Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-10-19
The New ASYLUM.

| mittee of one to examine into the truth
OF this bit of street gossip. Even as the
committee approached the building at
distance the preposterousness of the
rumor was apparent, as the frame work
of the roof was seen against the horizon,
indicating that work was progressing
rapidly. On arriving at the structure
explorations developed the fact that
little beside the outside shell and the
loist for the different floors had been
completed. On the first floor, about
one-half the flooring had been laid.
Clambering up to the roof a force of ten
carpenters were found busily engaged
In getting the roof ready for its covering,
the states for which lay in the yard be-
low. Three masons were at work top
ping out chimneys and as many laborers
were answering to the calls for brick
and ''more mort This, with the fore
man constituted the entire rec, which
struck the committee as Tanner smaller
than might be used 10 advantage.
Enough has been done however to al
low of a fair judgment of the appear
ance Of the building when finished, and
it is fair to say that an uglier looking
bit of architecture will not be found in
seven counties. Substantial it GER
tainly is and plain enough to satisfy the
the most exacting, even a Pennsylvania
barn is gorgeous in comparison. The
architectural ugliness of the building is
still further increased by an entire alb
sence of gables on either end which
gives it the appearance of porker minus
his steering apparatus. 1t is said that
there is no allowance for anything of the
kind in the plan. If so the building
committee might well take under con-
sideration the ACCESSIBILITY of changing
the plan in that particular Immediately.
If no change is made much trouble is
likely to occur. For instance, any one
travelling through from Platteyille to
Lancaster, coming suddenly upon this
apparition might easily imagine that
the hotel cookery at the former place
was delusion, well calculated to give
patrons the nightmare in its most trouble
some form, and thus create an impress
sion which it would take long years to
eradicate; or, again, the gazer might be
suddenly stricken with terror lest that
glass of Ellenboro beer contained such
adulterating qualities as had led to
another attack of the ''jim-iams'' therby
destroying trade for some time to come.
Seriously it is doubtful if the dreams of
disordered imagination ever produced
more hideous specimen of architect
ural beauty than the asylum, as it now
stands. In addition to the unsightli-
ness of the exterior it is found that the
entire length of attic occupying the
third floor is unlighted except by one
small window The committee seek to
get over this difficulty by ordering two
skylights in the deck of the roof, which
will be in good shape to succumb to the
first hailstorm. Descending to the base
ment other discrepancies of internal
economy are apparent. The dining
rooms while not noticeable for their
spaciousness are still large enough to
accommodate the number of inmates the
asylum provides for. An examination
of the kitchen on the other hand dis
closes lack of foresight positively be-
wildering. To cook for from sixty to
eighty people two small rooms, each
containing the area of good sized
pantry, are provided. Any farm wife
who was asked to do her work in room
containing no more square feet would
quit at once in disgust Just how this
state of affairs was allowed to happen is
hard to see and it is still more knotty
question how it can be remedied at this
late date. 1t is no consolation to say
that the architect plainly did not under
stand his business. The building COM
mittee should have looked into the mat
ter before n change was impossible.
A conversation with the foreman in
charge developed the facts that the con-
tractors had been very much hindercd
by the wet weather which prevailed
early in the season and during the past
weeks, but they hope to have the roof
on with another week, providing good
weather continues and if the furnaces
are here in time SO Us to come in play
when plastering commences it is ex-
pected that the building will be ready
for occupancy by the first of January,
the time originally set. With this as
surance ringing in its ears the committee
turned its steps homeward.
While on the subject of the insane of
the county an interview was had with
County Judge McGonigal, which dis
closed the fact that there was an urgent
necessity for completion of the new
asylum at the earliest possible moment.
The quota of the county has been ex-
ceeded in the State institution for some
time by fourteen charges. Judge Me-
Gonigal received notice recently from
the physician in charge that tins must
be reduced by bringing back those in
excess of the quota but upon the appeals
of the Judge, backed by representations
from parties sent to lay the case before
him, DR.. Wigginton kindly consented
to do his best towards maintaining the
Stat't Q,to until the new asylum was con-
pleted, and upon this basis the matter
now rests Having thus secured all the
information possible on the subject OF
asylums and inmates 80 far as they re-
late to this county, the investigating
committee presented its report and was
relieved from further consideration of
the subject.
THE man Joseph Ivey, who was
brought in last month for the killing of
his son-in-law Bacon, near Werley, has
been released on $1,000 bail. Some
time was taken up in securing proper
bondsmen, Geo. Parker of Boscobcl and
John Ivey, brother of the prisoner. final
ly acting in that capacity.