The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-05
THE ASYLUM COMMISSIONERS.
The Plans for the Buildings at Evans
vile and Logansport Adopted.

The Board of Commissioners OF the new
Insane Hospitals me. again yesterday morn
ing, and spent the day in examining the
plans in the Office Of Architect Ketcham.
During the day and after full discussion of
The merits OF the five different systems that
were presented, the Board finally agreed
upon the plans for the buildings. both at
Evansville and Logansport. The system
adopted for the Evansville site is that known
ms the conjoined, radiate plan and consists
of a central hall, from which radiate, on
each side, narrow wings, containing dorni-
tories, etc, and terminating in large, airy day
rooms, having easy access to the grounds;
TO the rear. another wing, containing dining
rooms for officers and employees and patients,
female employees quarters and amusement
hall on the front, and separated by car
riageway, the Superintendent and officers
house; entirely separated, and in the rear,
the kitchen, boiler-house, laundry, store,
etc. This plan embodies the principle of
the house plan, namely, separation of day
rooms from dormitories, either on the same
floor or in different stories, as may be needed;
IL makes possible the easy preparation of
single rooms or associate dormitories when
wanted; the violent and noisy may be cared
for in the rear wings, the convalescents and
quiet in the front; the day rooms will be
widely separated and have pleasant and
independent outlook; the dormitorv win
dUws are not facing each other in the yari
Gus wings, so as to permit noisy colloquies
among patients who may be in single rooms
in day or night; the areas between wings
will constitute airy courts into which many
patients may 60 at will; a large general
dining-room in the rear wing NAV very agree
ably serve large number of patients and
afford them a change in going from the gay
rooms or courts, even in bad weather. The
dormitories may be laid widely open every
day, summer and winter, for ventila-
ton, and, in cold weather, heat
may be economical by sending it exclusively
to the day rooms emitting the dormitories
For the site at Logansport the Board
adopted the detached pavilion system, con.
sisting of small administration building;
for the medical staff, detached wings at either
side, into which the patients are received for
the purpose of classification, one wing being
for males and the other for females. In the
rear of this is the kitchen, heating apparatus
and other buildings of this character. On
either side of the administration building
are located detached pavilions which are
connected by covered ways. A detail OF the
plans will be prepared at once, and an effort
will be made TO let the work as early in jan
uary as possible
During the meeting the Commissioners
discussed matters in regard 10 the adornment
of the grounds building of walks and other
things connected with the Institutions. but
TO definite action, beyond the adoption of
the foregoing plans. was taken. The two
systems are the result of the most
careful research on the part of
the Board and may truely be said
to combine all the conveniences, modern
improvements and beauty OF design which
are found in the Institutions of our sister
States. and which go so far towards the al
deviation of the miSeries and hasten the cure
of the unfortunate inmates In addition to
this, which is the first and truly noble OBJ
! ject, the Institutions will be another stand
| ing monument of the philanthropy of our
! people and source of just pride and pleas
ure to tn HoOsier State.
| The Commissioners will meet again this
! morning at $3.50 O'Clock.