The times., 1899-12-22
A PORTO RIC6N HOSPITAL
The President Discusses Plans With
William X. COrwine.
Money for the Institution May Be
Taken From the Funds Donated to
citation to Have Charge of the Work
-GeneraI Davis FRvors the Idea.

William R Corwine, Secretary CT the
Merchants Association of New York, had
a long conference with the President yes
terday. during which they discussed plans
for establishing general hospital in Porto
Rico. The President expressed himself as
pleased with the idea, and Mr.. Corwine
Will begin at once to perfect plans for
erecting such an institution in one of the
large cities of the island. The money for
the purpose VIII be supplied by the Porto
RiCan Relief Association from a surplus
left over from subscriptions to the cyclone
funds.
When the island was devastated by the
terrible storm last August the President
selected number Of men TO compose a
relief association and Mr. COrwine was
appointed the secretary. Appeals for re-
lief were published and generous responses
were received from all over the country
Fast vessels were chartered and loaded
with provisions, clothing, and medical
stores, were rushed TO Porto Rico. Thou
sands of natives were fed, clothed. and
provided for until they could raise new
crops and rebuild their homes The as
socIaJiOa continued sending supplies up to
the first of November when General Da-
Wis, Military Governor OF the island. an
nounced that the natives We're able to care
for themselves
The imIueI.se amount Of supplies pro-
vided is not known to the general public -
said Mr. Corwine The association sent to
the poor natives over 1CO,0 900 garments,
nearly $4,000 worth of medical supplies.
and thousands Of tons of provisions, be
sides lumber, nails, and other material
with which to help them rebuild their
homes. For a long time over 100 tons OF
provisions were shipped every week TO the
| island. and / suppose we would still be
sending them supplies IL General Davis
had not sent US word that the natives were
able to care for themselves. I don't believe
there was ever a more general response 10
a call for aid than there was to the appeals
made by the association through the press.
Checks for sums ranging from $1,000 to
I IS coo were sent in by wealthy people, whi e
the poorer classes sent their pennies and
dimes. The entire country responded, and
we will be obliged to announce that no
more subscriptions Will be received
Though our work has been over for prac-
tically six weeks, subscriptions are sti.
coming in. and only the other day [ re-
ceiyed Sl33 from Devils Lake, North Da-
kota.
After all expenses have been paid, we
still have about S35. 600 in the treasury,
and It is this sum that we propose to use
for a hospital. We have been in cor
respondence with General Davis to learn
how he thinks the money would best be
expended He has replied that hospitals
are badly needed in the island, that the
sick are frequently compelled to lie out
in the streets. and that there is much mis-
cry and suffering among the poorer classes.
We may conclude to erect two hospitals,
as the buildings viii not cost great deal.
AS soon as l get back to New York, which
will be in day or two, we viii begin work
en- the plans for the hospital, and hope to
have the building erected within few
months"