The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-08-21
improvements at the w. L. Asylum

improvements at the w. L. Asylum.
A visitor entering the grounds OF the
ASYLUM finds a number of hands buslly
engaged in leveling, filling and grading
the piece of ground for many years
used as garden. This part OF the
grounds is Immediately opposite the
b. & O. depot, and is overlooked its en-
tire length from the G. ". y. railroad.
1t is a wonder that it has been SO long
used for such purpose instead OF hav-
ing been made an ornament to the lnstl-
tuition. DIR. Blackford has undertaken
to make this most desirable change, and
it is this work you see now going on
there. The OLD garden makes way for
the march of improvement. 1t is to be
graded, put down in grass, planted with
trees and made attractive and useful as
a place of resort for the inmates.
By frequent changes in the method OF
heating the main building, the partition
walls had sunk SO much that it has been
found necessary to tear out and rebuild
them on both sides of the main en-
trance. In doing this necessary work
DR.. Blackford has taken advantage OF
the offered occasion to make some ad-
mirable changes He has increased the
number of beds ten. He has taken out
the old cumbersome archway which lin
ed each hallway, and prevented a free
circulation of air, and has made the
halls high pitched and airy. New ven
tilators and registers have been put in,
and the very best hygienic arrangements
possible have been made. 1t is grand
and needed improvement for the health
and comfort of the patients. The ca
pacity of the asylum is 500 beds. and
there are now in the buildings 6s5 pa
tients. The gain of ten beds is, there
fore, a great consideration.
Outside, a three-story brick building
is going up which will add to the ca
paeity of the Asylum. This building
has been located on rising ground, be-
hind the rear line of the other build
ings, and commands a magnificent
view to the East and North as far as the
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will prevail here, with dining room, read
ing room and all the appurtenances
necessary to make it a complete house
hold. The building will be three stories
high, 97x3S feet, with an ell 14x16. The
bricks were made on the Asylum
grounds, the labor of which was done by
patients, The woodwork has been
done at the Asylum, and all along the
whole line of work the labor has been
supplied by the Asylum except when it
was necessary to employ skilled labor.
The iron columns and supports were
made at the shops of Stockton Bros.
The dormitories will hold 96 beds, and
there will be a reading, or day room, fol-
the use of those occupying the building.
This work is under the supervision OF
Capt. Lewis Hartman, the efficient Stew
ard of the Asylum. We have never
seen better brick, nor better brick-wOrk.
1t will enable the Asylum authorities to
come within the very meagre appropria-
ton made for this purpose. The build
ing would have been planned better,
built better and in every way improved,
if the Legislature had made more lib
eral appropriation. 1t is not wise
policy to cramp the improvement OF
State property which must stand for
years, and soon fall behind in meeting
the ever increasing demands made upon
it unless properly adjusted for the pur-
pose for which it was designed in the
beginning.
During DIR. Blackford's administra-
ton the water pipes of the Asylum have
been connected with the city system by
three inch pipe which is not tapped
by any other party. This gives the
Asylum good water supply, and en-
ables them to use their apparatus and
hose to advantage in case of fire.
The work going on in and around the
Asylum gives healthy employment to
convalescent patients. 1t is blessing
co-existent with the fall, that labor shall
not only be our inheritance, but shall be
as we'll one of the greatest benefits to
the human family. The Saviour OF
mankind, while on earth, healed the
sick, the lame, the halt, the blind and
the demented by His Divine power. In
the Divine economy He did not give to
man this God-power; but He has left lie
lessons of love and charity, and the
glorious example of 'going about do
ing good"
In the improvements of this wonder
full age, no where have they been
greater than in the treatment of the in
sane Our enlightened and Christianiz-
ed humanity now directs the treatment,
where not many years ago it was sadly
otherwise. In tender sympathy and
love, seeking the highest good of those
whom God, in infinite wisdom has af-
hicted, the best institutions of the day
seek to give employment to as many pa
tients as possible, and thus strengthen
them physically and mentally.
The care of the insane is duty of the
tenderest and highest responsibility
one which should be held sacred in all
it's relations and we believe these con-
ditions are measured up to by the pres
ent management of the Western Luna
tic Asylum.