Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-24

which is used for the colored insane
All of these buildings are abundantly
supplied with hot and cold water, and
suitably and comfortably furnished
| throughout with good and substantial
class of furniture.
The total appropriations from all
sources for construction purposes, as
near as l have been able to ascertain
from the various reports of the insti-
tuition, some of which, however, are
not very clear on the subject, approx
mate about one million of dollars. At
the first blush, these figures appear to
be very large but when it is remem-
bered that the main building has an
inside length of l ,295 feet 4 inches and
a frontage of 1,211 feet inches, not
considering the laps; that the central
or administrative building is five stories
high and has on either side of it two
four-story sections, with wings one
and two stories high; that all of the
outer walls of this immense structure
are built of cut, solid blue sandstone,
lined with brick, making them from
2la to 31a feet thick; that the whole
interior is sub-divided by thick brick
partitions-somec conception may be had
of the cost incident thereto.
To convey some idea of the magni-
tude of this building, it is needful only
to say that the slate roofing on it COW
ers an area equal to S12 acres, it has
9 acres Of flooring, IL miles of sewer
pipe z mile of ventilating pipe, 10
miles of heating pipe, "a miles of gas
pipe. and miles Of spouting and drain
age pipe. The main tower on the cen
ire building is 200 feet high, and there
are four towers on the four-story sec
tions. each $50 feet high. The main
building contains 921 doors, and it has
been estimated that a strip Of ground
p mile long, Il mile wide and 30 feet
high could be stored within its walls.
1t is no small undertaking to traverse
all the halls of this mammoth structure,
for it has been figured that it would
require a walk of ? Is miles to accom-
plish it. and, to include the detached
buildings, in which several hundred
patients are treated, the distance would
be almost. if not quite doubled. The
main building is probably the most
imposing structure in the State, and,
viewed from a point where the division
will embrace it in its entirety, it pre-
sents a picture OF a beautiful blend
ing of massive material into symmetrl-
cal proportions. 1t will endure to the
name of a generous and noble-hearted
people, and future generations cannot
help but regard it as one of the great
achievements of the present age. TAX
en- in connection with its beautiful sur
! roundings. flower gardens, shade
trees. drive-ways, lakeets, and summer
houses, it forms a landscape worthy
the study of an artist.
Bue we will now revert TO the sad and
melancholy subject of the unfortunate
people who populate this tenement.
In the latter part of 1864 the extreme
southern one-story wing had been
pushed 10 completion, and on the 22d
day of October Of the same year the
first patients were admitted to its
wards. DR.. r. Hills having been pre-
viously appointed superintendent by
the board of directors. From the latest
report of the institution, we find that
the total number under treatment at
the close of the fiscal year was 93S,which
is a striking increase over the meager
number of 8 which were admitted at
its inauguration. Including the med
ical staff. there were 163 people en-
Moved in looking after this large
household. of whom III were super
visors. nurses and attendants, making
a total population of employees and
natients of 1.101. 1t cost the State
! S12O O64. 16 for the maintenance of these
people last year, and to convey some
idea Of what is annually required for
their support it is necessary only to
name a few of the principal articles OF
dict purchased for that purpose: 1850
barrels flour: 2G5,571 pounds beef; 49,
765 pounds pork; 1880 pounds bacon;
40 COZ mounds butter; SIG dozen eggs;
1852 pounds coffee; 1920 pounds
cheese; 1856 pounds lard; 2,69S gal
Ions svrup: 4.749 pounds rice; 57,Sf7
mounds sugar: 2,34S pounds tea; 2'556
hrshels potatoes; 1900 heads Of cab
bage: 3SS29 gallons milk. OF these
articles the following quantities are
daily required: $40 pounds beef;
borrals flour: 100 pounds butter; II
bushels potatoes; 500 pounds cabbage;
ia mounds sugar: 81 pounds coffee;
mounds tea. When eggs are served, it
takes about 225 dozen for one meal,
and on Christmas and Thanksgiving
# requires 100 turkeys for dinner.
Tn 70 September 80, 1895, the total
admissions 10 the hospital from its be-
ginning were 1914. out of which there
were discharged as recovered, 1889, as
imnroved Gil. unimproved 271, not in