, 1873-08-23

AonoutGca Cuulu PEOqlucl WEB uu1HobsloudpIy IHf-
nished.
THE SITE OF THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.
Tho Board Of County Commissioners, at their
moeting on Mondny last, voted to purchase sev-
eral small blocks Of ground containing nino aores
On tho cornor Of Ashland ayonuo aud Twelfth
street for e158, 750, payable in county bonds ut
par, bearing por cont interest. Tho purchase
was for aito for tho now County Hospital, and
tho price Was at the rate Of s17, $50 pcr acre. We
do not object to the purchase Of sito for tho
County Hospital, nor to isa location at somo
point Of easy ACCESS nor do wo think the pur-
chaao OF nino aorcs Ill advised; but we decidedly
question tho purchase Of lot on ono of tho
aristocratio avenues Of tho city, at tho rato Of
S17.65o per aero, when other lots and blocks,
equally convenient Of acceas, but not on Buch
ayenuo, could bo purchased for much lcBs money.
Ashland avenue Ii already ono Of the handson-
ont stroets in tho city; its great width, tho
costly style Of tile buildings, tho great o1penso
have Ill given to tho property Oh that
street high Valuo rs residence property.
Wo question the policy Of purchasing
site for County Hospital on o street uhero
tho value of tho property is so much advanced
beyond TINT Of other property in tho neighbor-
hood fully as convenient for hospital purposes.
We know that owners of adjoining property arc
by no moans anxioua to havo hospital for O
neighbor. They would rather give something to
have tho hospital located elsewhere, md, there
foro fowor bids wore offered than would have
been had tho improvement been for aomc other
purpose. Yet that furnishes no reason why the
county should purchase tho most expensive site
that was offered.
Tho general location Of tho hospital ia, per.
haps, unobioctionable; 1t is about four miles dis
tant from Chicago avenue and Clark street, and
two miloB distant from State md Twelfth strootB.
it's distance from other parts Of tho city can be
readily estimated. Being Of necessity 90 romote
from tho North and South Divisions and from
tho larger part Of the West Division, it's 1oca-
ton anywhere within q milo in either
direction from tho mite selected would
add nothing to its Inconvenience. It
might bo locatod nom tho junction
Of Twelfth street and Wostern avenue, or bet
ter still, half-mile cast, south, or north Of tho
sto chosen, without lessonipg it's general ao-
feasibility, or rendering it In any degree loss
useful. Twelfth street is and always will be
grand thoroughfaro, and by that street tue hos
pital can DO reaohed wherever 1t may be located
in tho southwest part Of the city.
As part Of this transaction, We ropublisl, the
vote on making this aoulewhnt extraordinary OK
pontlituro. enabling the public, who know tho
several Commissioners, to 800 who voted for
and who against,--tAo lattsr favoring some
cheaper lot. Tho voto was aa follows:
Yeas-Ashtou, Crawford, Hersirg, Jones, Lonergan,
rahlman, Roellc Russell, and AIuer-9.
hays-Bogno, Clough, Galloway, Harris, Harrison,
and Singer.
In tho dobato, Commiaaioner Harrison Gstated
that tho present owners Of tho lot paid only
100000 for it littlo while ago. and that tho in
croasc WAS o1orbitant. This atatomont, it cor
rect, would Indicate its purchase for tho pur-
pose OF aolling 1t to tho county for u hospital.
Tho $50, 900 or SEQ, 900 that can bo saved in the
purchase OF site would go far to pay for the
erection OF tho building.
The tract Of land purchased by tho County
Board is at present divided by no loss than throe
atrects. all Of which will have to bo vacated be-
foro tho grounds will be available for tho plr-
poso for which 1t is bought. Tho County
Board haro no authority to yacato those
streets nor tho alleys In tho several
blocks included In tho purchase. This
cau only bo done by the Mayor and Board Of
Aldermen Of tho city. It is, therefore, this
Doard that ultimately must complete tho trans-
action. Though tho county includes the city, it
is the city that will hayo to pay nine-tontha Of
tho cost, and it is not probable TINT three-fourths
Of the Council will agroo to purchase IN Ashland
ayenuo lot for hospital when q cheaper and
equally accessible lot can be Lad elsewhere.