The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-22
THINKS WELL OF THE CITY.
Gel. CLEARY'S HOSPITAL REPORT
WILL BE FAVORABLE.

PrODerty on EstiII Avenue, Near the
White Bluff Road, Well Adapted
for Hospital site-GoOd Water,
Lighting Facilities and HeaIthful
LocaIity-Buildings May Go Up.
Hospital Lies Between savannah
and CharIestOn-COI. CIeary at
Charleston To-day.
Savannah stands a good show for the
army hospital to be established either here
or at Charleston. Lieut.. Col P. ]. A.
Cleary saw a site for the proposed hospl-
tai Yesterday that he admitted would an
swer the purpose well. He leaves to-day
for Charleston, where he viii continue his
inves tigation. If he does not find site
there that he regards as superior to that
he looked over here, it is likely savan-
nah win get the hospital.
Col Cleary is chief surgeon of the de-
partment of the Gulf. His headquarters
are at Atlanta, where he has been located
for some time. The work in which he
is at present engaged he was detailed to
perform, and, as soon as it is completed
and his reports submitted to the surgeon
generals office at Washington, he will
resume his duties as the head of the surgi-
cal department of the Gulf.
Three tracts were viewed by Col Clearly
He was accompanied on his drive to them
by Alderman A. S. Guckenheimer, a mem
her of the Council committee on military
matters. The only one of the three loca-
tons that impressed the colonel and that
he will be likely to consider at all was
the property of the Savannah Investment
Company. 1t is on Esun avenue, near the
White Bluff road, and comprises some
thing like fifteen acres. This, Col. Cleary
stated to representative of the Morn
Ing News, is very well adapted to hospl-
tai purposes. 1t has all the appearances
of a healthful location, he says, and
water and light may easily be secured.
After he has made his examination of
suitable tracts in the vicinity of Charles
ton, Col. Cleary will prepare his report
for the surgeon general. Only those tracts
both here and there, that he may regard
as suitable for the location of a hospital
will be reported upon. With one tract
favOrably reported in the vicinity of Sa-
vannah, the city stands a very good chance
to get the hospital. If more than one
site is regarded favorably in Charleston,
It will look as If the chances will be in
favor of that place being selected.
Tents are not to be used for the hospi-
tai. While it Is not planned to have it
permanent affair, it Is yet to be sub
stantial and win probably be built of
wood. It will be used as long as there is
any necessity for it. With new camps
located In this section of the South It
will be necessary to have hospitals near
al hand to which the sick soldiers may be
sent Lengthy rides aboard trains are not
the best means of curing i'll soldiers, and
the men, in transit, not infreuuentIy fail
to get the proper care and nourishment
The shorter the distance they are required
to travel from camp to a hospital there
fore, the greater are their chances of re-
covering.
hospital establishment as far south a
savannah would also come in well as a
point within easy reach of the West In
dies, so that sick or wounded soldiers
from Cuba or the newly acquired Ameri-
can possessions in that quarter could be
brought without great trouble or delay
to a healthful and comfortable climate
Col. Clearly does not know anything
about the plan that will be followed In
the erection of the hospital, wherever it
may be located. 1t may consist of one
building, or more. Col. CIeary is consid-
ering sites that will be large enough for
the erection of a building or buildings that
viii afford shelter and comfort to as many
as 1000 patients. That is about the num-
Der the hospitals at Fort Mcpherson will
accommodate.
Col. CleaFy was very well pleased with
Savannah as city. He likes it well, and
1t is possible he may render a very fav-
orable report to the surgeon general.