Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-26

named Maturin +. Fisher of Clayton
Co., E. G. Morgan of Webster Co.,
and Albert Clarke of Buchanan Co.,
as u Board of Commissioners to
supervise the erection of the build
ing. Mr.. Clarke died about year
after his appointment, and Mr.. &.
w. Bemis of this city was appoint
ed to the vacant position. The do
nation of 800 acres Of land within
p miles Of tbs city required by the
bill was soon provided for, and the
Commissioners held their first meet
ing in independence in June 1868,
when the site selected was approved
and other preliminary operations
set in motion. The location of the
Hospital grounds is on the west
side of the river, the eastern boun-
Diary being about one mile from the
river bank. The building is about
two miles from the city upon an
elevation gently rising from the
river to a hight of fifty to hundred
feet above the level, the land being
unbroken prairie. There is on the
land an abundant supply Of pure
soft water, unadulterated with
foreign substances.
The plan Of the building is that
submitted by Col. S. V. Shipman, a
professional architect of Madison,
Wis, and may be described as
follows:
The building when completed will
present front of 72O feet and will
be constructed in transverse and
longitudinal sections. The main
center building will be 60 by 95 feet,
four stories and Mansard roof in
hight. Running north, the front,
being to the east, extends a longitu-
dinal section As by 60 feet, three
stories high, and a common slate
roof. The next section is transverse
40 by 100 feet, three stories, and a
Mansard roof. The next is longi-
tudinal Al by u feet, three stories
high, also q plain roof. The next
is transverse section SO by 81!
feet, three stories, and Mansard
roof. The next is the extreme north
section, which is transverse 35 by ~
feet, three stories high, and a Man
sard roof. The south wing is the
counterpart of the north one, being
intended for female patients and
the other male.
In the rear of the main is located
the rear center building, the front
section of which is 40 by 60 feet,
two stories above the basement, the
upper story being the chapel. The
rear section Of this building is "A
by 40 feet, three stories above the
basement.
The engine house which is in the
rear Of the center building, is So by
III feet, one story high with attic.
1t is constructed of granite. The
attics will be used for sleeping rooms
for male help.
The chimney in the rear Of the
engine house will be 1870 feet high,
the base being % feet and inches
in diameter, and the top being IA
feet inches. An iron pipe in the
center Of the chimney is designed
for smoke from the furnace, while
about it is left vacant to form ven
tilation for the entire buildings.
The first floor of the main center
building will be used for Super
visors rooms. The second story
will be the Superintcndant's apart
ments, the third the Stewards and
Matron's rooms, the fourth for the
accommodation Of Trustees and other
visitors, and the fifth ward for the
better class of patients.
The wings will be divided into
wards, each of which will be pro-
vidcd with dining rooms, bath
rooms, promenading hall, clothes
rooms, and water closet, with the
attendants rooms and dormitories.
The front section of the rear cen
ter building will be devoted to a
dining room, kitchcn,m atrons rooms,
offices, and a general store room.
The rear section, first floor, is a
large sewing room for patients.
The second and third stories will be
servants hall, sleeping room for
seamstress, and two rooms for
female help.
The first floor of the engine house
will contain an engine and boiler
rooms and the laundry, while the
second will be divided into sleeping
rooms for male help.
Every convenience is being intro
duced to do away as much as posi-
bic with attendants. A car is to
run from the kitchen in the base
ment to the main center building,
there branching off into each wing.
BY dumb walters the food is eleva-
ted to the dining rooms, one for
each section, the dining rooms in
each story being one above the
other. BY this means the entire hos
pital may be served with food by one
man in twenty minutes, walters Of
course being in each dining room to
receive the food from the dumb
waiter.
The entire building Tor buildings)
is warmed with steam and furnish
ed with water by the engine, well
ventilated by artificial means and
lighted with gas manufactured on
the premises. The drainage is also
complete, there being several sub
tcrranean sewers conducting surplus
water off to the lower localities.
The main buildings are construct
ed Of Anamosa and Farley lime
stone, while the easements are
granite, which is found in large
quantities close at hand. The stone
is all finely dressed, and at dis
lance presents the appearance of
gray marble. A plain cornice sur
surmounts the walls, and so far as
completed the buildings are Of fine
symmetry and harmonious proper;
tons. The three north sections are
enclosed, as also is the rear center
building and engine house, while
the foundation for the remainder Of
the north wing is completed and
the walls Of the first story are being
Ibid There will he all the neceS-