New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-20
THE HUDSON RIVER STATE HOSPITAL.

A NEW INSANE ASYLUM-HISTORY OF THE EN-
TERPRIsE-THE GROUNDS AND BUILDING.
The want of Hospital accommodation for
.hc insane Of Eastern New-YOrk having been urged on
the Legislature il the session OF 1866 TIE result was the
creation Of commission TO select Hospital site on the
Hudson River. The commission after careful eXaAi-
nation OF various eli blc Site, Gnlly decided In favor of
Poughkeepse farm Of 400 acres Of varied surface, and
rcnarBa for the beauty OF its scenery and views, oc
euaies The Northwestern Of the town. For $500
the citizens Of Dutcess County secured and offered It
Tree gift the state. The do.nGs Of the comin sion
were confirmed By the Legislature ana the Hudson
River STATE Hospital was established Board Of Mana
gers appointed by The Governor, went TO work at once,
a general plan foI the Hospital was adopted. and
Vlux Wthcrs e Co the architects selected 70 work
up. high and ~0cky tract OF nearly 90 acres iDoh
iu the farm uuOn The East being deemed essential 20 the
frure needs OF the Hospital was at secured The
site Cf TIC bIl rg s plateau or about p acres distant
hal. Iuiie from the river, and l6 feet above H. rs
rapid slopes and grayey foundation promise entire tN-
age The position OF the Hospital and its surrounding,
arc such TO insure the eecusion ana qmeI 90 deSis
Tho plan OF the Hospital represents central structure
with two wings, TlicL fall back nom the front me.
Zach wing has two transverse porlons IHnplnS H1n
west % east, and three wnich are parallel WITH me
center IRON north To south. Inc center budlg
of INC wings are l,4O9 rect apart 4Ie chapel hIlc!-h
bOier-Aouse, Laundry, o. extend from tDe cehtIN
win that patients OF one sex cannot even look INTO
the wards occupied by the other sex. -.
L.
building could IL beun Inc transverse sectlvI oi te
north wing farthest from the corner was built IN lsts
another adjoining section, 80 feet IN length, carried MP
and covered in. During the past summer ana Autumn
cOI1peted and third section Of l75 fcct has been put
mn The structure as il nov stands has linear length
of M feet The basement wall as seen above the surface
s of buf-stDne. The main walls are Ol DICK Dub tDt
banS aud ygea,oue mouotOby surface so extensive
ia relieved by the projecting ana r,eding portions, by
bands audTindOW s CT light sandstone, ana Dy pointed
stone window heads Of cOutrased color. The hausard
rpof. a.
covered with uniformly dark slate. Aulnaented course
of brick surmounted by sht-coored dnp-stone iOrnl9
In a room near the bocrhousc, and entirely open to
the air revolving fans kept in rapid motion by 90
horse power engine The strong current thus created,
passes yatted subeTanean tunnel feet high,
feet VIDE, ald 80 feet long Rusug rom ms ~ enter
spaciou, airduct, extending under me WA9lo h0slll
IN s effort 10 escape rises rom DeloE iho aBosl ~
sneeTon chambers when open az the Top lto ar
leadngO the several wards In passing through these
chambers ii comes IN contact with COILS 81 steam PIPES
and lnEs goes up warm IA Winter, AMI IIe'h ana COOL
ISc. was early built on the river sndIa road, with
gentle grades and good deal OF tese ana truss WGrk'
vac carried over the railway from the wharf u the Hos
pltal This road has paid for Itself many times. Il
quarry which furnished al the IOuhIauOn slolc, was
ia the ruge on he eastern SIDE, ana rosd as
made To H. 10 FORM te Aeicloe ydua' DlI .no cO.4
required vast amount Of excavation aud earting and
grading. THESE Yards nclOsed by high brick wall
water pipes ana dram pipes nave been LAD AROUND or
lead av az from the building, and sewcr half nile
been put up the boiler house IL feet high IL car
Ie5 pdrttc fuCs, and unlike most structures OF IT'S
IS .
ground IL natural hollow; between two ridges Of rock
"a reservoir begun last Summer IL will have litter
ing and storage basins, and It's capacity VIII be ample
for tho requirements OF the completed Hospital lts
elevation Will allow the water ~ he raised TO the hghest
part OF the hospital building. An e4ganeh IRON pipe
one mile length viii reach from the rNer 10 the inter
ing BASIN through which duplex pumping engine Will
force the stream This engine l5 estimated u pump
1900 gallons hour and It's boilers have been CON
tactCd for and arc completed
When this institution established, II was the WISH
ana Of to bring IL soon a. pos
sDle into "a condition suitable for the admission Of
patients This purpose might have been fulfilled some
time ago, had 10 been furtAered by prompt and hberal
aid quantity OF furniture was bought last FAN,
with the intention vi opening wing bLt scarcely oI
money has prevented the proposed use OF the building
l. The following axe tae names Of those 10 whom the
State mas intrusted this charity TIE Hon. Abah W.
Palmer OF Armenia the Hon. William Kelly of Rhine
beck, DR.. Cornelius K Agnew Of New YORK CITY the
Hon. Amasa j. Parker or Albany, Dr. Edward Beadle
OF POughkcCpsle, the Hon George Clark OF NewburEh,
Col Joseph Rowland OF MatteaHan, the Hon Cornelius
Ia Lois Of Fou8hkeeL.ie, and Dr. W. I. Benedict OF
Brooklyn.