Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-26
INSANE ASYLUM.
The Commissioner, Accompanied by
Several Prominent n emphfans,
Make Tour for the Purpose of Dis
covering n Site.

The West Tennessee Insane Asylum
Commissioners arrived by the Louisville
and Nashville railway early yesterday
morning and took quarters at the Gayoso
House, where they were met soon after
ward by DR.. G. B. Thornton, NJ. L. Bacon,
W. M. Harrington, l. NJ. Hill and several
other prominent citizens, with whom con-
fereDces were held concerning the pro-
posed site of the lunatic asylum for this
part of the State. DR.. Thornton was par.
ticularly earnest in demonstrating his
views favoring its location in Shelby
county, and placing himself in proper atti-
tude as to erroneous statements reported
to have been made by him in previous
discussions of the subject. The commi. !.
sion, which is composed OF Drs. w. P.
Jones and John H. Calender and Judge
E. H. East, gave attentive audience to
each of the citizens, and, while freely dis
| cussiug the subject with them, gave no
evidence es to their having arrived at a
conclusion of the question of site for the
asylum. At about o'clock in the morn
| ing vehicles v ere provided and the COM
missioners, accompanied by Mr.. M. L..
! Bacon, the Hon. 1. M. Hill, DIR. G. B.
Thornton and Justice ]. NJ. Coleman, were
driven out to Raleigh, where, under the
guidance of Justice Coleman, who is
familiar with all the surrounding couh-
/ ing what is known as the "Spring Place"
were visited and closely investigated by
each member of the commission, some
times in body, but oftener individually.
: The 'Spring Pace" was the first to claim
their attention, as it is here the item f
good and abundant water is promised.
After descending the steep declivity which
{ leads to the valley of springs, the party
/ moved up the valley, closely investigate d
! NJ 4hA horI flacc
| springs, and learning from Justice Cole
man the lality and quantity of the flow
| of water. Several of the springs produce
clear, cold and SIS pure water as ever
| flowed from the earth, while others are
! found to possess rare medical virtues in
strong mineral and chalybeate properties
These springs combined produce a creek
of water with flow quite four times the
amount necessary for the most abundant
use of the asylum. Besides, the valley
being narrow, with steep-in some places
q site for a lake of water of any
depth it might be deemed necessary
TO construct. An hour or more was spent
in this valley, after which Justice Cole
man piloted the party to the highlands on
the north side, one OF which is said to be
the highest point in Shelby county-about
200 feet higher than the city of Memphis
Here lies plateau of large area, with g
gentle fall from the high point toward all
points of the compass, afording superior
drainage in any direction, and particularly
toward Wolf river. The commission
seemed careful to examine the prospect fol-
site for a building 800 feet long, the
dimensions of the proposed asylum, and
seemed satisfied here. On this point Jus.
tice Coleman pointed out the spot where
resided the first sheriff of Shelby county.
but the name escaped the APPEAL report
er. A few old bricks and some old fruit
trees now mark the spot. From this poiL
the party we've conducted farther north
ward to another point equally as eligible,
and contiguous to another large and
never-failing spring of pure water
The spr,ng appeared in ledge
of sandstone, which appeared to be
regarded with favor by each member oi
the commission. Several other points
were visited with similar results, unit
the party had traversed an area of hillt
and valleys of nearly nine square miles
area, returning by a route laying on the
bank of Wolf river. The commission
seemed to be struck with the apparent
purity of the Wolf river water as com
l.psrec with the character of the stuff sup
piled TO Memphis by the water company
They see no good reason why the watel
company could not secure an ample sup
ply of pure water from the stream at o.
near Raleigh. The lands visited EN-
braced the Lofiand place of about 100
acres; the Taylor place of abont seventy
five acres; the "Spring Place." of abou
100 acres; and other places. The commif
sion discussed the various sites anon.
themselves, but let no word drop that in
dicated to The APPEAL man their in
tentions as to locating the asylum neithe
did they interpose anything indicatin,
objection to any of the localities visited
About three hours were spent in ant
about Raleigh, when the party resumed
their vehicles and returned to the city
After partsking of dinner at the Gsyos
House, they were again escorted to tn
Bethel place, out on the Pigeon Roos
road, where q similar careful investigation
was made. Other points will be visite'
to-day.