The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-08
THE NEW LuNATIc ASYLUM.

Another Magnificent EdsGco for Wards
EsIana-The New County I.unaiic Asylum
ITS Architecture, Extont and Arrangements
Progress of the Work.
On an elevated knoll IN nearly tho centre OF Wards
Island, from which the ground gently slopes dowa
TO the waters edge s being built under direction Of
the Commissioners OF Charities and Correction
now large and magnificent asylum for lunaGics.
Most of the extensive foundation walls have been
laid and portion or the structure Is already com
peted TO the second story. The entire ednce. II Is
expected, will be in readiness for the reception Of
patients by the lst or next August. When completed
IL will be OF the finest buildings OF the kind In
this country. From Es porches, windows, gable
ends and steeple, rising In graceful outlines above
Its summit, VIII be presented granay picturesque
view or the East river skirting either shore OF the
island, Of Hell Gate and Its unceasng turbulence OF
waters, OF Astoria nestled amid unwonted
uxuriant wealth OF leafy foliage, OF the ferry.
boat landings at the foot OF N1nety-second
and Eighty sixth street ferries, with their sur
roundings OF sailing crafts OF all kinds and ths
gayly painted rowooas OF Backwell's Island ana the
monster buildings scattered over It, OF the far
recediDg shores and wharves and dwellings OF tho
great busy city, aud the huge steamers and sailing
vessels continually going back and forth, and pre-
senting panoramic scene OF perpetual animation.
There has long been urgent necessity OF tins asylum.
For long time the asylum for the insane on Black
wells Island has failed to furnish suitable accommo-
dations for the number of patients Obliged to DO
placed there for treatment At this institution there
are about 1900 inmates, which is twice as many
as can be suitably accommodated. The evil conse-
quences growing out of this massing together within
such limited space such number OF this unfortu-
nate class Of people were last winter repeatedly SET
forth in the columns or the HERALD. With such
clearness OF incontroyertlble statement and such
graphic deiinea ion Of existing horrors were
these evils portrayed, that the Commissioners
Of Charities and Correction began to open their
eyes to the importance of taking active and speedy
measures to apply the proper remedy The only
remedy they found was to build new asylum, and
this was ct length agreed upon. The site Wards
island to which we have alluded was selected. ana
MIR. Renwick, the architect, was instructed to pre-
pare suitable plans Having determined to make IL
second to no other institution OF the kind In the
county the plans OF all the principal iunatic asy.
ums In the United States and In Europe were care
fully studied to embody In this not only all the
best features OF other institutions but to steer clear
of their errors. 1t is thus believed that the plans
agreed upon for this new asylum are well nigh per-
feet both in their minutest details as well as general
features. description OF what the building is to
be when completed we give below. To facilitate
description and unnecessary repetltlons we will
The building consists OF a centre building and six
wings. Tile centre building is 2si feet long by 90
feet wide The two wings Immediately joining 1t at
right angles each i92 feet long by 81 feet wide
and tue four remaining wings are about the same
size. The main front. as thus viii be seen, Is long
and imposing 10 Is built OF brick. with ornamental
tons OF Ohio stone The main centre Is three stories
high, with Mansard roof while the wings are two
stories above ground, also with Mansard roof. The
style OF architecture is the early decorated Gothic
styie 1t Will be faced by Coliaberg brick relieved
by bands, arches and awnings OF OHIO stone. The
north front Of the centre building Is divided into
Ss gat 81 a steps N leads to tie front
watch Is projecting porch with gracefully formed
columns and arches, of beautiful patz OF ONO
stone. Bay windows give pleasing tectural
erect to the gables Corresponding rNDstyle and
finish with this front are the sides and rear. The
south front in It's general design ls IKE the front
have described, with the exception that In front OF
the sun rooms, as they are called but the parors
stories high and ornamented with columns, hand
caps, bases and tfaceries IN the windows. This
entire root Is covered with slate stone. Inc Mansard
roofs, gable ends, feche or sleeper rising above
the chapel gives to the exterior Grandly massive
and yet peasingy picturesque appearance.
And now we pass to the tateror or the building
IL Is intended TO accommodate 800 patients. The
centre building Is divided into two parts, connected
By ilreprool corridors. The first part facing NORTH
contains the private apartments Of the resident ply
stefan. assistant physicians wardens and matrons.
These apartments are arranged In hats, after this
French style, so as TO make each separate aud dis
tinct from The other ms part Is So by so feet In
dimensions and four stores high The second part
comprises three stories and basement The base
ment Is twelve feet high Here are the kitchen.
storeroom and sleeping AMI dining apartments for
the attendants. On the first story are the library
rooms for the inmates, the apothecare5 shop, the
general Office reception room for visitors q room
for the commiss' oners aud dining room for the
assistants. The second story Is divided into wards
and bedrooms for engineers and assistants. On this
door also IS gymnasium, 81 feet wide by 10 feet long,
for the patients. All the appliances for exercises
will be placed here such to be found IN other
gymnasiums IL is also IN contemplation to have
billiard room, but Its location mas not yet been def
nely fixed upon. on the third story Is the chapel.
les dimensions are 50 feet wide by so feet long,
Ii Is also arranged as place OF entertainment for
the inmates, as giving lectures, magic lantern exhi
Using to the height Of 1so feet above he ground
The two wings adjoining the main centre are con-
nected by corridors, 40 feet long and IL feet
vide. Fireproof starcases lead from the cellar to
the third story In each ward, and are connected on
each story with reception rooms for patients so that
visitors can 90 10 any ward wlEhout beng by
those in otner wards. The wards are divided
each story by central CORRIDOR fourteen feet wide
on each side of which are patients rooms.
These rooms are each feet VIDE by IL feet inches
long, and ceiling IL feet high There Is one room
ior eaea paeat Eaca room a mas spacious WIN
heating aud ventilation are OF the most perfect
description, there beng separate heating due for
each room. There are two parloIs Tor patients the
FIRST I5 by u eet IN SIZE and the other IA feet square.
Each OF the two main rooms VIII accommodate
patients being allowed rooms separately, and the
rooms OF the same SIZE as those already described
that Is TO say on the nTat and second floors the third
floor being divided INTO wards On exactly the same
plan are arranged the remaining wings Eacn ward
uas WaSuStdnS wafer Closets ana DalnS Tor the use
OF patielts. The corridors are divided by folding
doors, so, N case OF violence By patient lie can
be cut or Immediately from communication with
any other portion OF the building.
All the interior arrangements OF this building,
without going minutey into all the details, 1t Is only
necessary say further OF the perfect
cription. The whole building IL heated and ventl-
lated by steam boilers in the basement OF separate
building. The ventilation Will be by fans ia the
cellar OF each, worked by O steam engine, as to
insure at all tunes the most thorough ventilation.
Another important point is the spaciousness Of the
separate rooms Tor the patients and the cosey
tort pervading each. The oid-iashioned and bar.
barous plan OF treating insane persons one would
treat wild beasts, by doubiy locking and boiling
them into gloomy rooms with iron bars and all the
show Of prison, ID wholly discarded. A leading
feature OF the management Is to make everything
cheerful: TO give abundant outdoor and indoor
amusemcnts; TO attract patients TO the parlor,
made as cheerful be by sunshine,