Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-16
A CITY INF|RMARY.
One of pittsburg's Needs, and One
Which Chief Elliot Hopes
the Next Legislature
WILL ASSIST IN ESTABLISHING.
No Adequate Provision at Present for the
Sick Of the City, to Say Nothing
of What Would be
NEEDED IN CASE OF A BIG CALAMITY.
Some New Laws Desired by Funeral Directors, Liquor
Dealers and others

duO lubuG4udNl VI AuN WY II al ~ 90 oh
lum for unfortunates of ali degrees, and de-
clares that the time has come when Pitts
burg should provide accommodation for its
population, not alone in the matter of every
day accidents and sickness, but also in cases
of maternity and lunacy. The latter he de-
clares to be on the increase.
Mr.. Elliot is emphatic in declaring that
the Legislature should donate additional
funds to the hospitals to enable them to pro-
vide for the needs of the people. He adVo-
Gates a system Of consular examination into
the case of every would-be emigrant, and
says that the Federal Government should
take some such measure to prevent the
wholesale transportation of evil dOers and
the decrepit from Europe to these shores.
He does not think "Sheltering Arms" or
temporary lodging house for stranded stran-
gers advisable, as it would tend to increase
the wandering and vagabOnd class.
NOTHING MORE NEEDED.
"There is nothing more urgently needed
in this city than a city hospital, said Mr..
Elliot. "Such an institution should be
within the control of the city, and all
accidents reported to the police should be
pEoukuh w pOAlSS ohOAAohSSSf Ah-
stead of, as now, depending on the resources
of the other institutions. Pittsburg is
peculiarly a city-from the nature Of its
surroundings, the character OF its popula-
tion, because of its being q great railroad
center, and because of the enormous number
of factories within it-which has absolute
need of large city infrmary. Sudden
accidents are always liable 10 occur in q
city where so many people are engaged at
dangerous work, as in the factories, on the
railroads, and which contains 80 large o
foreign element as does this city, and the
hospitals are all now 30 overcrowded that
were any Unforeseen accident, affecting many
people, to unfortunately occur, IL is certain
they could not be accommodated In the
public institutions To enable the hospitals
10 provide the needed additional accommo-
dation, In the meanwhile, the Legislature
should be asked to appropriate sufficient
sum. II IL absolutely necessary that
the accommodation be found, for
the hospitals are at present crowded
20 their utmost. had thought of suggest
ing the foundation OF q city hospital this
year. Several things have prevented me
from doing 10 in the past. The city has
been In debt, Ehich is now being paid of,
and within the last four or five years Pitts
burg has made quite a wonderful show.
OUGHT TO BE PUSHED,
81 think the time has come when the idea
of q city hospital should be pushed. The
City Farm is no longer capable of receiving
the patients who are daily sent 10 It, Num-
bers of these only get there with great Diff
Guilty and much danger 10 life. Only the
other day we sent out woman suffering
with asthma. She could not set up in a
carriage, and had TO be sent in an ambu-
lance The poor woman had 10 stand the
- iolting over the eight miles OF rough road as
best she could, instead OF being conveyed in
a few minutes TO the city hospital. In
winter time matters are much worse, owing
to the condition OF the roads and the length
of the journey.
owe have, on an average, 42O people in
the Home, and generally about 80 people in
hospitals. All the bad cases which the
other hospitals will not keep are sent to Us,
I'd of course we must take them, because
e unfortunate patients must be cared Tor
somewhere. Here, again, is the necessity
for city hospital, controlled ana operated
by the city, There are certain classes of
disease which, out of regard for the public
health, should receive immediate attention.
The hospitals will not entertain them, but
turn them over to us. The very name OF
City Farm is synonymous with work khouse,
or prison. in the ears of number of peo-
pie, and it is impossible TO say how many
cases of yirulent disease are stalking abroad
to-day, because those afflicted with them,
degraded as they are, will not go to the
Farm 1t does not require any lengthy
argument to show the absolute necessity for
a city hospital
81 was one of a number of gentlemen" ="
continued Mr.. Elliot "who made effort
last wear to obtain larger appropriation Tor
the hospitals from the Legislature. The
committee listened to our arguments, but
did nothing.
ANOTHER THING TO DO.
''I am clear, also, on the point that the
Legislature should DO something for the in
creasing pauper lunatic element. The de-
partment at the City Farm is allowed to keep
15O, but in point OF fact there are 165 there
at present, though against the law. But
what can be done about it? Nothing, until
proper accommodation is provided for a
class that is rapidly increasing. The De-
partment of Charities has 132 pauper
lunatics in Dixmont at a cost TO the city OF
81 70 per week, the State paying the de-
fcieucy. The city pays $1,000 a year for
its insane at Dixmont.
"The accommodation for lunatics is bad,
but it is equaled by the absence of any for
maternity patients. For such there is at
present but the City Farm, eight miles from
the sity. aud with limited provision for
cases which demand instant care. Next to
a city hospital, there is necessity for a ma
ternity institution. 1t might be attached to
the hospital, but 1 should favor q distinct
building"
ais insanity on the increase, Mr.. FL
liot?"
81 should not like 10 positively say so,
but think il is. The increase in the popu.
lation may account for the larger number OF
lunatics now under detention, but 1 think
that intoxicating drinks have most TO dc
with insanity. ] believe that 80 per cent o
lnnaey il due 10 intoxicating beverages
The continued arrival on our shores Of 0
mixed foreign element may not be without
effect on the number OF lunatcs In oui
midst. We are continually receiving thu
outcasts OF other nations; thieves ant
criminals Of all classes, abandoned womer
aud girls are shipped over here; the coun
try, In fact, Is becoming the repository fo
the refuse OF other nations, and yet nothing
IS being done to stay this condition o
affairs OF thoEe who come here the Slays
Huns Poles aud Italians are the worst II
character, and make the worst citizens
They make no wealth, but send home
yearly, vast sums Of money, which are los
TO this country. OF all the immigrants tn
Irish, German and Swiss make the bes
citizens.
SHOULD STOP IMMIGRATION.
"The Government" continued Mr.
Elliot "should find a means to stop thi
Cow Of human refuse into the country. 4