The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-25

Df tire features nf the new building
which Is great Improvement II the
heating apparatus. steam heat - used.
hsst IEstead OF the radiators being dis
srihated throughout the building the
system ~ indirect radiation IS used
Fresh AIR L. aansted through large
fues and passes cver a system CT en-
closed radlasngs whEsh are PLACED In the
basement The air thus becomes warm
before reaching the various rooms. and
AZ the same time retains It's freshness.
Tire warm air f. admitted 20 the rooms
from near the top. while the ventslators
for the escape CT impure air are lower
Down. thus allowing tire hot air. which
IL lighter. 10 con inuaIly force the I'm
pure air down and out. DIR. Se<rple
considers this very important from
sanitary standpoint. The steam is sup
piled from a new boiler which is located
in an addition 70 the boiler house OF the
old building. An automatic pump re-
turns the condensed steam 10 the boiler
as soon as u gathers In the pipes. In
addition 10 the steam heating apparatus
each ward has a large fireplace ar each
end. These are covered with ornament
al CRATES for safety. and their object -
more 20 give a cheerful appearance to
the rooms than 20 supply heat The
building ig lighted hy electricity. the
power being derived from the dynamo
plant % the old buil6ips -~tt-s uss
found sufficient for both. A. complete
system Of annunciatorS and fire aAarrns
runs throughout the building. the fire
alarms being automatic ann turning In
an alarm as soon as certain te3npera-
rure rs reached. IL is hoped that in the
near future the different parts Of the
two buildings will be connected by teie-
phones, speaking tubes being very un-
satisfactory IN buildings OF THIS Size.
The basement has a large amount OF
room which Is not utilized. but which
will probably be used as workshops AZ
coon as provision is made for working
such OF the patients as wish employ
ment at their various trades. The stair
ways leading 10 the upper stories pro-
Ject out from the main building and are
enclosed by brick masonry forming
square. The stair steps being wider
than those In the old building are much
easier 10 climb. The floors Of The build
ing are made Of maple, except those Of
the sleeping apartments. which are OF
pine, and the bath ROOMS. closets and
Railways which are OF square block TIL
ing.
Between the silis and the floor is a
layer Of asbestos paper. The ceilings are
OF stamped steel, and the partitions are
all OF either brick or thing. making the
building flreproof. The walls are kalso-
mined, except for a strip six feet wide
around the bottom, which Is of acme
plaster. giving Ii finish almost impos-
sible to disfigure or mar. The wards
or living rooms and individual sleeping
apartments are In the main building
and the wing Is occupied by dornitories.
The arrangement of each of the three
floors is the same. Extending the entire
length of the building in front are the
wards, which are much pleasanten and
better arranged than those I'm the old
building. which run through the center
of the building and have sleeping rooms
on each side except for recess in the
center. making them dark and gloomy
Those OF the new building are we'll
lighted, and the view from the many
windows Is very pleasant. .as the build
ing oyerEooks the lake and the town.
Rack of the wards are the sleeping
rooms with doors opening into the
wards.
The locks on these doors are OF a re-
Gently invented pattern and deserve
special mention. DIR. Sempie learned of
them at the convention of asylum SUI
perintendents which he attended at the
East The inside OF the door Is flush
with the wall and has neither keyhole
nor knob. The outside has both. For
ordinary use the key Is not used. hut
the Knob operates the lock. making 1t
very convenient In case of fire or other
emergency whore IL Is desired. to liber-
ate the patients from their sleeping
rooms without loss OF time. The locks
are double-acting. and when the key is
turned in the lock prevent the door
from being fastened, as in case of an at
tendant being In one OF the rooms Ii
would be impossible for the patients In
the ward 10 lock him In. On the other
hand IL the key Is turned In the lock
while the bolt is In the slot IL can be
unlocked only with the key The dor
mitories are large and we'll ventilated
and will be used for such patients as
do not requre separate apartments.
They as well as the wards are supplied
with closets. lavatories and bath rooms.
The bath rooms instead OF being sup
piled with tubs are fitted with spray
pipes. thus insuring clean water and
making IL more convenient for the at
teadants TO battle the patients. The hot
and cold water passes through a mixer
| where the temperature Is regulated. The
! furniture for the new building has been
| received. but 1t is not In place yet. One
| or the improvements is the chairs for
| the wards. which are so heavy that II
| VIII le unnecessary To chain them IL
| the walls to prevent them being used
I rs weapons by a frenzicd patient.
! II Is expected that the new building
| Viii BE- ready for occupancy by March
/ I. when "a new classification OF the ps,-
/ TENTS into wards will be made. The old
+ building was So crowded that a propei
I classification was impossible. In addi-
| ton 20 the erection Of the new building
| number Of improvements are belng
| made oa the old building, the interior oi
| which is being reprinted and Vanished