The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-23
WESTON.
The Insane Asylum 80. Vest
Virginia Press Association
Hsec fing-.EEOsPifnlit Of the
Peoples.The GIarksburg 81
Weston Narrow Gauge
Railroad Company,Ac.

| west Virginia Asylum for The insane
located at Weston. And a descrip-
tion of the building will no doubt be
Of interest to those who never saw. it.
1t is magnificent building of solid
blue sandstone, with walls feet to
q feet thick, being backed up on the
inside with brick. The lineal length
Of the building is about 1900 feet
with a front of 1925 feet. The cen
tire is beautiful residence fouI
stories high, occupied by the Super
intendent and assistants, and con
tains the offices and other necessary
appurtenances of the institution. On
each side of the centre building are
two sections, each three stories high.
Still beyond these eacl, way ere re-
spectively the Northern and South
ern wings, the Northern wing two
stories and the Southern wing one
story. The Northern section and
wing are occupied by females, and
the Southern by males. The entire
number of patients under treatment
at present is SAT. The capacity of
the Asylum is 600. The Superin-
tendent, DIR. Bland, expects to have
all the Insane in the State under
treatment by August 1st., the com
pletion of the Northern section lately
accomplished afording room for all
the unfortunates OF that class in the
State. On all the buildings there are
81 acres of slate roofing, and they
contain 8 acres of flooring. In and
about the building are II miles of
sewer pipe; } mile Of yentilating
pipe; q miles of gas pipe; u miles
of water pipe; 10 miles Of heating
pipe; and 2 miles of spouting and
drainage pipe. The building con-
tains 92l windows and 906 doors.
TO visit all the wards requires walk
of about q miles. Imme3a iisatelr in
the rear of the centre building is the
hospital for the colored and quiet pa
tients. 1t is 52x52 feet; three sto-
ries high.
The Institution YVES located at Yves
ton, and work commenced by the
State OF Virginia In 1858, and an APP
preparation of $4,000 expended.
During the war work was suspended.
Since then West Virginia has com
pleted the work, it being scarcely
finished yet. The entire cost of the
building has been nearly 100000.
The cost of maintaining each patient
is about 1926 per week, and the en-
tire annual cost of maintaining the
Institution is about $65, ZOO.
1t requires the constant labor of
60 men and women to look after ey-
erything, and take care of the build
ings, grounds and patients.
A share of the improvements are
made by the patients and their at
tendants. They have lately filled a
court in the Northern section that
required nearly 1900 cubic yards of
earth; and have another one to fill
and level that will require nearly
6000 cubic yards.
The entire business Of the Institu-
ton is managed well. During the
administration of DR.. Camden every
thing progressed satisfactorily, and
under Dr. Bland it is doing equally
well.
On Thursday last the Press Asso-
citation of the State visited the Asy-
lum in a body, and was conducted
through every ward by DR.. Bland and
his assistants. The mild but firm
manner in which patients are dealt
with, was subject of remark by the
visitors. The attendants seem to
have perfect control of the patients,
the latter in many cases being as
obedient as children. There are also
a number of them that are noisy and
dangerous; some of whom require to
be kept in close confinement,a land 9TH
ers are kept securely strapped to stout
benches to prevent them from doing
themselves bodily injury.
On Thursday evening DR.. Bland
and lady gave a reception to the AS
ISOLATION. Much of the intelligence,
fashion and beauty of Weston assem-
bled at the Asylum. The host and
family and Mrs. Jackson, the matron,
entertained the brilliant assemblage
in superb style. The editors all left
much pleased with the management
of the Asylum and the cordial recep-
ton given them by the people Of
| Weston.
Bros. Peterson and Edwards, oil
the Weston papers, are entitled tc
! the thanks of the Press Association
for their successful efforts to enter
tain the members. The visiting
brethren carried away many kind re
membranes of these gentlemen.
The people of Weston are cultured
and sociable, and did everything in
their power to make the visit pleas
ant.
The town of Weston is live, en-
ergetic place, and is an important
trading point for large piece OF
country south Of it. Much of its
importance is due TO the Clarksbure
and Weston Narrow Gauge Railroad
Prior to it's opening a year or two
since stage coach did all the bust
ness in the way of passengers, ano
some large wagons answered for the
conveyance Of freight. The railroad
has made business that half doz-
on coachac ond fifty waUona could n al