The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

deep enlbrasures, the institution pre-
sents massive and imposing appear
ance. Situated in a natural amphithea-
tire, on the crest of a plateau overlook
ing Morganton, and walled in by the
everlasting mountains on every side, it
is an ideal place for a hospital and sani-
tarium. Within the range Of yison,
from ONE direction or another, every inn
portant mountain peak in North Carolina
geography is visible, while through the
gap between Table Rock and Hawk
Bill, the splendid heights of Tennessee's
great mountains outline themselves.
Shaded lawns moved smooth as velvet,
and as green as emerald, Immediately
surround the great pile Of buildings,
while Sloping hillsides and smooth pla-
teaus. made fertile by intelligent culti-
walton, and shaded with growth of oak
and hickory, are clothed thick with rich
and abundant orchard grass grayelled
walks laid out in perfect taste, and yet
so naturally as to appear without de-
sign, stretch in sinuous, graceful curves
through the well kept terraced lawns.
Here and there the monorony Is broken
by beds Of brilliant flowers and shrubs
of evergreen.
Sixteen years ago wild blackberries
grew on these bleak hills now radiant
with their wealth of verdure, and the
red clay of this sterile soil cracked and
burned in the summer sunshine. To-
day there is within the borders of the
State, q spot so transcendently beau
tiful, so pleasing to the eye, so soothing
to the soul so restful to the restless
spirit as the hospital grounds at Nor
CANTON The identifying of the premises,
and the talent and skill displayed in
making natures environments all con
duce to the mental comfort of the pa
tients, is a part of the general plan OF
treatment pursued by the big-brained
man who administers the affairs of the
institution.
Victim the walls every provision that
Intelligent hygeTlic architecture could
make for comfort and health, has been
made. The ventilation is perfect, and
each room and ward is independent for
its fresh pure air Of every other ward
and room. At some time in the day the
sun shines intro every room and ward of
the entire building. Steam heat radia
tors supply warmth in winter, and an
electric light plant operated by the In
stitntion, affords perfect illumination
at a minimum cost. A small but per
fectly adequate ice factory supplies
abundant ice, and incidentally makes a
net saving to the State of 81 900 per
annum. The water supply is practical
~ unlimited, and is furnished In part by
Il stream ON South Mountain five miles
away the entire water shed of which
above The pipes belongs to the institu-
ton, and in part by several driven wells
operated day and night by automatic
and electric pumps. The storage re-
servoir has capacity Of 100000 gallons,
and is one of the necessities or the place
made slightly and attractive by the taste
and skill Of the superintendent The
system Of sewerage is MS good as mo-
dern sanitation could devise, and has all
the safeguards against leakage Of noxi-
Gus gases that have been demonstrated
to be necessary against disease. Baths
and toilet rooms, ventilated and protect
cd against filth and decay by marble or
tiled floors, one in every ward, insltring
cleanliness and easy access.
So, with environments and equipment,
at first crude and insufficient, but now
wrought ito shape and purpose, moulded
into symmetry and form. the States
greatest and most Christ-like charity is
being administered. What record has
been made here by the men ana women
who have been called to administer it?
1t is one of which, looked at IN the view
of definite accomplishment, the State
may Well be proud. From the laying OF
the first brick till now the breath of
scandal has not touched it. The polln-
tion Of no job has corrupted it, 1t
stands today among the States institu-
tions as fair monument of official
cleanliness rs the annals of our history
can show With an appropriation so
inadequate as to make economy in its
application cruel parsimony, so insult
ficient that only the pitiful sum of 1888
PER month per capita, is available for
board and clothing of its 1000 inmates,