Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-07-01
Rho CITY MoSpltal.
CAN FHE Guy CONDUCT, ONE rs TEH REsENT Ac-
gIss fHe tpFSql cp'tt'H9srtfn VTs1 n 4Np

CAV THE PFE ooNpUgT. ONE rs TFH REsEYT Ao-l
TIeN - 9MA tpuEeL 'co1t1nfTkR WISE AED
ifHRoPEhR t5AklO tYFFJttUUtYH
These questions are rropounded not from any
spirit Of opposition 70 the proposed snteprise,
but sgapE from fhe laOt that inlPFession iS FAST,
gaining ground In many quarters, that Che city
conncil Il ehdeavQring 70 establish and conduct
CITY Hcp1sals b fSa seetlihg an sslepheut Sit "A
hands.re aii.t'T VI AL 81 ~ l4,4, I. Il I.v;- +
the "WilminEton Hospital Society," which has
since been chartered by the Legislature qAe OBJ
iect Of this Society was to establish And conduct
In Wilmington good hospitil. whore The best
medical attendance should be accorded to the
poor and untOStunAte, Who happened TO get sick,
or meet with accidents on eur otfeets and In our
manafacteries. The leading physicians Of par
city, and ssVeral ihAuehtial cikize1s were COrpo-
TatoFs OF this Society, aud ehteEed into their la
bom with hearty good will which argued well
FOR the success OF their project. Urged Ouaby the
words Of encouragement freely extended to their
human scheme, they continued their efforts, until
they had the sum Of about $4,000 promised TO
them in the shape of contributions. A'number OF
ladies were also interested, who promised to sup
ply the proposed hospital with beds, bedding,
linen, towels, and all such nscessaries. The med
ical men or the Society also pledged their services
frae Of charge. st.. n. +
Knowing their inability to purchase lot and
crest the required buildings for $leOOO, the SO-
csety determined to ask municipal assistance.
About tins time the City Council determined
upon establishing City Hospital, and the Hospi-
tai SOOaety decided To attempt cooperation with
the city authorities in this respect. Their propo-
sItOn was for the city to purchase an eligible and
cOaren'es site, and erect tho necessary buildings,
towards which resNn they would contribute &lD,-
600. They would also guarantee the furnishing
OF the Hospital frOSh promised Contributions of
lady friends, and would give their professional at
Tendance 9Eaa Of .ehaxaA... The SoG1ety mantloned
lot which they considered available and cOnven-
tent (BlshoP bees 1T between Washington and
Jefferson, aud Thirtetnth aHd Fd1xteenth kreets),
but were wiIEag q A@agraA. sup0f any niliag lot
equally as con veQjen TO their Offices and the heart
OF the city. Tbis offer was faVbsahly entertained
by some members of the City CetnciI Hbspital
Committee, and the Society hoped that the c6-op-
GRAFTON would be effected. e p.
But the result was altogether different frOm
their autlcipatohs The City Uounoii agreed
upon the purchase Of property, which, although
surpFisingiy cheap, Is too far from the centre of
the city, .he physicians say, to be convenient for
hospital, while the building - not adapted for
hospitaI purposes. They claim that they cannot
afford TO mAkB the necessary visits to place 80
fur removed; and discouraged in their cfEefta
have withdrawn their offers FhBais Q clear loss
to the city Of $4,000. the furnishing of the hos
pital, aud efficient medical attendance, to say
nothing of the advice and cc-opeFatioii Of careful
and experienced physicians. 'at t.# WA
The, amOunt ApprQpriatea by the City Couhcil
Tot the purchase Of lot and the erection of hos
pital, is S25, ,0O0 or This Amount 81 400 will
have to be expended ~ purchasing the proposed
grounds, leaving $4,000. for other purposes. Ibis
sum. we judge 10 mot sufficient TO pay for the al
terations which wilt be necessary t. make the
building suitable for hospital, Then they WIN
need the furniture and al other hospital parpha.
malta, t0F Which their appropriation does not pro-
vide. Another important itsm is medical attend
ance reaident physician viii have to 10 em-
plogeds togethar with several asaistAnts, costng
considerable sum. By q corporation with the
Hospital Society. ali this expense wonld have been
avoided.
From this hasty glance at affAirs. it would ap-
pear thqt Council has aetsd hastily and unWissly
in this matter. No ene Is opposed City Hospital,
but all mast admit that 1t you'd be better to have
one under the control of caFeIul physiciRns, fur
nlshed and atteaded to free of COST, and costing
bat little for its support, than 90 have eOn--
dnfted BY body Of men, inezR arienced in such
matters, and conducted almost entirely by the
taxes OF the PeOple.