The Portland daily press., 1872-10-04
Maine General HospitaI.

|
that, since the last annual meeting of the Cor
poration, important progress has been made
towards the completion Of this noble charity.
before the close of the year 1871, the walls of
the eastern pavilion were erected, rooted and
slated, and the foundation of the central
building was laid, covered and protected from
the weather. Work was suspended during
the Indictment months of winter, to be re-
sumed, as it was, in the early spring and 1t
has gone on steadily and satisfactorily to the
present time.
The interior of the pavilion is near compile
ton. The iron stairs are put up, and pipes
for gas and conduits for water-cosets laid.
The wards and other apartments are lathed
and plastered-the third and last coat consist
ing of hard, white sand inish,-a all the
window sashes glazed and in place. The
neat end simple white-ash finish for the
various rooms is furnished and put up in the
upper ward, and ready to be used throughout
the building. The same may be said of the
floors; the white-b birch boards, three inches
in width, are already on hand, tongued and
grooved and prepared for the carpenters
| use. All the granite steps and buttresses are
| in place, and the foundation and underpinning
laid of the arcade connecting the pavilion with
the central building. The walls of the central
building with the interior brick partitions are
completed and ready for the roof and cornice.
We propose in the remaining autumnal
weeks, if our means will permit, to cover the
roof with slate, and then to suspend opera
tions till spring-or rather until the state of
our finances will permit us to resume them.
| The exterior of the buildings when COM
Pleted will partake largely of the Italian
| Gothic style of architecture of the fifteenth
| and sixteenth centuries, of which the pavilion
with its wings will give an adequate idea. 1t
| is entirely free from extravagant orname nta-
.l>x1l u. 4
| have been made with due regard to economy
and at the same time with an intelligent
recognition of the principles of architectural
| sciences and of true and refined artistic
| taste.
The financial condition of the Hospital is
| matter of paramount interest and importance
| Our Treasurer has presented his annual report
| from which it appears that the whole amount
of money received thus far from all sources
since the commencement of the work is $780,
600. of which nearly $4,000 was appropriated
in payment of land claims receipts from sub
scriptions and contributions from Nov. 6, 1871
to Sept. p, 1872, $54,3S9.40; and expendi-
lures for construction, and all payments made
during the same period, 500, leaving
balance in his hands of $57S.5l. He states, |
farther that the estimated cost of completing
the work proposed to be done this year. in
GLIDING bills and loan unpaid will amount to
scriptons which are reliable but unpaid, at
$500, and adds that he has no special knowl-
edge of the amount of new subscriptions OBJ |
tanned and to be obtained by physicians in the |
city, but is told that it will be brought up to |
$4,000.
For the details and specifications of receipts |
and expenditures we refer you to the Treas |
urers accounts which have been audited and |
found correct, and are on the table for exam
nation.
But with these two buildings completed, to |
make them available for practical purpose. |
in other words, to place the Hospital in
proper working condition, kitchen, boiler. |
house with heating apparatus and other access |
sorry appendages will be required, involving |
according to the estimates of our architect, an |
additional outlay of fifty thousand dollars, and |
we respectfully submit that Prerequisite means
should come from all parts of the State. Port
land, in addition to the valuable land, adjoin-
ing the Hospital, given in its corporate ca
pacity, has already contributed in subscrip-
tons from her citizens more than fifty thou
sand dollars, and will do all that can be |
reasonably expected. But it must be remem-
bered that this is the Maine General Hospital |
1t is State and not a local institution, and |
provision is made for an effective share by the |
public authority in its oversight and direction. |
And it is proper to say, in this connection, that
the location of the Hospital was deter
mined npon by the Maine Medical AS
ISOLATION. At the annual meeting |
held in June 1867, committee Of |
physicians, selected from all prominent sections
of the State, was appointed and authorized to
memorabilia the Legislature for an act of in
corporation to establish in the city of Port
land State General Hospital and for
pecuniary appropriation sufficient to
secure its foundation; thus following the
universal precedent of establishing State Hos
pitfalls in places of the greatest population,
where they can be useful to the greatest num-
Der of patients, and recognizing, also, the i'm
portant fact that the manifold benefits of such
institutions, when well conducted, are widely
diffused throughout the community. Each |
one, i'll the language of our late and lamented
associate, Phinehas Barnes, becomes a school
of instruction to every physician and surgeon
in the State, and central source of learning,
fidelity and skill from which light and reief
may be extended to the hunblest patient in
the remotest village.
Yes, Mr.. President, our present and pro-
spective wants require additional sum of
fifty thousand dollars. Can that amount be
raiseds 1t surely ought to be in this large
and wealthy state, and we believe it will be.
At the annual meeting of the Maine Medical
Association held in June last, the following
resolution offered by DR.. Nourse of Bath, was
adopted Oy a unanimous vote:
ReSotUed, That we, as members of the Maine
Medical Association, pledge ourselves individ-
ually to cooperate with an agent of the Di-
rectors of the Maine General Hospital in rails
ing the funds necessary for the completion of
the Hospital.
In compliance with that vote and in further
ance of the important object indicated, your
Directors, i'll June last, made choice of DIR.
Benjamin F. Buxton of Warren, gentleman
well known and respected in the state, as a
special agent of the Corporation, with author
ity to visit the cities and towns in all portions
of our commonwealth, and to obtain, if posi-
BILE, with the assistance of resident physicians,
the pecuniary aid so urgently needed for the |
early consummation of this great enterprise. |
DIR. Buxton is now ready to enter upon the
work, and would have done so weeks ago but
for the belief which he held with others that
the period of an intensely excited political
campaign was not propitious for the success of
such mission. We desire to express our
hope and belief that his appeals to the gener-
Gus and humane throughout the state will be
met with promptness and liberality commen-
surate with the intrinsic importance of the
object.
When this great public charity, or such
parts of it as the wants of the State may re-
quire, shall be completed and set in operation. |
there can be no doubt as to its future career.
u Is sure 10 De sustained thereafter. 30 all |
experience teaches. The history of all |
kindred institutions, in this country GER
tainly. bears grateful testimony to the |
interesting and important fact. Con-
tributions for the establishment of free beds. |
benefactions and requests for Its maintenance |
and support will flow at once into its treasury,
as they did into that of the Massachusetts
General Hospital; and continuously, too, as
we believe, ever keeping pace with an en-
lightened public sentiment and progressive
Christian civilization.
JOHN I. GILMAN,
ISRAEL WAsHBURN, JR.,
ANDREW SPRING,
A. W. II. CLAPP,
HoRATIo N. JOSE,
WILLIAM DEERING,
SAMUEL F. HERsEY,
JOSEPH HI. WILLIAMS.