The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-03-31

EB The following article respecting the
New Asylum at Morristown, we copy from
the N. Y Times. Hon. Samuel Lilly, of this
city, is one Of the Commissioners having it
In charge, and has been one of the most
active in the performance Of the duties Of his
position:
THE New JERSEY LuNATrc ASYLUM. The
new State Lunatic Asylum in progress of erec-
ton at Morris Plains, near Morristown, N. J..
is one Of the best appointed and most capa-
cious institutions of the kind in the country
Located in a fine rolling country, of unusually
beautiful scenic attractions, it is larger than
the Capitol at Washington. and measures
from the outside line of one extreme wing to
the outside line of the wing at the other OK
trcme, 1875 feet Following the angles of
the building, it is walk of one and five-eighth
miles around it. Sixteen millions of bricks
were used in erecting the inner walls, and
10000 perches of stone are in it's outer walls.
The tract upon which it stands covers ,408
acres, and takes in several small farms. The
plans for the building were drawn by Archi-
tect Sloan, Of Philadelphia, and Robert s.
Johnson, OF Trenton, IL doing the mason work.
The general style of architecture is gothic,
and the ground plan describes semi-circle.
The stone of which it is constructed is similar
in appearance and equal, 1t is said, to the
Quincy granite, and was quarried on the
grounds and carried up gravity road to the
site of the structure. The main part of the
building is three stories in height and capped
with lnansard roof The front centre Sec
tion, which Is ninety-six feet square. is four
stories in height and also furnished with a
mansard roof, and is set off with Nova Scotia
trimmings. The other section Of the building
is trimmed with brown stone. and furnished
with quons of brown stone at every project
ing corner The building is designed for the
accommodation of 1900 patients. and is sup
piled with everything that can minister to the
comfort and pleasure of the unfortunates to
be confined within its wallis. The four ex-
IRENE wings are designed for aggravated
cases, and four wings are entirely tire-proof.
In the rear of the front centre Is the chapel,
the dimensions of which are 100 by 60 Be-
hind that is a wel'-appointed amusement
room" as it is called, the dimensions of which
are 100 by 80. Most excellent arrangements
have been made for free ventilation, and the
building is supplied with register, to furnish
warm air and another for the supply of cool
air which is forced into the uuMasar The
boiler room, in the rear of the building, is sup
VIZ ~ ssi S'i IS rry III, and from wbicb IL
Is forced BY the engines into,an parts of the
main building. In the boiler room it Is also
intended to keep the provisions for the in
mates. The laundry and carpenter-shop are
also located in that building. The boiler
room is detached from the main building, and
communication with it is had through eight
underground arches, in which railroad cars
are run. The floors of all the buildings are
arched, and the beams are of iron, Tho Com
mssioners under whose supervision the work
is being constructed have erected on an emin-
encc. ! IL feet above grade in the rear of the
building, reservoir for the supply of fresh
water to the inmates. This reservoir is sup
piled from stream which formerly turned a
mill, and water Is conveyed to the institutions
through twelve-inch pipe. The entire build
ing has been under roof since last Fall. The
original estimates were less than 1000, 900,
but the plans have been very much changed,
and the building is much handsomer than
originally contemplated. The Commissioners
are hopeful Of having the building completed
this Spring, and expect that the total cost
will fall within the $a,ooo,ooo appropriated
for its erection.