St. Paul daily globe., 1889-10-10
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
Sudden and Astonishing De-
sire That 1t Shall Be
Abolished.
A Row Among the Exposition
Directors That Promises
Fun.
Jewish Scrolls Supposed to
Have Been Stolen From a
Synagogue.
A Days Doings in the City
Court--General News Of a
Day.

made because Minneapolis had no city
hospital. The city really was in de-
plOrabe condition. Almost daily some
one was injured on the street or taken
i'll in such a manner as be rightfully
charge of the city. There was no fixed
place to carry the patients. The plan
was to distribute them among the pri-
vate hospitals of the city, and yet no
one of them were obliged to take
city patient if they were
crowded or for any reason it was
inconvenient. Moreover. an order from
the city superintendent of the poor was
necessary for admission to any hospital.
At that time it was found absolutely
imperative that the city have place
where patients could be taken and
there be no question about their being
received and cared for. The city was
pOOr-it is always poor when things or
absolute necessity are to be paid for;
and in lieu of a new building an Old
one was rented. and through the agency
of one or two hustlihg city officials
was converted into q very adequate hos
Dital. 1t seems to fill the need very well.
No complaint was made OF ii or the
work it was doing. 1t came to be
looked upon as permanent institution
of the city, and one that could not be
done away with.
Suddenly within the last few days it is
announced that the hospital is to be
abolished and the old slip-shOd method
of treating MANNED humanity is to
be resOrted to. No reasons are given
for the action. There are forty-tive
patients now in the hospital. 1t costs
but 1875 a week per capita, an amount
much less than the private hospitals
will take patients for. The rent Tor the
building is paid for year and half yet.
The city has only recently paid $4,000
for gas fixtures, an equal amount for
heating apparatus, large sums for IN
struments, medicines, furniture, and
numerous little accessories. all o. which
will be practically thrown away. Be-
sides this the hospital is in nice run
ming order, with a good force OF at
tendants, and is just such comfort
able. hOme-like place for the unfortu-
nate as the city should have. 1t has
taken work TO make it what il is, and
if it is not all it should be 1t is good
start for something better, when this
great metropolitan city, with thou
sands of dollars to eXpend on parks and
bOulevaTds for the wealthy, millions
to spend for court houses and public
buildings for the powerful and those in
authority. can spare few hundred to
invest in building for the deserving
unfortunate.
But the pertinent question is: What
is the cause for this unexpected and ap-
paTently unWaTranled action on the part
of the administration? Why should
growing city like Minneapolis be with
absolutely no hospital to which her pa
N fai- &c N
ton but that the city must have a hos
pital at a time in the near future.
WHY. then. should the embryo
be destroyed? Why should this
administration OF retrenchment and
reform. after eXDending several
thousand dollars in fitting up and
leasing such place, abandon it and go
to the additional expense, not to speak
of the greater question OF incOnYen-
ience of throwing all city patients into
private hospitals.
To use an ineiegant but expressive
phrase. There is Niger in the wood
pile somewhere, = and interested parties
will not have TO look far to find him.
The state university now offers. or is
willing to offer, piece of property as
donation to the city to he used as a site
for a city hospital. The university
is not rich. and while there is
no proyiso in the offer, it takes
no foresight 10 see that if the
hospital were located in the university
grounds il would serve as an admirable
laboratory for the practice OF the classes
in clinics in medical school. There are
thosein the city council immediately
interested in the university.
In a short time, with no hospital, the
old cry wonld he raised for such amin
stitution. The city, of course, would be
poor. The university authorities would
offer the site. Ii would appear like get
ting something for nothing. The city
would doubtless accept the land, build
the hospital under the wing of the uni
versity, and IL would practically be
portion OF that institution.
This is exactly what the city should
not do. A city hospital should be an in
stitution distinct from the dominating
influence of any medical school.
The present building is good enough
for a year and halt yet. 1t will an
swer every purpose of a hospital. In
the meantime the city finances will have
an opportunity 10 recuperate, site
can be purchased and a building
erected. The accessories of the hOspi-
tai can be removed, with the patients,
to the new building and the founding
of a new hospital will not have to be
re-encountered.