The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-18

constituted, the city to provide what
ever improvements and engagements
are necessary.
But this matter and the further
suggestion Of the reverend father for
another hospital, we submit to the
consideration and for the action OF
your honorable body, confident that it
will be carefully and wisely deter
mined. Yours, etc,
JOHN @. WISE
For the Trustees of Tourtellotte Hos
pital.
DIR. Andrews was present and ex-
planned more fully what the Sisters
intend to do if their proposition is &C
cepted, He said that Rev. Joch did
not mean contagious diseases in his
letter, as he did not talk that way
when he was here. Consumptive and
other cases that ought not to be with
acute and surgical cases were what he
referred to. He said that il the
proposition was accepted, the com
mittee was ready to raise the Sc, 900
needed from our citizens.
Mr.. Wise said that he had talked
with the other members Of the board
of trustees and had found them ia
favorable to leasing Tourtellotte hos
pital to the Sisters for ten or twelve
years, which would practically
amount to a releasing at the end of
that time. The idea was to practi-
cally transfer the management of the
hospital to the Sisters. Under the
| present contract, the Sisters who
nurse receive $500 a year, and the
Sisters who are in the akitchen re-
ceive 800 a year. The contract for
the present year amounts to $1,000 or
S1,4OO. The Sisters have already been
paid 81, 100, and there is money enough
to pay the balance, There are some
wood bills and other bills to settle,
but the proceeds of the year will set
tie these. The receipts of the hos
pital will very nearly pay the expen-
SEES, at least to within a few hundred
dollars, but there will be no surplus.
Mr.. Wise said that his own judgment
was that Col. Tourtellotte's bequest
was such that the city must retain
possession Of the hospital, but can
lease it. Good faith required that the
city should retain ownership and con-
troll.
City Recorder Brown read Col. Tour
tellotte's original letter, the deed be-
ing locked in the safe deposit vault.
City Attorney Pau said that what
ever is entered into, it should be so
that the city can have control and
take possession if it wants to.
Mr.. Wise said that the Sisters do
not object to that, and those who pro-
pose to assist in the construction of
the new hospital all desire that it
shall continue as a city hospital.
Aid. Zimmerman said that he had
no objection to a lease for ten or
twelve years, which was long enough,
and if all was satisfactory at the end
of that time, another lease could be
signed. 1t is necessary that there be
trustees, as better service will result.
In the course of years, the Sisters
might get slack, and if so, the trus-
tees could step in.
Mayor Pau said that he felt that a
lease of ten or twelve years would be
more in keeping with Col. Tourtel.
lotte's ideas. The simple fact of hav-
ing trustees would be a sufficient
check on any disposition of the Sis.
tiers to become delinquent. He had
objected to the proposition on account
of it's reference to'contagious diseases,
but was satisfied with DR.. Andrews
explanation.
MI. Wise suggested that a COM
mittee be appointed to consult the
Sisters and see on what terms they
will consummate the lease. He be-
lieved that san agreement could be
reached by all parties. The Sister
Superior would come here if desired.
If no arrangement is made, the Sisters
will probably be Withdrawn and sent
elsewhere.
Aid. Petersen thought that it would
be better to have a contract than a
lease.
Aid. Bradley thought that care
should be taken that the hospital
should not revert to the heirs, through
any violation of the will,
Aid. Fritz moved that the mayor
appoint a committee to correspond
with the Sisters in regard to this
matter and report in one week. This
was carried, and Aids. Fritz, Him.
melman and Adams were named as
the committee.
DR.. Andrews suggested that City
Recorder Brown inform the Sister
Superior Of this action and ask her to
come to Mankato. Mayor Pfau di-
rected that this be done, and asked
the city attorney to get Col. Tourtel-
lotte's deed and study it carefully be-
fore the next meeting.
City Engineer Thompson reported
tbot tho uor1 of roplonL;no Tho MI