The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-14
MAY CHANGE HOSPITAL SITE.
Col. Forward TO Make an Inspection
of Other Locations

of Other Locations.
Col. w. II. Forwood, assistant surgeon
general of the army, is here looking over
the hospital situation. He arrived yester-
day morning from Washington. and will
probably telegraph a report to the surgeon
general to. day.
The mission of Col. Forwood is to inspect
the tract Of land at Estil avenue and Bull
street and to report on its suitability for
hospital purposes. If ne finds that there
is another more suitable tract available
in the vicinity of the city he is also 60
report upon its advantages.
Col. Forwocd and Capt. j. W. McHarg,
assistant luartcrmaster, visited the Estin
avenue site yesterday. They looked over
the ground and also went out 90 Mont
gomery street extension to see a tract
there. This belongs to Capt. Henry Blum,
and IS considered suitable, though the
cost Of putting ia sewer and water con-
neetions would be much greater than for
the Estill avenue site. 1t was raining
while the officers were out at this proper
ty, and they could not, therefore, make as
make. The ground was viewed from a
closed carriage. There is a large area ana
no trouble on the score Of sufficient room
would be had should Col. Forwood report
IFS desirabiIty over the Estill avenue prop
erty.
1t is thought any objection that might
exist to the use of the Estill avenue site
could be overcome by a change in the orig
inal plan for the frontage of the build
ings. This was 10 have them front on Es-
til avenue. but a low place on the south
east corner could be avoided by fronting
them on the White Bluff road. To do this
would require the lease of an additional
piece of property south of the Smith tract,
already leased which extends along the
road The corral Of the Seventh Corps oc-
cupies this ground a present but there
would be no trouble about securing IL for
hospital purposes This would mean that
the corral would have to be moved a sec
ond time, as it was moved some days ago
from It's first location on account of It's
having been placed upon the tract that
had been leased by the government for
the hospital.
The Secretary of War Is particularly
anxious to secure an advantageous location
for the hospital 1t is understood that he
has said money Is to be no object in the
securance of the proper site. What is want
ed is the best results. A place is desired
where every chance for recovery may be
afforded the soldiers who may be brought
to the hospital from camps in this sec
ton and from Cuba. The government has
entered into an agreement for the Estili
avenue tract by which il is to pay $500 a
year rental But this lease will be broken
unhesitatingly and the money win be paid
If Ii Is decided from Col. Forwood's re-
port to take some other site.
The award of the contract for the con-
struction of the buildings for the hospi-
tai and their plumbing will be held up in
Washington by the quartermaster general
pending the consideration of the report
that viii be sent in by Col. Forwood. This
may mean some delay in getting to work
on the buildings, but ii is not thought this
viii be of any length. Col Forwood will
make a further inspection to-day and viii
probably be in a position to send in his
report by night.