St. Paul daily globe., 1895-10-01

end their little dispute over the OIL
ing of the floors, and accomplish
that work, which can be performed
in a day or two.
The new structure is a three-story
brick building of fire-proof construc-
ton, with steel girders and hollow
brick arches, and is shown on the
right hand of the accompanying pict-
ure. 1t is 203 feet long and 27 feet in
width. 1t extends north and south.
. The south end fronts on Jefferson
avenue and the north on Niederhofer
street. Every floor is connected with
the administration building by cor
ridors.
There are six large wards in the
new building, the dimensions of each
being 70 by 25 feet, and there are
also several smaller wards for the
treatment of cases requiring isola-
ton. The building will easily ac-
commodate $50 patients, which num-
ber all of the old buildings put to-
| gether cannot provide quarters for
without uncomfortable crowding.
| Of the patients now occupying the
. old ward buildings, all will be trans
| ferred, with the exception of those
| suffering from conta agious diseases,
| and the foundlings, who will be
placed in separate buildings which
We're built for their special accom-
mediation.
This necessary and valuable addi-
ton to the city hospital has an in
teresting history. even though it's
career has not yet begun. Like
| Rome, it was not built in a day.. No,
nor in year. The first signs of it
made their appearance nearly four
/ years ago. The foundations were
| laid then, the walls were reared, the
street girders put in place and the
slate roof constructed over all. The
empty shell was then allowed to
stand for nearly two years, until
more money was provided for in the
tax levy.
Thereupon, in the month Of May,
1894, the city council let new con-
tract for the completion OF the build
ing. But while the council proposes,
st. Paul has a city comptroller who
| disposes-unless the courts step in,
| as they sometimes do. In this case
| City Comptroller McCardy refused
! at first to sign the new contract.
But three months later, in the fol-
| lowing August, the comptroller was
satisfied by the opinion Of the cor
peration attorney that the money
| with which to pay the contractor
was provided for in the tax levy, and
he accordingly signed the contract.
latter part of September, just about
one year ago.
The amount provided for by the tax
| levy of 1894 for the hospital building
| fund was $4,000. The total amount of
the contract, including the architects
fees, was $35, ,4S0-14. subsequently
Comptroller McCardy has signed
contract for supplying and putting in
the gas fixtures, which amounted to
| $1,O45. This sum, together with ad-
ditional architects fees, brought the to-
tai expenditure up to $36, 6,958.48
According to the calculations of City
Physisicn Ancker and of the members
VI lH6 T1OSplldl COMMISSION there was
still a balance in the hospital building
fund exceeding $1,000. Realizing as these
gentlemen did that a three-story hospital
would be manifestly incomplete and
unsatisfactory without an elevator to
convey patients to and from the
operating room, they let a contract for
equipping the new building with an
elevator. The contract price was
l,70O The commission was awarded
contract for paving the approach to
the hospital, which amounted to $7S3.
These contracts were approved and
confirmed by both bodies of the COM
mon council, but when they reached
Comptroller McCardy, that official re-
fused to sign either of them. Asked
for his reason, the comptroller in
formed the hospital commission that
there was no more money in the treas
ury to the credit of the hospital build
ing fund.
In vain did the hospital commission
and city physician expostulate with
Comptroller McCardy. The former in
sisted that the whole $42,00 had moi
been expended The comptroller in
sisted that the fund was exhausted
He admitted that the entire $4,000 had