The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-01-07
TALK OF ABANDONING THE
PRESENT ONE.
The Council Considers the ProrOsitiOntO
Lease the Present Hospital to the
Sisters.--Much Sentiment Develops
in Favor of New Location, for Good
Reasons...A Long Discussion.

\ nc COulClI uCNOuCQ uCdIlJ lUS Gil
tire session last night to considering
the proposition to lease the Tourtel-
lotte hospital TO the Sisters, which
was fully outlined in last evenings
Free Press. A committee of the
physicians aud trustees appeared and
presented good reasons for the pro-
posed lease. This committee con-
sisted of Drs. Andrews, Webster and
,Hielscher and 0. 0 Pitcher. Another
member of the committee, j. G. Wise,
- was unable to be present.
Vice President Petersen presided
in the absence of Mayor Pfau, and all
of the aldermen were present.
The visiting committee was heard
previous to the first order OF business.
Dr. Andrews took the floor first and
said that if the city would turn the
hospital over TO the Sisters and put ih
sewerage and water, they would put
~up d Src1QOO addition and provide per-
petually all the facilities that are
needed and guarantee that there
should be no more expense to the city.
49, lt'would be to the advantage of every
business man and a pride TO the
citizens AT large to have an ample
hospital, Small towns about Us have
larger husp,tals than Mankato has
This is an age when / he sick are given
the greaste>t consideration. There
- are no better nurses than we have,
but the building is not large enough
The present contract expires May lst.
and the Sisters will not remain longer
under The present conditions. They
have a libsral offer to 90 to new
hospital in Wisconsin. They like this
city and desire to stay here. 1t is de-
sirable that steps be taken at once, in
order that it may be known what to
expect. The physicians and many
citizens are very favorable to the
proposition.
DR.. We bSter said that he desired to
endorse what had been said. He had
been told by Sister Superior that the
invt stment would eventually reach
much more than $4,000. The hos
pital should have facilities for 100
beds, whereas there are now only I3,
without crOwding the Sisters out.
Everyone reads Of people. going to
Rochester for hospital treatment. We
read in the evening paper tonight Of
DR.. Warner taking patient to RO-
chester. Mankato is known as an
educational center, and should be as
a medical center. The present hos
pital is the poorest | ever saw and
20 wrong in its plans and conceptions
There should be laboratories for re-
search, etc. The most feasible way
should be decided upon.
Mr. Pitcher said that the matter
had come to the point when the pres
ent hospital will have to be abandon
= ed fnless there is water and sewerage
put IN. 1t is inadequate for the de.
mandS upon it. Recently there were
eighteen patients there and two more
wanted to get in. There would prob
ably be forty or fifty if there was
room. The city should have hos
= pital such as it ought to have. If the
building is abandoned, it will not be
courteous to the donor. 1t has cost
the city 81, 900 year. The Sisters will
pay all expenses if they secure a
lease. Since they took charge, it has
for-the first time been conducted as a
: Hospital should be. 1t would be to the
best interests Of the city to enter into
such a contract as proposed. The
Sisters are not anxious about this. but
are willing to do it. The question of
sewerage and water comes first.
Dr. Hielscher said that he would
relterate what had been said. He
said that the condition of the hospital
is deplorable, and something radical
must be done at once, or the city
would lOseits prestige.
City Recorder Brown read the the
late Col. Tourtelotte's proposition to
donate the hospital to the city.
Mr.. Pitcher said there was nothing
in he letter which would prevent the
council from making the lease.
Aid. Fowler said that he was I'M
equivocally in favor Of making the
lease He thought that a contract
should be signed.
Aid. Bradley said that the change
was desirable, but the council should
not go too fast. He desired that the
city attorney give his opinion upon
/matter. to see that the way is clear to
enter into contract.
City Attorney Pau said that it was
a matter that should be gone into
carefully. The deed, would have to
be examined.
Dr. Hielscher and Mr.. Pitcher
thought that the question of the
willingness Of the council should first
he decided