Chicago eagle., 1899-11-25
THE BEST WARDEN COOK COUNTY
EVER MAD.

All fair.minded people who are post
ed are unanimous in the opinion that
Jas. II. Graham has been the best war.
den who ever held the position.
Five years ago. conditions ut the
Cook County Hospital were such rs to
demand general attention from the
Board Of County Commissioners rs to
what method. with limited fund, could
bc resorted to to repair the general de-
cay that was evident on all sides
worn.out machinery. rotten flooring,
rust-eaten steam pipes. ruin every
where.
1t remained for Jas. II. Graham, the
present warden. to solve the problem;
10 him belongs the credit OF bringing
order out Of chaos. With his persistent
efforts each department was organized
20 he responsible for the work mapped
out for them. What In former years
had been n come and go as you please
order was made systematic, with such
marked results as are known to all who
enter the hospital.
The following are the main improve
ments that have made a model institu'
ton Of the Cook County Hospital, sur
passed by none In the United States:
The new receiving ward, q four-story
building on Wood street, the upper story
of which Is equipped with the mos,
modern operating rooms In the world
was built in 1897.
A substantial iron fence upon con
~. a m hn ont "a
bounded by Harrison, Wood, Polk and
Lincoln streets, was one Of the early i'm
provements In this administration.
\ macadamized sidewalk, replacing
the old plank sidewalk, is greatly ap
prcclated by the public in the vicinity
A concrete driveway, forming the en-
trance on Harrison street, completes the
appearance of the most picturesque
square in the heart Of the great West
Side.
II Is due the citizens of Cook County
10 know how the money appropriated
for the maintenance of this great lnsti
tuition, with an average Of $50 patients
has been expended and judiciously han
died by the present warden, James IL
Graham. How little do they know OF
the vast amount of work that has taker
place within the portals of the hospital
In the past few years. In the tunnels
Of the great buildings will be found q
network OF steam pipes. For years
these steam pipes have been kissing
steam and sending germ.laden moisture
through the wards and rooms of the al
minlstratIon building. These have beer
replaced by new ones. by a force oi
steamfitters and plumbers, under the
direction OF the efficient engineer. Chas
Lump, who for months have labored
in that poisonous atmosphere.
Twenty-Five wards and corridors con
Meeting have been retoOred and rcpaint
ed The administration building iiv,
stories high, has been repaired and re-
painted from top 10 bottom. Genera
repairs on elevators, machinery, etc.
including modern improvements In the
laundry, repairs and rcpaintlng Of de
tcntlon hospital, remodellng Of entrance
on Harrison street cement walks with
in tho hospital grounds,
All repairs and changes within the
institution have been made by the force
employed in the hospital, and out Of the
regular appropriation, the same being
about SlJO,OOO a year.
An interview with the members OF
the medical board demonstrates the re,
markable executive ability Of It's pres
cnt warden. To him they ascrlbe the
rapid progress that has secured to the