Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-02
What Improvements Have Been Made at
the w. L. Asylum.
THE LOW RATE AT WHICH THEY HAVE
BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

THE LOW RATE AT WHICH THEY HAVE
BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
Mr.. J. Crawford Nelson, of Baltimore,
who has been the architect of all the ad-
ditions recently made to the w. L. Asy
lum, has addressed letter to Judge John
H. McCue, the Secretary of the Board of
Directors, of the Institution. giving
summary of the work done and some in
teresting statistical comparisons of the
COST We make an extract from the most
important part of the communication:
The completion of the third large add-
ton to the Western Lunatlc Asylum of
Virginia, gives an opportunity for state
ment. showing the amount of building
done for the Institution in these additions,
its costs and results. The first building
was an addition to the female department.
1t is entirely of brick-three stories, with
basement and partial attic, and averages
in plan about ITO feet by 60 feet wide, the
stories being II and IL feet high in the
clear. Like the other two additions, the
plan of the building is similar to that of
most modern Asylums, and especially re-
sembles the "convalescent'' or middle
wings of the Maryland AS, lum, at Spring
Grove. There is a wide central corridor
through each building, flanked by single
chambers, generally with some associated
dormitories and the dining and other pub
lie rooms of each story The principal and
essential difference being in the method
of ventilation and it's results. This first
pavilion contains. IS patients. The next.
addition, which was made to the same de-
partment, after the completion of the first
in 1879. cantains As patients, and the pres
ent building, which was added to the male
department will hold 102 patients, making
total Of 226 beds.
These buildings erected within the last
four years, and all of the same type OF
brick construction throughout. whether
in exterior or interior walls, with slate
fireproof staircase efficient steam heating
and all usual and necessary closets, baths
and water supplies, present perhaps even
greater difference in their cost of construc-
ton, than they do in other matters. from
all the earlier built asylums.
They are buildings of plain but effective
exteriors, of classic style to accord with
the original houses and certainly sufficient
| ly ornate for their purpose.
The three structures cost $67 ia 81 in
Guiding all professional expenses and this
| for 226 patients is a fraction under $500
| per capita.
Among the older hospitals in this coun-
| try we find that of Worcester. Massachus-
cts costing for 4S7 patients, 81 800 90 per
capits; Danvers, Massachusetts,, s3,6O0.o0
| per capita; Northampton, Massachusetts,,
| $93900 per capita: Middletown. Conneeti-
cut, ST., 4OG 60 per capita; Spring GsOve..
| Maryland, 1000, 90 per capita.
To shorten the list, hospitals containing.
| q PAP patients cost thiIty-one millions or
| $1.137 per capita: those built between 1865
| to 1875 cost s1.715 per capita. OF for
eign hospitals the Herbert, at Woolwieh,
| England, cost not quite $4,000 per capita;
aud the Larlbolsiere, at Paris, the same;
while the other new French asylums of
| st. Anne, Vile Evrard and Vaucluse cost
ST 500 per capita. 1t must be remembered
thai your outlay OF $500 per patient did
not include the land, the administration
buildings and water supply. but that in
your case about one-third of the total cost
| of these appurtenances should be added.
This may be fairly estimated at $4,000
making the total cost, equated, per capita
! about $412.
Your buildings afford the same mount
OF accommodation and air space, IS do the
more costly.
| The heating alluded to CO st 81 90 per
day of service, and the ventilation muas-
ured at the two outlet towers was 264, 600
cubic feet of air per hour Cor the "a occu-
| pants.