Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-27
The Editors nj Weston.

tended by the Editors, there being
some siNty-tive or seventy of them
present. The weather and all things
else considered, it was by far the
most enjoyable meeting the Associa-
ton has ever held.
The people Of Weston received
the Quill-drivors with open arms and
dispensed to them n royal hos pitality
which will ever be remembered with
grateful appreciation. The business
part of the town was literally COW
cred with bunting, and the national
colors were everywhere in evidence.
In the center Of the town, on Main
street, tho gas company had erected
frame work enclosing the word
Welcome" in large letters, the
frame work being supported on
either side by gas torches thirty-five
high. When the gas was turned on
at night, the letters shOne out beau
tifully, and with the flames from the
two great torches shooting thirty five
feet into the air, the whole town
seemed TO be lighted up. In addi-
;ion to this, the electric light COM
pany had placed long strings of
many-colorCd electric lights crossing
the streets at the corners in all direc-
tons. The effect Of the whole was
very fine and Creditable alike to the
companies and to the cnterpriSing
little city on the West Fork. But
more pleasing than all this was the
cordial welcome we read in the eyes
of the people, the grasp of their
friendly hands, their open doors and
in innumerable courtesies and kind
attentions we lack space to mention.
One afternoon was spent in visit
ing the Hospital for the Insane, one
of the largest and finest institutions
Of the kind to be found in America.
The first appropriation for this asy-
lum 500, O0O--waS made by the Leg
lslature of Virginia in 1858, and
with it the land, 269 acres, was
bought. The main building was be-
gun the following year from plans
furnished by the noted architect, II.
SnOwden Andrews, of Baltimore
One section Of the building was com.
pleted under his direction-the south
ern wing, one story in height
Work was then suspended on &C.
count of the war. The completed
section was occupied in November,
1861. During the war but ~ pa
tionts were admitted. The main
building was completed i'm 1873. IL
Is built of stone, beautifully cut,
lined inside with brick, making the
walls very thick and strong. The
building is 300 feet long, but pre-
sents q beautiful and symmetrical
front. The entire foundation, in.
Guiding the angles, is more than a
mile in length. The roof covers 81
acres. There are 92l windows and
926 doors in the building. In the
rear are five brick anneXes occupied
by patients, and in the spaces be.
tween are the laundry, Kitchen
boiler house, ice plant, cold storage
etc. The buildings cost abou,
Sl,00O,000. To walk over them and
grounds is a task one doesn't care &c
undertake more than once. vii
Hof, Of Greenbrier, who runs tn,
Asylum farm and gardens, and who
by the way, seems to be the RICH
man in the right place, has now on
hand about 10 cows, all in admirabl,
condition, from which he got las
year $4,000 gallons Of milk. There
are now $50 patients at this asylum
and l6O officers and employees
They consume daily $40 pounds OF
beef, 100 pounds of butter, ; barrel:
OF tiou and other things in like pro
proportion. They consume at one
meal II bushels of potatoes, 22;
dozen eggs and 100 pounds of cheese
These figures were furnished us b,
John +. Estill, also of Greenbrier
the present Steward or Clerk, ot
whom all speak in high praise fol
the eminently systematic, efficient
and satisfactory manner in which he
has discharged the important duties
of his office.
We also visited the race course al
RiVerside--Judge Benefits farm
two miles below town. The Judge
is great lover of fine horses, OF
which he has between 10 and lOC
head. That afternoon he enter
tanned the Editors and the public
generally for two hours with run
ming and trotting races gotten up fol
the occasion from his own stables
All enjoyed the fun and felt CRATE
full to the Judge for a very pleasant
afternoon. Friday we all went IN
Camden on-Gauley, 50 miles from
Weston, on a special train furnished
by the West Va. x Pittsburg II. r..
where we spent about four hours en-
Joying the fine scenery, partaking OF
a bountiful repast prepared and
served Ivy the ladies of Weston, and
visiting the great SaW-mjll located