to be small outbuidings for differen,
purposes of the same material and the same style
architecture.
The main building is to stand back 100 feet from
street. thereby leaving space of 31s feet by l0G
for front garden. to be filled out as may hereafter
be ordered, and enclosed by beautiful and massive
wall. To the Almshouse, through this garden there
will be three broad entrances the main entrance, ir
the center the entrance to the Matrons end of the
building, and the entrance to the Superintendent
end of the building In the rear Of all the buildings
there will remain ground for kitchen garden of suf
cen size to raise all the vegetables necessary to the
Almshouse when full. The establishment is to be
equally divided into male and female department
the line of division being central extending to the
rear of the nethermost building, and the different
Va Wv sioS SAoSeiJ SoilSsp pVuuuS u
those on the other
We have not space in these columns in which tc
detail the different rooms into which the immense
edice is to be divided There are to be large work
rooms; school rooms; rooms for religious service
library and, besides the Matron's and Superinten
dents departments, and the cooking and dining es
tabishment, ETC., there to be dormitores without
end.
To sum up we may state that the Touro Aims
house will be by far the largest and most splendid Of
all the public buildings of New Orleans. Its useful
ness as public charity, when built and started is
thing now apparent to ALL
Mr. Freret, the architect, is absent from the city
So soon as he shall return his advice and did as t1
the building will be obtained, and the work begun
and pushed forward without loss of time.
JUDsoN has really got up an excitement, almos,
everybody seeming willing to accept prizes in his
magnanimous porcelain distribution. People argue
somewhat thus There's large lot of prizes, one
half or so of which worth than is to pay fol
a beautiful cup and saucer that is worth good part
OF the sum- fone goes into the speculation there
certainty of getting prize Of some kind and the fun
and the strong chance of getting big prize. o.
course when people argue with themselves in thi:
sensible vav thew oonvincn themsa1ya. n rx