Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-11-12
THAT NATIONAL SANlTARIUM,

sumptives, taking the government prop
erty for that purpose, Dr.. Roberts o
Minneapolis, in the Progress published
in that city, takes up considerable space
in the last Issue of that paper, to show
that the NEW MEXICAN knows nothing
about consum ption, public sentiment OF
anything else concerning the welfare OF
Santa Fe. Life is too short 10 attempt
an answer to every point raised by the
renowned medico, but some of the N ore i'm
portant shall have attention.
DR.. Roberts assures the Progress that
the New MEXICAN does not represent 'tht
popular sentiment on the sub ect in San
ia Fe," and that the present opposition
is inconsistent.
The opposition of this paper to the
sanitarium scheme does represent the
sentiment of the citizens on the sub ect
and there ia nothing inconsistent in that
opposition. The visit paid to this city
by DR.. T. @. Duncan IN the interest of the
sanitarium occurred some years ago, and
at that time the idea was to locate the
institution in the foothills, some distance
from the town, not in the very heart of
the city as now proposed; the workings
of the society we're not thoroughly under
stood, and after 81, the largeness of the
talk made by the gentlemen interested In
the sanitarium scheme carried sober
minded men off their equilibrium. Sec
ond thoughts are generally the best, and
after considering the project carefully,
1t did not prove to have the same aluring
appearances it first presented. Then, when
it was proposed to take the government
buildings, right in the city, for the pnr-
pose of converting them into hos pltals,
the beauty of the proposed institution
faded entirely. IT the Invalid society
wishes to come to Santa Fe and locate its
on the grounds first decided
upon, some two miles from the town, no
objections will be raised and all the as
sistance In the power of the citizens will
be rendered in making the institution a
success.
After recising in detail the happenings
Incident upon visits to Santa Fe by him
'elf and DR.. Duncan, and speaking of the
receptions and banquets given them,
'mong which was one at the Palace hotel
n this city, the doctor says:
"Bot now comes the most interesting
# all the facts, and to my mind ought,
7hen reflected in the face of the New
dExIoAN, and the people of Santa Fe to
'ale them into helping our society to get
he prize we prayed for in our strong pc
itions. Here are the facts: During the
ast regular session of congress the score
airy land probably backed by others) of
he mems commercial club of Santa Fe
'rote very long, and very strong $50
trong IN fact it became malicious) letter
o the delegate representing the territory
+ New Mexico in congress, and in that
stter the delegate was commanded to
smother" that invalid aid bill, and the
ill was withheld for time"
That letter was backed by "others."
he people had had some time to look
alto the matter and learn something of
that the effects of such an institution
'ould have upon the health of Santa Fe,
nd they decided very wisely that they
id not care to take the risk. The bene-
ts to be derived, when contrasted with |
ossible and probable disastrous results,
'ere entirely too Insignificant to justify
ne experiment.
In regard to contagion the doctor is
,clined to be sarcastic, and because he
enies that there is any danger to be ap-
rehended from that source, feels that
,ience and common sense are woefully
ehind the age in not accepting that
iatement as beyond contradiction.
hen the New MEXICAN made the asser-
on that large colony of consumptives
ould be dangerous to the health of the
eople now here, the authority of as
armed men as DR.. Roberts was had for
before it was published. Aside from
1pert knowledge on the subject, the
atement was made upon the experience
communities in the salubrious south
est in the past few years, and which can
OF be refuted. In many localities where
assumption among the resident popula-
on was unknown up to few years ago,
at disease has become quite comm Oh,
I'd no cause can be assigned for it ex-
pit contact With consump tives who have
'me from the north and east and made
cir homes among the natives.
That there is danger to the community
ON the presence of limited number of
berculosis patients no one maintains,
it that danger does arise from the pres
zee of large number of careless per-
ms SO afflicted reputable physicians do
It deny. The climate of New Mexico In
neral and of Santa Fe in particular is
culiarly adapted to the cure of con.
mptives, provided they come here be.
re the disease has secured too firm
Id upon them, and the NEW MEXICAN
'uld be the last paper in the territory
deny afflicted persons the privilege Of
curing benefit from the climate, but at
8 same time 1t must perform its duty in
posing the locating of disease breeding
in the heart of the city. Dele
to Ferguson will only consult the
shes of the great ma GRITTY of the people
Santa Fe If he uses his influence to
feat any measure that may come up in
ngress looking to the transfer of the
vernment reservation in this city to the
valid Aid society.