The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-02


MARION, Va, Sept. 20.-[Speciall-
On an eminence overlooking Marion and
surrounded by the most picturesque coun-
try to be found in the great Southwest.
stands the latest structure erected by
the people of the Old Dominion for the
treatment of those unfortunatcs whose
reason have left their thrones
n TIMES representative was kindly
received this morning by DIR. II. j. Pres
ton, the superintendent, and shown
through the extensive building. Clean
illness prevails on every hand-in CORR
DORIS halls, basement and kitchen. The
floors are as white and aslsmooth as the
best kept hotel. The sleeping apart
ments of the patients are each furnished
with neat iron bedstead, good wire
mattress, and the sheets, blankets and
coverings spotless white. The ventila-
ton ana sanitary arrangements are per-
feet. Each room is supplied with u ven
tilator shaft, which carries of all the
unpleasant odors that may arise in the
rooms, while the sinks and closets are
built in ellis way out from the main
wings III the rear of the building. allow
ing free passage of air between them
and the wards.
The entire building is heated by
steam and lighted by electricity. and
has system of water works separate
and distinct from that of the town.
This water is = free stone and is supplied
from cold spring about Two miles Off
nf
gallons per day.
The whole building is nearly, if not
quite, fire proof, the doors leading
from the wards and halls being covered
with malleable iron. All the stair
ways are of slate. At the landing Of
each fight of steps and on each ward arc
coils of hose with nozzle attached ready
for instant use. and the floors could be
dcluged iii few seconds should occasion
demand.
Every patient is taken to the larre
dining rooms FOR their meals. unless pro
vented by sickness. in charge of the at
tendants-thc male and female rooms
being separate. The tables are covered
with nice white or red spreads and the
ladies' tables are supplied with nap
llins. The food served is OF the most
wholesome-light, white bread. beef.
| vegetables. coffee, tea and milk is the
usual bill of fare, while on one or two
days in the week the patients are given
! pastry and fruits. Some little idea NAV
be found of the amount of eatables
consumed i'll a day when / tell the
/ readers CT TIE TINES what saw to-
day prepared by the cook: One barrel
OF Hour nine pounds OF oat meal. thirty
| seven pounds of sugar. twenty mounds
OF coffee, 200 pounds OF beef. one pound
! OF pepper. two and a-half pounds of tea
/ thirty pounds Of bacon. sixty heads Of
cabbage. five bushels OF potatoes. one
bushel OF onions, five bushels OF apples.
/ besides butter, syrups. etc. These
items were given me by the steward
( himself.
The patients are kept rs we'll supplied
with clean wearing apparel as it is pos
siblc. The large laundry. which isin
| separate building from the main scruc-
tur.e is supplied with all the latest and
most approved appliances for laundry
work-tubular washers steam drivers.
wringers and ironcrs: in fact, every
thing necessary for the cleansing the
! 5000 TO 1000 pieces Of clothing each
week. This laundry supplies employ
mont to four young women of the town
and vicinity.who are thus given a means
OF lending helping hand to their par
cnts and friends. There is farm of
tillablc land owned by the State and
worked by hand-help and the voluntary
services of patients.of fifty acres There
| is Il herd of milch COWS, and horses are
! kept i'll the stables for farm work
TIE MANAGEMENT.
| The management of this model human
| institution is under the control of the
| following officers: Robert j. Preston. NJ.
! d., physician and superintendent: II. ID.
! Herman. NJ. d., first assistant physician:
Elliott L. Brady, NJ d.. second assist
ant physician; c. w. White, steward:
! n. II. Gibboney, clerk. &C.:
Mrs. Sallic Il. Gibboncy. matron.
and is run without a jar, and those lit
/ tie petty jealousics which sometimes
creep into the ranks of those employed
| in like positions is not to be found here
Dr.. Preston is gcntlcment of the high
est culture and of Chesterfieldian man
ners and physician of much ability,
while Drs Herman and Brady, his assist
ants, are courteous gentlemen learned
in their profession. Messrs. White and
| Gibbony are energetic gentlemen, whose
whole time is employed in looking after
the business of the asylum. Every
item bought or sold here is itemized
from a fiddle string to n draft horse or
fat steer Mrs. Gibbony is a model
matron, and has her hands full looking
after the affairs within the building.
IN TIE WARDS
is where we came in contact with the
| inmates. There arc now under treat
mcnt ninety-eight males and 1872 fe-
/ males. There are three wards for the
males and five for the females. These
ri, Il