Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-16

asylum from 60O to S0O patients. Inc Wis
dom of that purchase, which was m ,de las
fall, has been clearly proved by the fac
that with the additional supply iurnishe'
by these new springs we have bad an abun
dance of water during the year for all on
purposes, the pressure remaining at thirty
two. Whether the supply will be suffic'en
during long drought remains to be seen
At any rate, we cannot have too much va
ter for sanitary and household purposes; ant
I would respectfully suggest to the Boart
the propriety of making further efforts q
get more water, if possible.
In this connection. desire t, report tha
the experimental effort orGered BY th'
Board to utilize the artesian well, with
view Of supplying the steam boilers will
water, proved an entire failure, and wal
abandoned, the contractors not having tht
proper apparatus to continue it.
THE NEW MALE BUILDING.
This building is now ready for the recep'
tion of patients. But I do not think il
would be wise to throw it open for the i'm
mediate admission of SO new inmates. II
would be better to make gradual transfer
to it of such inmates now here as belong to
| the class for which it is intended, and to
let their places in the old buildings be taken
by newcomers of class for which it is in.
teHded. My reason for this suggestion is
that it would require time and mature con-
sideraiion to N AXE the proper classification
of new admissions.
I propose to begin this transfer as soon as
an appropriation is made for the support of
an additional number of SO male patients.
THE NEW FEMALE BUILDING.
This building is attached to the old G, K,
and L building at it's northern end, and oc-
cupies high plateau extending from it
nearly to the bake house, covering g. 100
square feet of ground.
It has four stories all above ground, even
as to frat floor level. These stories are Of
equal height. The first contains dining
room for over 100 persons, with all it's ac-
cessories on liberal scale. This room is
situated in the coolest and most pleasant
part of the house, and has in winter the
morning light. Large rooms lying to the
sonth and west are intended for day roons
for the patients, wash rooms, and closets
for clothing and other stores. The area Of
this room is equal to Is rooms each 20 feet
square, and in whatever way it may be
hereafter distributed, will always afford the
most ample accommodation for the 100 pa.
tients allotted to the bnilding.
The second, third add fourth stories are
Intended to bs dormitories, but are also
each provided with corridor 1872 feet long
by 13 wide, with western bay window 10
by 13 feet, and very large windows at the
north and south ends.
The IA sleeping rooms contain 35 beds on
each floor, or beds for 105 patieats Ten of
the 35 beds are single rooms, and no asso
ciated dormjtory contains more than eight,
There is a good room for two attendants on
on each floor, also two stsirways at north
and south end of corridors, two double
lavatories with baths and water closets, with
two open fire places in each corridor Of the
building, while the day rooms of the first
story have slsosuch fire places. The whole
building will be warmed by steam, and we'll
ventilated by processes simiiar to those
which have beed SO successful in the feEr
large houses already put up.
There will be in the roof considerable at
tic room, which can be turned to account
as storage. The same corridor exists as in
the stories below, but with stcry height of
eight feet in the clear. The access to this
fifth story is by one stair in the unr Invest
tower, within which stair there can be al
ways set, if desired, lift about so incbea
square. The rooms to which tie fifth story
corridor gives access can be finished with a
general height of eight feet clear oyer about
half their space. Some are we'll lighted by
present roof windows, and all can have sky-
light openings, if such should bs needed, at
any time.
Comparing this with the last nev male
building just com pleted, and wh ch provides
all the usual accommodations for 100 pa
tients, at cost under $l25 per capita, there
are very considerable differences to be con-
sidered. The same class of patients Is not
to be provided for, and similar disposition
of parts is impracticable. The style of
building adopted for this new female buid
ing is the corridor plan, recognized as by
far the beat for the inmates Of the GLASS
which will occupy it. The house covers
more ground than the other, and, with Only
a small increase in the population, requires
1,500 bricks for every 1000 bricks built on
the male side, which will add ever 200.0
bricks to the structure, and these laid, ow-
ing to the booms, at somewhat advanced
price. The cubic contents of the two build-
ings vary in the proportion of 100 to 140.
If said cubic contents we're of tho sam cost,
tha new female building should cost $18,-
600 to the $11 900, but there is an advances
of quite 10 per cent. on the buildiag work
and material, and the new female house has
been estimated at $4,000, with hope of
reducing that amount by very careful
management.
The building described above W as design
ed by Mr.. J. Crawford Nelson, architect,
and the brick work upon it was begun July
16, 1891, and is now completed aud under
roof. As from the estimate of the cost of
its full completion, just given, the amount
appropriated for it's erection, $40 900, will
be insufficient, I would respectfully recon-
mend that the Board ask for an additional
appropriation of $50 to finish the build
ing,
FINANCES.