Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-12-27
AT THE STATE HOSPITAL
A GREAT INSTITUTION At
MORGANTON,

Buildin&S and GrOunds-NOblS
work Done for the Unfortunates
of North CarOlina.
When, in 1876, under authorization O
the Legislature of North Carolina, th,
erection of the Western North Caroline
Insane Asylum was begun at Morgan
canton, it was perhaps not thought
that the Old North State was LAYING
the foundation for what would in a few
years become an Institution that the
State might be proud of and the world
at large would point to as model ot
care and management.
Yet this has been the result of the
work-a splendid realization of the
hopes of those who first took up the
idea, and blessing in it's way to the
section of the State in which it is 10.
Gated. The name OF the institution has
recently been changed to the State Hos.
pital, but the change has been one in
name only. 1t is under the same efficient
management and is doing the same good
work it has done Since it's establishment.
The Site,
A few days ago THE CITIZEN was
shown through the hospital from base
ment to roof, the conductor being DR.. P.
L. Murphy, the superintendent of the in
stitution. The building, which is of
brick, from two to four stories high,
stards on what is part of a 5OO.acre
tract OF land about a half.mile from
Morganton, and looms up in all its
handsome proportions before the view of
passengers on every train that passes
that town. The grounds are laid out
tastefully in walks and drives, while a
very substantially constructed macadam
road is the way by which persons reach
the hospital grounds from the town.
The building fronts 91S feet, although
the length of the main corridor, meas
ured through main building and wings,
is LOO feet. THE CITIZEN began its
tour in the basement. going through the
cooking department, where food for the
halt-thousand patients is prepared. On
the day of the visit preparations were
being made for the Christmas dinner to
be enjoyed by the officers. employees and
Wagon loads of turkeys were
being brought in fresh from the execu.
tioner, treated to a scalding-water bath,
relieved of their feathers and prepared
for the hugs steamers in another room,
where meats were cooked. In an ad-
Joining department the baker and his
assistants were preparing the dough for
the oven. A huge trough was filled with
the sticky stuff, which, when ready to be
baked, was converted into 62O separate
loaves of snowy white bread. At other
points were caldrons filled with peas and
other articles of food intended for the
monday meal.
Patients at Work.
The laundry, ironing room, carpenter
shop, etc., i'll building in rear Of the
main one, came next for inspection. In
the former every improved appliance
known to the laundryman' s art is in use.
The machinery is operated BY a special
.ngine. Patients in the institution do
he work in this department, under the
of few experts. There are
.wenty five at work here.
The carpenters shop is a most impor-
ant adjunct. Labor-saving machinery
S put to good use, and many thousands
II dollars worth of work have been done
~ the men who operate the machines.
Underground the visitor went again,
trough the boiler rooms, looking at |
'entilating and steam pipes and wires.
compound duplex Worthington pump
in operation, connected with reser-
'oir which holds half million gallons of
water. Two engines run as many huge
ans in air shafts, whence the purest
mountain air 10 forced into every room
n the great building, keeping it perfectly
'entilated. At different points there are
stations, and from them
must be sent in at stated intervals an
lectric alarm that registers the hour on
he handsome clock in the corridor near
he main Office.
A Pretty Dining Room,
An important addition to the institu.
ion is the associated dining room re-
emily completed. Formerly there was a
eparate dining room in each OF the eight
wards of the south or womans wing.
low all of the women eat together in
his large room. The idea, DR.. Murphy
avs. will increase the hospitals capacity
ighty. This room is as pretty as any
otel dining room in the State, it is safe
o say. The painting and ornamental
ion is triumph of the decorators art.
he ceiling is steel. Substantial chairs
nd tables fill the room, giving capac-
ty of $50.
Among the Insane.
The day Of this visit was inspection
ay" at the hospital, the doors of rooms
we're open, and bedding freshly made up,
eady for the regular inspection. In the
orridors sat numbers of the milder pa
tents, sewing, knitting or sitting look
ng listlessly at the floor, or rocking
ack and forth with meaningless words
N their lips. Many of the unfortunates
'ould address DR.. Murphy, begging him
o send them home Christmas, to their
old men" or "sweethearts" as the pa
tents generally referred to absent ones.
Well. we'll send you," DR.. Murphy
you'd tell them, when you get fat and
retty again-he don't want to see you
Ill you get pretty like you used to be-"
nd the poor creatures, shut out from
he sunlight of reason would lapse again
Ito their moroseness, although occas-
'nally there was an eager look in the
ye and quicker step.
In one portion Of the hospital ward
here was what appeared to be polit-
al gathering-all patients, of course.
everal men were standing about the
peaker, who with wild gesticulations
nd loud voice was claiming their atten-
on. His remarks were frequently
unctuated by vigorous applause, and
1e discourse was apparently intensely
1loyed. Now and then a heartrend-
x groan or shrek could be heard
ON some violent inmate, but over such
nhappy scenes let the veil be drawn
u that human agency can devise is
niuU fnr thaiy. ta..-:hIo ...aInJ.. - A. l