The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-22
TIE NEW IECRR,sTE asvLum.
Wat "a the Institution on WARDS Island
rs External Appeararce--its Dimensions,
Accommodation and Fittings.

wat 10 the Institution on Wards Island
rs External Appeararce--its Dimensions,
accommodation and Fistings.
NV York has Its measure Of wckedness, plenty
OF bverty and an abundance OF misery. It's
pywws and highways are peopled with many whose
cohuiion Is worse than the meanest outcasts' OF
Par's London. They stalk abroad where aflluence
aoouhs and the more fortunate sicken at the sight
OF so huch wretchedness Yet New York is equal,
In her nbounded charts, in her unselfish pur-
poses, IL her noble public Institutions TO meet this
lamehtaps condition OF soiety. Institutions de
votedly cosecrated to Tightening the burdens OF tie
uniortuhas rear their lofty pinnacles to the sly
fitting monuments OF her careand thOughtfulnes.
The last Of these noble buildings, devoted 60
noble purpoe. Is the Inebriate Asylum on wards
Island and yesterday the Commissioners OF Public
Charities AMI Correction, in company with several
city officials and distinguished citizens paid it a
formal visit hat 1t might be formally opened for the
benevolent purpose designed. Tis edidce is built of
brick, and WIS finished last February; bat since that
period 1t has hem occupied, witt the exception Of
one wing, as children's hOspia, and will be so
used for two months hence, unit ME commodious
building on Rndalls Island, desnsd for the accom-
mediation OF nDthers and babes, l. completed. The
asylum has a PECULIAR and imposing appearance, dis
tinctive in chaacter from any Of contemporaries
on the island. Even were itsurrouked by other and
more costly structures 1t would stleave the traces
of lasting effec on the mind and Imagination Of the
behOlder. The medieval characte 81 its architec-
ture forces the conclusion OF its cftable charac-
teristics, whilethe varied and harmonious DISPOSE
ton OF its portions equally urges idadaptability TO
the wants AMI requirements OF the purposes for
which 1t has been constructed
The Asylum rOntS the East river alTfell Gate and
is situated on bluf, whose grassy bpes will run
to the waters adge 1t Is composedtf q central or
main part with wings running nolh and south,
tor 81 wit wi lone haf
are carried up story higher than tb body, making
break in the sky hne-a marke and beautiful
feature IN buildings Of accurate mknitude. The
lines in bold relief from the body OF the structure
having gabled and towering OFF which is
finished with an ornamena crestnl Of iron. The
side wings are equally picturesque as the
'front.' Their buttresses, like turretsjrun up above
the cornice Of the wings, and, wit their mlnaret
spires, give a light and graceful outline when seen
In connection with the smA Yer pavibns Of the side
and rear wings, Which assume towr-like appear
ance, with their 'Ofty andwell prol0rti0ned roofs
and dormer windows nesting down their caves.
The centre OF tie main pIrti0n projects 80 feet and
is 90 feet wide The wings on either Ade are SO feet
long to the paviions, wh project Bet, and are SO
feet long on ech face OF the return angle, which
gives a Total Ingth to tie main porthn OF 27s feet
The return wings runnini west have length OF 40
feet connecing the NAH portion with the other
Winrs who have facade OF As feet totle pavOns
which projct feet and Ire so feet wild, on the front
and SO fee wide on the side Of the return angle.
making 0tal frontage q 47s feet. The north and
feet betfeen the paviliDns which flank the return
angles. living total leIEth of LOG feet.
The iteriOr of this structure Is most admirably ar
ranged and is about as 0llows:-The central portion
is devted to rooms ftr the medical director lat
preset, DR.. W. r. Fishet, reception rooms, Conmis
stones office and office the building; behind Shese
are TO large dining halls, 9.6x63 feet each, also
butlr's pantries, &c. corridor runs the entire
Iendh between the mat portion and the extreml-
tiesof the wings, Terminating In the pavilions, and
TIE space between the lavlliOns and the centre Is
divided into separate rtoms for private patients;
tlese are elegantly and appropriately fitted. AT the
j,nctiOn of the corridors With the main and central
,arts are sentry boxes, projecting in an
,ctagonal form into the corridor, thereby COM
handing q view o. 1t running In opposite drec.
tions: this ARA Igement places the whole 0
this necessarily intricate building under the sight
and control of wathfu senries. On this floor alone
there are "a separate rooms LOT private patlSeass
rooms for the accommodation OF less private pa.
t,ents. which measure AZ by 70 feet. On the second
stnrv nesides tie rooms for the matrons use Is q
chanel CAPABLE OF seating $50 persons where words
0f Consolation admontion and grace Will be literally
ana freely given. There are Kitchens. Laundry and
dining rooms in proportion TO the SIZE and character
Of the bnilding steam alone being ssed in their va
rious work The arrangement OF the valance Of thii
and OF the third ard fourth stories Is much the same
and need not be particularly referred 10 The base
mont 40 aovo,ed With the exception or tur PADDED
cells-whch 1t is to be hoped II may neverbe neces
of the building is heated 10y steam coils paced til
turrets at the angles OF the paviliOna Steam ia
diators are placed in the corridors and pavii0ns
warm the atmosphere.
The ensemble of the structure from all parts 0
Wards Island, from Long Island and the river
very imposing. The long sketches OF the WINS
thanked on the by the pavilions seem to svp
port and guard the more central portion, Wilde &c
centre, rising from the surrounding body, conte
trates and amagamates the portions into an artsti
whole giving it grand and prepossessing appea
ance.
There are already here about fifty inebriites {
both sexes, many Of them however, being commttt
patients But soon the grand mission OF the asyluI
will be felt. Here the wretched outcast tn
Stunned, the despsed those with estates waete
with constitutions nearly destroyed and penlaI
reasons debased and manners becoming vile WI
find that treatment to again make them honDre,
respected and worthy in sOciety-make them tgai
more than the mere cinders OF a crucible. He
drunkards will be reclaimed.
After the Commissioners and their friends risite
the building and the grounds they returned tb the
steamboat and ''made day OF it'' in darling abOl
Randall's and Blackwell's islands, returning 10 u
city IN the early evening.