The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-02-15
INSANE AsYLrn.

4
= l
! fes ef the ssdsar people" -ef Iowa hss
70 uasa he absse caption i = ssfaniliar
- hossshold xordA.n u sinss past, Is
~ shsis case - ~ sesspapers Of shin
State Daily nd Weekly kly-eoestansly aad
ancsasingly. Il formed ainoss the entire
political stock Of The Denocratic party Of
this State, for at leass fosr ysars--bing
The only saas hope they bad for restoration
to power. The orators and press Of the
party, entertained the .siear people, for
fsll four years, With ssfairy ta'ss'' shout
the sslabyrinthiaa rases'' q this strscsars
-asd the inaeass aaosns Of treasure that
bad been wasted % ssabolision town" By
ssJin Gsins,," i ~ ssssGiess u sAs saac.
The Insane Asylsn vss the Foundation upon
which the Democratic party built that fimsy
and de.usivs farce known - ssRepublican
Exsravagance."
But, this farce failing to win, il vas laid
upon the sh II Two years ago, and, in the
contemplation Of the events Of the all ab-
sorbiDg revolusios, the people Of the State
have almost forgotten that there 10 such 40
institution as % Insane Asylum in the State.
We had net thought Of the "Grimss Nons-
meet" for sometime, until day or two
since, when our memory vac brought back
to the institution and .sold timcs," By the
receipt Of document from our Representa-
tive, purposting to be the "Firss Biennial
Report of the Trustees, Soperintendcnts
and Treasurer Of the Iowa Hospital for the
Insane" As q great deal has been said
about this building. We presume some Of
our readers uoull like to knowsomeshing de-
finite about ito size, architecture, capacities,
etc., and We therefore append sons extracts
from the able and satisfactory report Of
the Medical Superintendent follows:
The building which is Of the Elisabeshan
central structure, and wings on either side
tas,efully grouped in the quadrapguiar
forms. The central portion 10 four stories
high, and oil other parts three stories high
above easements. The walls are all Of
side with brick. The roof covering is Of
heavy galvanized iron.
In the central building which is 90 by 60
feet and four stories high, are the public
Offices Of the Superintendent and bis assis-
Of all resident officers. 1t has also 70.
sunda 40 by 57feet in which 10 splendid
double stairway reaching to the top. II is
lad h. T,,l he A.
Of which 10 l37 feet from the ground. The
six wings, three on either side, arc for the
special use of patients, and are each reg
pccuvely, ll4-l5l-and l3l feet in length
By 40 feet in width, all three stories high
above the Easements. They are agreeably
Oversize by bay windows, projections and
recesses, hnd give an entire front Of 5l2
feet. Two cupolas rise 90 feet from the
ground over these wings aud serve practical
use as ventilators as well as ornaments. Al
the extreme end Of these wings, are return
wings acch l3l feet deep BY 40 feet vide, Civ
ing the structure its quadaDgular form. Also
there is one central wing, extending from
the rear Of the central building, lis feet
deep, ) stories high, 10 the basement and
6rst stories of which are the kitchen, bakery,
dining-roOms. store rooms and other do
mestic Offices. In the second and third
stories is beautiful chapel 3S BY so feet,
with % feet ceiling, in tho rear Of which
are numerous lodging rooms for domes-
tics.
In the whole establishment there are 425
rooms, great and small, exclusive of base
ment rooms. Ii contains l.l0O windows
and 900 doors. A walk around the out
side walls is half mile, and walk all over
its halls about one mile in length. II re-
quired l20, 900 square feet Of galvanlzed
iron sheetiog to cover the roof. In the
basement 10 . railroad one. eighth Of mile
in length, with iron rail, upon which hand
car carries the food from the central kitch-
en- to dumb walters beneath all dining rooms
The buildings are designed for the liberal
accommodations Of . least 500 patients with
all needed of6cers, attendants, and assistants
to take care Of them.
The entire establishment is warmed BY
steam, and oil machinery for elevasing wa
ter, for forced ventilation, for washing and
wringing clothes, 10 driven by steam
power. Steam is also literally used for
beating water for baths, and for cooking.
Galvanized iron pipes carry hot and cold
water to every part. There are 10000 feet
or about l2 miles Of iron pipe connected
with warming, Lighting, and the distribution
Of water.
We have now excellent accommodations |
for one hundred and City patients, and We
close the present 6scal year with one hun.
dred and forty. Several others have been |
ordered bot have not yet arrived, and ve |
are in daily correspondence for the admis- |
sion Of others. Ins few weeks our present |
rooms will be eli filed, 10 q few months |
logger they will be crowded, and then must
commence the unwelcome duty Of returning |
chronic, iscurabls cases to the counties,
some Of them to their old quarters in the
isils, to make room for durable eases, as
presided BY law.
a NEW WORE