Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-01
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN WILLIAM
QUINN.

/ oohmuNouuoN FROM COUNCILMAN WILLIAM H.
QUINN.
To ate Editor of the Commercial.
There has been great deal said about the Oh
ty Hospital by the editor of the Gazette, and en-
tirety against the project. He has not one word
say in it's favor and it is very surprising that
the editor fails to see that with the rapid strides
Wilmington is making as manufacturing city,
hospital will be considered necessity In our
community. AS to the expedlenoy of purchasing
| the present site. there may be difference of
| opinion. II q lot he'd been purchased. 1t would
have cost from seven to ten thousand dollars,
| and building suituble for hospital purposes
would have cost at least fifteen thousand dollars
more making twenty-five thousand This figure
| may look large to the editor Of the Gazette, but
/ nevertheless 1t is true. First, 1t would
require q residence for the Superinten-
dent and rooms for nurses. Second, it
would require resident physician and
he would take room. 1t would require a
room for dispensary. library and reading
room would be necessary, and ali Of this would
take room. Fault icertalnly cannot be found
with the situation OF the present hospital but il
is attempted on the plea Of there being too lit
tie ground connected with the building. Ia NOT
the city square immediately opposite? Cannot
the patients who are convaescent walk there as |
well as il the ground was adjoining the build |
ing? 1t is said that the institution will be op-
pressive to the tax-payersS There are some |
pressive. as they have no direct use for the |
schools but it is found to be necessity to edu-
cate that portion of the children whose parents /
have not the means to educate them at private /
school. and no person knows the advantages of /
an education better than those who hasn't any. |
The same with the hospital, - Persons who /
think they or their relations will never want To |
go to hospital cannot see the use of it. Thai
may be the case with all the croakers against
the hospital, but when you come to the indus
trious mechanic, who in pursuit OF his honest
avocation is liable at any time to be injured and
disabled for weeks or months, in Heavens
name, IS there wretch in our community Who
rather than pay small trife, would see him or
her thrust into the almshouse? In the Gdzette's
figures, it would not cost less than twenty-five
cents per head to maintain it.
1t is said that DIR. Weldin, whom the commit
tee appointed as resident physician was a younp |
man of DO experience, and one that nobody was
acquainted with, when there were plenty Of ply
scians in our own city. l would say that DR.,
Weldin was recommended by two of the best
physicians of the city as man suitable for the
position, as be was a student OF one of the med
lcal colleges of Philadelphia, and as it is naces-
sary to have an apothecary as we'll as physici-
an. In Justice to our own physicians I would
say several OF them did tell me they would visit
the hospital as consulting physicians, and be-
Ieve they will do it, Notwithstanding.
In regard to the charge of the whole number
Of patients who will go to the hospital he doubts
inding six who would be willing to go to what
better when he wrote the article, as there have
oeen several applications made for admission
and some by persons who are willing to pay for
ihe care taken OF them. 1t was only few days
lgo man called on mo to be admitted to the |
Hospital, stating he could not get the care he
equired elsewhere, and he did not want to come
Is pauper on the free list, and he had too much
bride to go to the Aims House. Does not the
Idzette know that our Alms-House is infested
" certain class of paupers, from the time frost
ZONES in autumn, until SDrinR OR until tha /
Weather is warm We are we'll aware the
Alms House is as we'll conducted as an insti-
ution of the kind could be, but did it ever .
'oour to the editor Of the Gasetle what would be ;
lis feelings II he was placed in position OF be-
ng temporarily disabled for one or two months |
md was, through force of circumstances, COM
,elled TO become companion of Lewis Board
ey, and other black and white, who are and have
,een public paupers for years He states the
democrats were opposed to the bill. l would
tate that the assertion is false, and the gentle
nan should know it. There were only two mem
'ers OF Council who voted against it, viz
Gessrs. Baker and Febiger. Ii was strongly
Urged by the Democratic members and Repu6li-
ans except the above named persons.
The truth of the matter is there are only two
lasses OF our citizens who are opposed to the
The first is composed OF people like
he editor OF the Gazette who will not need a |
ospital, and think it unnecessary the other,
I people who had lots to sell. In regard to it's
,eing political scheme, would say that H. F.
inegan, ESD, introduced resolution over one
ear ago, and the matter died in his hands,
cooking to the establishment of hospital il
'as renewed by me, after the last city election,
nd ct the last session of the Legislature, that
ody in its wisdom passed the act allowing the
lty to issue bonds to the amount Of S25, ,000 and
think in ten years each member will have cause
} feei proud of the vote.
Very Respectfully Yours,
WILLIAM H. QUINN.