Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/156

132 hot air, which is forced through registers by a large fan-wheel. The same power is used in the summer to secure a current of cool air through the wards. Projecting from the corridor in an opposite direction from the wings is a fire-proof building, which contains the boilers, three in number, the engines, etc. The cook-room, with 18 steam-kettles and ranges, where the cooking for the entire island is done, and above this the bakery, with 4 ovens, of a capacity each of 300 loaves of bread; also the washing-room, with machinery for washing and wringing the clothing, and 63 washtubs. On the upper floor are the drying and ironing rooms. The building also contains a basement-room for storing flour, vaults for coal, and dummies for hoisting purposes. The hospital proper has accommodation for about 350 patients. The rooms are ventilated by pipes connected with the main chimney, into which the steam is exhausted, thus forming a perfect and powerful draught. The basement is used for storage, and, in cases of emergency, as sleeping quarters for inmates of the Refuge.

The Nursery.—The home of the children, to the right of the new hospital, is a frame building, three stories and basement, with Mansard roof, 120 x 190 feet. The basement contains the dining-room, play-room, and bath-room; the first floor, the matron's rooms and sleeping-rooms; the second floor, sleeping-rooms, also the school-room and recitation-rooms; the third floor is mostly occupied by the Catholic Chapel and ante-rooms attached. This building was completed only in 1868, having been thoroughly renovated and a new roof put on. The school is conducted by teachers from the city, under the supervision of the Board of Education, and has every convenience for the comfort of the scholars. The chapel is a neat and commodious room, and will seat comfortably about 500 persons.

Refuge Building.—This is a brick building, three stories and basement, with three wings, total size 100 feet by 98 feet. It is used as follows: Basement, for wash and bath rooms, and storage for blankets, bedding, and heavy groceries; first floor, for steward's department, with store for island supplies, matron's rooms, cutting-rooms, also sleeping-rooms. The second and third floors