[Picture: THE WORKHOUSE.]

In the rear of the Almshouse is the Workhouse, one of the handsomest
buildings on the island. It is constructed of hewn stone, and consists
of a central building four stories in height, with a northern and a
southern wing, with a traverse section across the extreme end of each
wing. In these traverse sections are located the workshops. The entire
length of the building is 680 feet. Not counting the convict labor, the
cost of its construction was over $100,000. The stone of which it was
built was obtained on the island.

In the central building are located the kitchens, and storerooms, the
private quarters of the Superintendent and the other officials, and a
large and handsome chapel. The wings contain each a broad hall, on each
side of which are three tiers of cells, one above the other. Iron
galleries, with stairways, extend along the fronts of these cells, and
afford access to them. There are 150 cells in each wing. Each cell is
provided with an iron grated door, and contains four single berths. The
cells are separated from each other by brick walls. In the workshops,
the carpenter's, blacksmith's, wheelwright's, tinner's, tailor's, and
other trades are carried on. The men are also kept at work grading the
island, building the seawall, and cultivating the gardens. Gangs of
laborers are sent daily to engage in the works on Ward's and Randall's
islands. The women are made to do the housework and cleaning of the
various institutions on the island, and are employed in washing, mending,
sewing, knitting, etc. All the inmates are obliged to labor.

The number of persons annually sent to the Workhouse is from 15,000 to
20,000. The vagrant, dissipated, and disorderly classes are sent here by
the city police courts, ten days being the average term of commitment.
Drunkenness is the principal cause of their detention here. Very few are
Americans. Of the foreigners, the Irish are the most numerous, the
Germans next.

Back of the Workhouse, and occupying the extreme upper portion of the
island, is the New York City Lunatic Asylum. It is a large and
commodious building, with several out-buildings, with accommodations for
576 patients. A new Lunatic Asylum is now in course of erection on
Ward's Island. It is to accommodate 500 patients. It is one of the most
complete establishments in the country, and is built of brick and Ohio
freestone. It is a very handsome buildi