Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-02-06
T Fl B HUSPI T A L
REASONS WHY THE APPR0PRI-
ALTON SHOULD BE MADE.
WOULD LOWER THE DEATH RsfF.
An Additional Inducemcnt to Set.
tiers-A Duty to Humanity the City,
Able TO Bear The Small Increase Of
Taxation Necessary.

llC IOIlDN w 'AtI
TIMES on the subject Of appropria-
ting 100000 for IL city hospital is
written by one of the leading citizens
OF Roanoke, and is both interesting
and worthy of thoughtful considc+a-
ton. 1t says:
Having stated some OF the many
raasocs for voting in favor of the
appropriation TO the Roanoke and
Southern railroad, and the belief that
its construction is essential to cur
continuous commercial prosper
ity, VT next consider the approprla-
ton for IL hospital.
Will it be jndicious for the people
of Roanoke to subject themselves TO
tle increased taxation required to
appropriate 100000 for the benefit
OF the sick and the afflicted in this
community
The commercial benefit resulting
t!lerefrom may, and probably will not
BE- so direct and manifest us from the
railroad, but will it be really less sure,
o. lasting?
Home comforts, constant attention
aud skillful nursing are in Il majority
OF cases. more effective in preventing
t; tai illness, and restoring the sick to
health than the efforts OF the wisest
and most skillful physician without
these advantages.
Very few towns or cities have such
Il proportion OF population deprived
OF these splendid aids in time OF sick
ness as Roanoke.
Out of II population estimated at
Ia, 900 there are about >. 800 unmarried
men and fully 5000 of our population
are boarding, very many of them
lodging in one place, and obtaining
their meals elsewl'e ere.
What an appeal is made by the
simple statement of these facts to
provide q home in time of sickness for
these thousands who, while in health,
are laboring to build up our city.
What IA blessing would such home
prove not only to them, but TO those
with whom they live, and who now
have sufficient labor to care for the
inmates of their household when in
I II ,alti?
How much might Il wel-conducted
hospital lessen the spread of disease,
and lower the death rate in our city:
With how much more confidence
would distant friends trust their
loved ones to come and be wage
workers in our midst, and how many
more would willingly come among us
if assured of proper care and atten-
ton in time of sickness.
1t is duty we owe to humanity, Il
q Ity we owe to the thousands daily
telling TO increase our wealth, and n
duty we owe TO ourselves rs the build
els of commercial city, to properly
care for our citizens when prostraTed
b., disease or disabled in the perf0r-
nance of duty.
on late visit to Norfolk, al editor
OF Il leading daily paper, pointing to
their beautiful hospital, remarked.
''rhat has done as much It's any other
enterprise to promote orr commercial
prosperity" AS Il judicious invest:
iuent lit will pay u.s. TO erect IL hos
pital.
Some years ago the writer accompa.
MED friend who went to a hospital
in Baltimore for treatment, an from
that time to the present has seen no
reason TO change the opinion then
formed, that II well conducted hos
pital affords more facilities for prop
trly treating the sick than can be
found in any private family.
We need and should have such a
hospital in Roanoke, where those
WHO can afford it can go as pay
patients. and where those who can
not afford to paw will be received with
ont compensation.
1t is said, Let us wait until our town
grows larger, and our revenues
greater This is specious argu-
ment, but after all it is Satan's old
argument to keep men out of the path
OF duty, it is simply "procrastination.
If we believe it is right, let us do it
now; let us have the same nerve IN
doing a lnercitul act which has dis
tinguished our people in commercial
lie,
In dealing in real-estate those who
have been most successful have
invested. trusting for profits in the
future. We surely can make this
appropriation with equal confidence,
fer both the words of inspiration and
the annals of history bear evidence
that 'he who soweth bnuntlfully
shall reap bountifully."
We are able to stand the small per
centage of taxation required. 1t will
probably prove remunerative in dol
| lars and cents. 1t certainly will do SO
ir the moral benefits conferred upon
orr community.
On one occasion a man was urged to
contribute to some good cause. His
excuse was, HE was not able. lie
owed so much, ETC." Being told he
owed the Lord more than anyone else,
he replied: "That's a fact, but he
amt pressin' me like the other fell
lers.n
Just so, now. We owe it to our
peculiar condition as to home. We
owe it to our citizens and to human
ity to have hospital, and under the
new assessment we will have ample
funds. But because these claims are
not so pressing upon us individually,
as some enterprise which promises
the almighty dollar in our pockets, We
say, Not yet. Wait while
What a mistake might such waiting
prove, One noble life saved to FRIENDS
and to society is worth more than al
the revenue otherwise obtainable
from the investment of the sum re
ouired for hospital. So my op.er
ballot would be, and my willingly
paid share of taxation will be for the
appropriation to the hospital.
''i'i, r. Is. NJ.
Insane From La Grippe.
By Associated Press.