The Portland daily press., 1871-01-13


without doubt. one of the most valuable under
taken in the State.
On the Oath of February, 1868. Governo
Chamberlain approved bill passed by tn
| State Senate Feb. "a, 1868, and by the Hous
of Representatives Feb. o. 1868, entitled Gal
act to incorporate the Maine General Hos
pit,l," by which act John T. Gilman, William
Willis, John B. Brown, Israel Washburn. Jr.
s. E. Spring, William Deering, Nathan Cum
mings, James T., McCobb, Nathan Dane Jos
H. Williams, George Stetson, George F. Pat
ten, their associates and successors, were in
corporated and made body polite by tn,
name of the Maine General Hospital, with al
the usual rights and privileges pertaining t.
such corporation, the hospital to DO located
in this city. The directory of the hospital t.
be in the hands of nine trustees, to be chosen
annually, and to remain in Office till other.
shall be chosen and qualified in their stead. 81,
OF the trustees to be chosen by the corpora .ior
and three by the board of visitors-the Gov
ernor of the State President of the Senate
and Speaker of the House of Representative,
to constitute the Board of Visitors. This ac1
was passed through the memoralization of the
Legislature by committee of the physicians
OF the State, composed of John T. Gilman
Israel T. Dana, Il. H. Hill, N. P. Monroe. J
G. Weston, William Swazey, H. L. X. Wig.
gin, A. J. Fuller and T. G.. Stock bridge. Of
which committee DR.. Gilman of this city was
chairman, who placed the need of such an in
stitution before the Legislature in most able
and satisfactory light.
The next thing wanted to proceed with the
work was to accept the charter and raise the
necessary funds. On the 18th of September,
1869, meeting of the corporators was held at
the residence of DR.. Gilman in this city, Hon.
William Willis presiding, and James I. Nc
Cobb elected clerk. The charter was accepted,
and votes were passed to the effect that such
persons as were thereafter elected associates
should be admitted members; urging the need
of hospital; and voting that committee of
six be appointed to recommend members re-
siding in differeuts parts of the State On the
4th October an adjourned meeting was held,
associate members elected from all parts of the
State, and opinions expressed as to the best
method to secure grant from the State, do
nations from the wealthy, and interest on the
ecutive Committee were appointed, the Execu-
tive Committee being composed of Messrs.
Joseph q. Williams of Augusta; A. D. Lock-
wood of Lewiston; William r. Haines of Bid
deford; William d. Sewall of Bath; George
Stetson of Bangor; William McGilvery of
Searsport; J. T. Gilman, j. B. Brown. L.
Washburn, Jr, p. Barnes, Andrew Spring.
William Deering, H. N. Jose, Eben Steele
and j. T. McCobb of Portland.
On Dec. 14th it was voted that a grant
should be asked from the Legislature, and
Phinehas Barnes, Esq, drew up a concise.
pointed and effective memorial which was
signed. by all the members of the Executive
Committee, and petitions in.aid of the memo
rial were sent to the cities and towns in the
State, and signed by 2l77 of the most promi-
nent citizens in those localities The memo.
rial and petitions were presented to the Legis-
lature-and hearing had by a select COM
mittee-by Hon. P. Barnes, Drs. Dana, Tukes-
bury and Gilman of Portland, DR.. Fuller Of
Bath, Hon. J. q. Williams, Drs Hill, Brickett
and Toward of Augusta, and DR.. Buxton of
Warren. In this hearing it was stated that
the enterprise could not be initiated at less
than $4,000. The Legislature without any
opposition on March 18th, 1870, passed the fol.
lowing: ..
Resolved, That all the right, title and inter-
est Of this State in and to the lot of land, not
including the buildings thereon, situated ON
Bramhail's hill in the city of Portland and
County of Cumberland, being the present site
Of the State Arsenal. is hereby grauied to the
Maine General Hospital, Corporation estab-
lished by Act Of the Legislature, passed Feb
ruary twenty-fourth, one thousand eight hum
dred aud sixty eight to have and to hold to
said Corporation for the purpose of erecting
and maintaining thereon, its hospital build
ings; and when such land ceases to be so used,
1t shall revert to the State. But this grant
shall not take eff ct until it is shown to the sat
lsfaction of tae Governor that said Corpora
tion has raised, by responsible private subscrip-
lions or onlti0ns, the sum of twenty thousand
dollars; nor until the Governor has certified on
Of State that the above named condition pre-
cedent has been complied with; but when that
Is done, the grant shall take effect and the re-
cor ding of such certified copy, with the Gov
ernors certificate thereon, in the Registry of
Deeds, in the County of Cumberland shall be
'ufficieDt recorded evidence thereof
Resolved, That when said Corporation has
a1sed, received into Its Treasury, aud actually
expended towards the construction OF its hos
,ital buildings on said lot, the sum of thirty
Of the Governor, he may draw his
warrant on the Treasurer of State for the sum
# ten thousand dollars in favor of said Cor
,oration and payable to its Treasurer; and
when said Corporation has SO raised, received
INTO its Treasury and expended in the con-
|truction of its hospital buildings the sum of
en- thousand dollars more, or fifty thousand
dollars in all, including the ten thousand from
he State, and this fact is shown to the satisfac
tioD of the Governor, he shall draw his war
rant on the Treasurer of State for the sum of
ten thousand dollars more in favor Of said Cor
poration and payable to its Treasurer, and the
sum of twenty thousand dollars is hereby ap-
propriated to carry into effect the purpose of
this resolve, to be paid from any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
This State Arsenal ground embraces two and
'ne-half acres and is most eligibly situated for
he purpose intended. The sum of 800 600 re-
luired to be raised by subscription was raised
after the above resolve was passed
he first subscription being that of the lamented
Bon. William Willis, but a day before his
death, to the amount of 81 900, thus emitting
the corporation to the State Arsenal grounds;
and We are happy to state the subscription to
this noble charity nowi lmounts to the sum of
$38, 900. which, when it shall have been all paid
in and expended on the construction of the
buildings, will entitle the corporation to $1,000
additional aid from the State; and when So, 900
more shall have been subscribed and expended
(which will no doubt be easily raised) $4,000
more will be given by the State, making $780,
600 in cash without the land.
The meeting for the purpose of org animation
held il the Aldermen's room, was largely at
tended by the Corporators, and the following
officers were elected by them:
President-John B. Brown.
Directors-John 7. Gilman and Phinehas
Barnes elected for three years.
Andrew Spring and A. w. H. Clspp for two
years.
Horatio N. Jose and William Deering for
one year.
All the above are Of Portland.
s. F. Hersey of Bangor, was elected for three
years, j. H. Williams of Augusta. for two
years, and George Walker of Machias, for one
year, by the Board of Visitors.
F. q. Gerrish was elected Secretory.
The meeting was then adjourned.
P. A. & N. U. ENTERTAINMENT.-Thes sew
enth of the series came off last evening in the
City Hall, prefaced with concert Of noticeable
variety and excellence by the Portland Band.
At eight oclock Matthew Hale Smith appear
ed and opened his budget of 4" Wit and HUI
NOR
Better known by his nom de plume, Bur
Leigh" Mr.. Smith has won considerable noto-
riety as correspondent of the Boston press
If not trustworthy, his letters are always read
able. His lecture was in like manner we'll
spiced with dollery and repartee, aud kept the
large audience in the best of humor, albeit the
bulk If the johes were recognized as old &C.
quaintances. He announced as his purpose to
az hihit the uso and nooo nf WIT o,,d buv,oor -,