Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
A HOSPITAL SUBSIDY.
Mayor Gourley Will Recommend That
Some Provision be Made
TO CARE FOR THE CITY'S SICK,
Finance Committee to be Asked to Make an
Appropriation.
LEGISLATIVE VISIT TO TIE WEST PENN

Pittsburg's need of city hospital will be
called to the attention of Councils by Mayor
Gourlev.
Among the suggestions to be made by His
Honor TO the Finance Committee, when
that body meets to prepare the appropria-
tion ordinance for 1891, will be a recon-
mendation that 4 sum be devoted to detray-
Ing the keep and treatment of city cases at
local hospitals.
+ Every day persons apply to the city Off
cials for admission to hospitals. They are
sent to the Department of Public Charities,
and there if they are entitled to relief under
the law, they are sent to the Poor Farm. II
they are noh-residents of the city nothing
can be done for them according tn the strict
Interpretation of the law, although Chief
Elliot will often stretch point rather than
refuse relief to genuine case of distress.
The Chief, if possible, helps the applicants
for relief on toward their homes. If they
are too sick to travel, then they are taken
to the City Farm, and an endeayor is made,
often fruitless, to collect from the poor dis
trict to which the applicant belongs.
WANTED BY wAGE-EARNERS.
The lack OF city hospital hears particu-
larly hard upon domestics and single men
who work for small wages. If they are
taken sick and have but little money, there
is no place for them, and they have horror
of being sent to the Poor Farm as paupers.
Many of them would willingly pay for
their treatment after they were restored to
health. but there is little opportunity now
to make such an arrangement.
The police are often troubled to know
what disposition to make of cases brought
to their notice. Sometimes persons reach
this city destitute and sick. They are not
chargeaDle to the Department of Charities,
and the city has no power or even moral
right to insist upon any hospital receiving
them. 1t happens, however, that the hos
pital authorities are always willing to aid
suffering humanity, and when possible
make room for these patients. Some cases,
however, they cannot receive. A few days
ago destitute man suffering from measles
applied for admission to one of the hospitals
and was refused. II he had been taken in
he might have caused an epidemic of the
disease among the 200 or 500 patients in the
institution. He went away, but what be-
came of him is not known.
ALLEGHENY LEADS THE WAY.
These facts have been brought to the at
tention of the Mayor, and he thinks it time
that city of the size, wealth and import
ance of Pittsburg, should take some action.
Allegheny, less than half the size of this
city, has for years been paving S10,0 per
annum to the Allegheny General Hospital.
For this sum the hospital takes care of all
cases sent to it by the proper officials of the
city, and the arrangement has proven very
satisfactory to both parties to the agreement.
Some such arrangement may be suggested
bv the Mayor to the Finance Committee and
Councils.
There was considerable discussion last
summer about the erection of city hospital.
, 1t was suggested that the proceeds from the
sale of the old Poor Farm would suffice to
establish a new and improved institution
and still leave large balance, which might
be devoted to the erection of new hospital.
The Poor Farm DEAL having struck q suag,
the hospital project was lost sight OF, but is
now being revived. 1t is estimated that
from $50, 600 to $4,000 would buy site
and pay for a very complete building, and it
is also insisted that Pittsblrg eau support
such an institution as we'll as Cincinnati,
Philadelphia and many smaller cities.
LEGISLATORS TO VISIT THE WEST PENN.
CITY Treasurer Denniston, who devotes
much of his time outside OF office hours.
aud some of his money, to the West Penn
Hospital, yesterday sent invitations to the
Allegheny county delegation to the Legisla-
ture, asking them to visit the hospital next
Saturday that they may see Tor themselves
the needs OF the institution. The hospital
will ask the Legislature for an appropria-
tion of S140,00O, of which $500 will be
devoted TO paying off a debt which was in
Cured some years ago when the Legislature
failed to appropriate any money for this
hospital.
Mr. William McCreery, in speaking about
this hospital yesterday, said: 81 believe we
have the most economical management oil
any hospital in the country, if not in the
world. Our daily expenses per capita are
fraction over 9S cents, and this includes
| everything. We charge the mills and rail-
roads 81 week for each case they send, but
that does not really cover the expenses.
| Sometimes a man is brought in all cut and
| bleeding, but not seriously injured. He is
| cured up in two or three days, out as soon
as he came in we had to furnish him new
underwear to replace his blood-stained gar
ments, and that sends the average cost of his
| daily maintenance away up.
"We have made a number OF improve
ments in the hospital recently, and hope
to make more We have completed the new
story, which gives us 81 additional wards.
We are endeavoring to interest the ladies in
furnishing these rooms, and many of them
have responded, among others Mrs. O'Hara
| Denny. In each room, when furnished, we
hang a card giving the name OF the donor of
the furnishings. These new wards will re-
| lieve, to some extent, the overcrowded con-
| dition of the hospital"