Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-03
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
Annual Meeting Of the Cor
poration
10 Hear Report Of Directors and Other
Officers.
N W0$t GR0tiN3nn Ghas.t~~ z. Al.
Most Gratifying Showing in the Coed Wo,l
Thus Far Accomplished.

me annual meeting of the City hos
p'tai meeting was held. last evening.
at the aldermen's room in the CITY
building. The first business In order
was the reading of the following:
ing December 81, 1898:
IL may be well. in this orr first an
nuai report, coving the period of nine
months since the opening of the Augusta
Cl,y hospital, 70 review; briefly. the cir
cumstances attending the establishment
OF such an institution in our city.
augusta Is situated very near the
mnaiinematical center of population in
Ter cities of the Kennebec These cities
nave total population of 26,3O6, and are
the Immediate trade centers of a village
and rural population of more than 10000
None of these cities-three of them with
IN a radius of six miles--were possessed
OF hospital facilities. Their citizens We're
Obliged TO seek the advantages of such
institutions, If they secured them at all
IN distant parts of the State, and accident
cases We're not infrequently, for want of
more suitable accommodations, turned
house.
Augusta the largest Of these four cities
was one of the very few state capitals In
the country unprovided with general
was 1t the natural center of large popu-
lation. but once every year. 1t entertain
ed within its limits the citizen soldiers
of the State at their annual muster and
once in every two years the members Of
the Legislature. together with the visi-
tors from all parts OF the State. brought
TO the city by the work of the session. No
city in Maine is called upon to entertain.
for so long time, so large number of
people representing every section of
Maine. and Yet in years past there was
"a ttftptr t,..,
of these people who might be taken with
a severe and sudden illness, could secure,
at moderate cost. the advantages of first
class medical care. and nursing. under
proper sanitary and hygienic Conditions
Those who have suffered severe sickness
under the unfavorable conditions of 4
camp or boarding. house, win appreciate
the contrast in advantages for regaininy
health. which a well-managed hospital
would have suffered under such circum-
stances.
character was long apparent to the mem
bers of the medical profession on the
kennebec, who, in intelligence and skill
will rank with those of any section OF the
that the founding OF suci an institution
would call for the sacrifice of much time
and strength. and would necessitate the
raising of considerable fund. 1t would
in short, require the united and active
support of the whole community. With
all of these facts in view, the work of
tai went steadily forward. though never.
at any stage. unattended with discourage
ments: The act of incoroorations was ap-
and distinguished fellow-citizen, Hon. j.
w, Bradbury, headed the list of incorpo-
rators. -ss
on January ., 1899. the corporators held
a meeting to perfect an organization and
adopt code of bylaws. AT this meet
ing. also, a soliciting committee was APP
pointed for the purpose of raising fund
of Sc, 900, to be used in the construction
of permanent hospital plant. The COM
mittee entered at once upon the discharge
of its duties, and in short time sue
ceeded in securing pledges for this pur-
pose to the amount of about $1,000.
While many OF our citizens subscribed
literally, there were others, who, while
endorsing the general movement. believed
that the plan contemplated was alto
gether too pretentious for a start, and
called for too large an expenditure of
mony. not only in the construction and
equipment of buildings, but in the sub
sequent expense of maintaining them
They believed that, in the long run. bet
ter results would be obtained by securing
suitable building and starting upon a
modest scale, taking care, however, from
the first to secure thoroughly efficient
force of employees, and the best possible
sanitary conditions. From such Begin
ming they felt assured that the growth
would be steady and substantial. This
idea prevailed. and in the early winter of
1898 a committee was appointed TO secure
Il DulIulI1S SulldDle LOT lit
of a hospital. The task was by no means
an easy one. AS private dwellings go N
Augusta, a 10 or Broom house is be-
You'd the average in capacity, and Will
such a residence is ample for the require
ments of most private families, 1t would
not supply for any considerable length OF
| time the room essential for hospital
There We're several things, therefore, that
the committee in booking for a residence
had to keep clearly in mind: First. Il sufti-
ciert amount of room: second. sanitary
that the work of the hospital could be
done on two floors. This latter require
ment was an important one, both as re
CARDS the facilitating. of hospital work
| and safety against the contingency OF
| fire. After a long and careful search. and
| the examination of a number OF different
| properties, the committee finally settled
| down upon the house on Crosby street
! owned by Mrs. F. w. Kinsman. This
| house is beautifully situated upon an
elevation. commanding a magnificent
| view up the kennebec ana across on rs
eastern shore. 1t contains the unusual
| number of % rooms, all Of which are SIT.
| uated upon two floors, and every one OF
| which could be easily reached from the
| its interior arrangements was well ad4ptss
ed to be easily converted to the uses OF
a hospital.
by private subscription to equip TINS
| building for hospital purposes, and work
| was begun the latter part or FEBRUARY
| This task was sldllillully aiiu lhCi
| rsarfoT1led. and was greatly assisted by
numerous gifts from friends Of the moves
of the Ladies Hospital Aid Society.
whose members haye from the start. peeh
devoted to the welfare OF the institution;
| ana who have never failed to respond
nobly TO every call that has been made
mon them. Throughout tne building Is
| seen substantial evidences 4 OF their
Ithoughtful care and many 9, patient mas
| had reasonato hold their kindly MINISTRIES
:! in grateful remembrance.
The movement for the establishment OF
a hospital at Augusta, was also indebted,
4 from the start, to the united and hearty
si,nport of the ciergymen OF the city.ai,,
wavs ready to further the interests OF all
good works in behalf of suffering hui
manity. , l., e..,r, IN tho
hospital secure the bssi possible Dc,, snn
| ..aaassonaf,tv modern plumbing suited to its
The operating ma room sfqen Was spe Say
| p,,arsr, a frorded it an excellent light. The
removed from INT te n Tas ~n nen
| wTSnSond floor was laid. suitable sink