Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-16
UTAH'S INSANE ASYLUM.
Formal Opening Of This Fine Institu.
tiOn For the Care Of the Demented.
Acknowledged by ALI to Be without an
Equal In the West.
Speeches by the Governor, the Com.
missiOners, the Legislators and
the Doctors.


by the Board of Directors and turned
over to the superintendency of DR.. w. R.
Pike. Numerous invitations had been
extended by the Board to the prominent
citizens and professional gentlemen of
the Territory to be present at the opening
exercises, and upwards of two hundred
invited guests assembled to inspect and
criticise the first completed wing of the
new institution.
THE LOCATION OF THE ASYLUM
Is near the base of the mountains east
of Provo City, and is healthful and
beautiful site, indispensable, perhaps, in
the whole Territory. The present COM
| pleted wing-or rather half wing-is in
an L shape, with west frontage of $50
feet and one to the south of 108 feet,
comprising about one-fifth of the entire
building as planned, and has cost to date
nearly 100000. The building is three
stories and basement, and comprises
148 rooms. 1t is of a pleasing style of
architecture, and presents most impos-
ing appearance from a distance, the char
acteristics of the institution not being
suggested until near approach brings
w wow ShAO nlIllOMS.
THE ASYLUM GROUNDS
Comprise forty-six acres, and include
fine spring of pure water, situated about
/ 400 feet away from the building, and at
q height to give pressure sufficient
through the pipes to force the water over
the entire structure. The grounds have
been nicely laid off, trees planted, and
everything conducive to pleasant sur
roundings for the patients has been care
fully studied. The view of the valley and
Utah Lake is most charming one, and
presents landscape of uneQualed beauty.
The basement story of the asylum will
be used for attendants quarters, stew
ards and matron's departments, kitch-
ems, ETC., and the upper stories will be for
the use of the inmates. The west front |
of each story is divided into wards l0x12, |
and fronting the south are the hospital |
wards, dining rooms, sitting rooms, bath |
rooms and closets. The wide corridors |
and high ceilings give the rooms cool |
air and light and healthy appearance.
Elevators run from the basement to the |
top story, and the asylum throughout is
HEATED BY STEAM AND LIGHTED BY ELED-
TRICTTY.
As near as possible the structure has
been made fire-proof. The floors are of
the noted Georgia pine, and present a
beautiful appearance the walls are hard
and every arrangement is at
hand toquench fire in its incipiency, so
that repetition of no Eastern horror
may be feared. The plumbing of the
building has been pronounced bv DIR.
Hurd, of Pontiac, Michigan-than whom
10 authority stands higher in the United
be one of the best pieces of
work that he ever saw, and this state
nent efectually silences all criticism.
The engine house and laundry room
ire located to the northeast of the main
building. The boileris 75-horse power,
md 25-horse power Westinghouse en-
zine furnishes all the motive force neces-
AIRY to run the dynamo, heat the build
ng, do the necessary pumping, and run :
he laundry.
EIGHTY-Two INCANDESCENT LIGHTS '
f the Swan system are furnished by the
lynamo electric machine, and finer
Illumination cannot be imagined. The q
ntire plant cost but 81 900, and the SUI L
'erior brIlliancy combined with such c
ntire safety-the breaking of the glass S
'ulb Immediately extipguishing the light Q
proves it to be a splendid investment. q
Alter thoroughly inspecting every por- {
ion OF the institution the visitors We're in .
tied to fine spread in the large cor L
dor of the first story, after which. a
THE EXERCISES OF THE OCCASION I
We're announced by Chairman Dusen- Il
Ury, who called upon Bishop Smoot to v
Her the opening prayer. "
Bishop Smoot thanked God for the m
'ection of such building for the unfor-
mate of His children, and invoked the
lmlghty's blessing upon the officers and .
'taches of the institution; asked that He IL
reserve the building and make it bless m
g to those for whom it was intended. 81
After music by the band OF
JUDGE W. N. DUsENBERRY ~ ~
ave notice that as many of the visitors n,
lshed to return by the afternoon train bf
would ask that the speeches and the or
uslc be made as brief as the time would h
init of. 4;
Addressing those present as represent av
ives OF the people of Utah, in behalf of W,
e Board of Directors of the Utah %
'ylum, he took pleasure in delivering to co
EN- the building completed so far as it fo,
Is. The reception and exercises were in
an impromptu nature, for the Board Pi
d not the strength to manage the bu
lmbers and the carpenters and to oct mr.
9IyIiillg III sVralpht jacket shape, ine
Ihe Visltors were most welcome. He las
lgratulated the people OF Utah on the aft
npletlon OF such an institution for the
pressed and demented; he had -
ffnu 60 EpI
'aslon but, fortunately for himself, and ON
'oaoly tor those present, he had lost me
I'M, and would be brief. Four or car
years ago the press of the Territory san
oSe to its duty, the matter was agi- VII
sd, and law was drafted to provide Vi
create such an institution as this one. ing
anlty had been called a disease; it was tlm
worse; disease can only kill, but in mac
lty Is malady TAR worse than death. our
citizens OF Utah should be proud of ana
n an institution. In olden times the que
1dest hour was the return of a victori- IN I
army, but the people of this ace VIII
ID better rise in joy because of such a pau
ding for the afflicted of their race. II 1asn
been long struggle; the Legislature chal
sad something must be done, and "ou
done little; prominent gentlemen pres
taken the nucleus furnished bv the
lslature, had worked and felt their Felt
tour years, and this was the result of of 8,
had been an honest experiment, and and
e who had visited other institutions LATED
mere is no reason to regret it. The pres
UNI stands ready next Monday for the EMO
ptlon OF patients. 1t was not the in Ju
on to have a den only fit for wild Colo
is, but SO far as possible to make the sion
tuition little heaven upon earth. and to =,
y and restore back to the inmates the wonI
IN they had lost. In conclusion he
them to accept as citizens the first
Of the building Cam
Govppxop ,,,,n he h;
tge Dusenbury then called upon b;ms
rnor Murray, who said that after hmm,