The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-10-22
Our Correspondent Visits Weston
The Hospital for the Insane
The Railroad, &c.
WESTON, Oct. 10, 1881.
Editor Nelc Dominion.

down In the earth for short time
pitched my tent in this lovely and
hospitable town and been by the ur-
banity of the Superintendent and his
worthy assistant permitted to take
look into the Hospital for the Insane
located in this beautiful valley, lfeel
it but nay duty to give your readers
the benefit Of my observations as to
the working of this home for the poor
afflicted class Of our fellow creatures.
When l look upon this grandly mag
nificent structure, / cannot but feel
that sense of pride that should ami
mate the breast of every citizen of
our mountain State, that we possess
an institution for the relief of this
unfortunate class, whom suffering
and other causes permitted in the in
scrutable ways of providence second
to none in our own vast country.
1t is not my purpose now to try
to re-write what has been often writ
ten before-a description of the vast
ness of the institution-but simply
to supply some later information for
the benefit of such as have not been
here to see for themselves, and | do
most heartily wish that many more
could realize the magnitude of the
work by personal examination.
The building is now almost compile
ted. During the summer consider
able work has been done, consisting
of filing the spaces between the rear
projections of the north wing to the
extent of some 5000 cubic yards.
One new boiler has been put i'll posi-
ton in the engine room, of rs feet
in length with two II inch hues, four
others reset, and the building re-
painted. 1t has been struck by light
ming twice during the season; one
time tearing the sheeting from the
spire and injuring the dome and roof
to the extent of five or six hundred
dollars-whch has also been repair
ed
Since May 10th in the steam and
plumbing department new work has
been done to the extent of steam pipe
for heating, 400 feet; water pipe,
| 1920 feet; sewer pipe, 400 feet; four
bath tubs and appliances have been
added to the new wing with six sinks
and four stationary iron wash basins,
| DC, &c.
In the carpenter department also,
considerable work has been done and
The manager seems DESTROYS of hav-
ing every arrangement complete.
At present 59l patients are being
cared for here, only few, however,
of the number are from our county.
About twenty applications are on file
and perhaps that number have been
discharged during the summer.
l regret to record the enactment of
a melancholy tragedy, the night of
October 7th, or rather morning of
the 9Th; patient who had not been
at all unruly or considered of the vi
olent class, climbed over the parti-
ton separating the sleeping rooms,
and choked an old man from Mason
county, named John Rose, to death,
and also attacked another occupying
the same room with Rose, with much
ferocity, choking and bruising him
severely. His movements were so
quiet as not to be heard or to awaken
those near by until he made the sec
ond attack. This shocking catastro-
phy seems to be one of those una
voidable accidents that being unlock
ed for could not be prevented.
l herewith submit some statistical
information which / desire all oul
citizens should read:
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE HOSPITAL.
| AS the Hospital is about finished
it will no doubt be of interest to the
citizens of the State to know some
thing about this magnificent struct
ure, its cost, &c.
There are near 800 acres of land
attached, most of it hilly, and much
of it is unfit for cultivation, but il
produces grass and is well adapted
for pasture. About 100 acres are
cleared, and part is cultivated in gar
den and truck production. More
land should be cleared and put ii
cultivation, and will be as rapidly as
possible, as money is appropriated
or as can be by the work of patients
as most of the land already opened
was cleared by them and attendants
The Hospital building proper has
lineal length inside of 1895 feet ant
inches, and fronts 1211 feet ant
four inches as sections lap. There
is also detached brick hospita
52x52 feet square, is three stories
high, and is used for quiet patients
Also brick hospital for the coloret
insane, which is in all respects equa
to the main Hospital, and the pa
tients have the same care and atten
ton that the white insane have.
The cost Of the Main Hospital $oas,ooo o
This includes furnishing &c.l
The lands, out-buildings, engine houses,
gas houses, Brick and Colored Hos
pital in round numbers, cost........... 100000 o
Total 9725,ooo
, The Hospitals have capacity TO
; six hundred and twenty-five patient
and venture the assertion that Their
are none more substantially built
!, and none more beautiful in structure
and cost less, than the West Virgins
Hospital for the Insane. 1t is bull
Of solid blue sandstone. The wall
q .S.,.6 q faot And OIL foot thick tho in