The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-01
LAST OF ARMY HOSPITAL.
DIR. CHAMPION WILL TAKE POSSES
SION OF HOSPITAL BUILDINGS
TO-DAY.

They VIII BE Turned over TO Him
To-day by the Government Force
That Has Been in Charge OF the
PrOperty-Most of the Govern 1t
Stores Were Either sold or Re
moved Some Time Ago and There
Has Been but Little for the Gov
eminent Force to Do. Preliminary
to Delivering the Property to Its
New Owner-Govcrnme VIII Sur
render Its Lease.
The government hospital buildings will
be turned over to-day to Mr.. Carlton {.
champion, by whom they were purchased
recently from the quartermaster general
of the army. All of The government prop
erty that was not embraced within the
terms of the sale has been removed from
fhe buildings and they are now in po-
sition to be handed over to their new
owner.
The small force of government en-
ployes. headed by Mr. Crockett, who have
been in charge of the property, will con-
clude its labors to-day and turn the build
ings over 90 Mr.. Champion. After their
sale there was but little further to be
done, as the supplies that had been stored
in the buildings We're either sold or re-
moved almost completely some time ago.
Mr.. Champion purchased at a recent
Court House sale the greater part of the
land upon which the buildings We're erect
ed and will at once proceed to remove
those not situated on his property to
position within its boundaries. HIS in
tention. as already announced in the
Morning News. is to convert the build
ings into small dwellings for purposes Of
rental.
The lease on the property secured by
the government has nos expired by some
months. but as the buildings were of no
further use to the departments the land
will be turned over to the owner with
them. The lease Of the government runs
until the summer Of next year.
The government force has been busy for
the last week or two in preparing for the
final delivery of the property 10 Mr..
Champion and have concluded their la
bors in good time. The members of the
force will probably be assigned 90 other
cities, where depots OF the quartermas-
tiers department are maintained.
The construction of the buildings was
DGSUn IN the IAN OF 1855. anu tplI PIE ttli
in June. 1899 The buildings alone cost
the government about Sl25. 900, and a con-
siderable sum was paid. beside. for three
years lease Of the land upon which they
were erected. As they were in use for
a very short time only and as the price
obtained for them, s17ioo, was altogether
out Of proportion to the amount of the
Investment the government is behind
tidy sum on the construction Of the hos
pital in Savannah.
While it was in use as a hospital a very
large number of invalid soldiers from
Cuba and other places where garrisons
were then located We're cared for there
and the good that was thus accomplished
doubtless reconciies the governments
conscience TO the amount OF the unrepaid
money outlay. As the establishment Of the
hospital doubtless resulted in saving the
lives OF many Of the brave defenders of
the government. il is O matter of indiffer-
ence TO the army powers that be that a
considerable sum OF money was required
10 accomplish this end.
The hospital was built at this point be-
cause of the fact that it was deemed un-
wise to carry invalid soldiers from Cuba
TO a severe winter climate, and because
of the excellent port facilities here afford
ed for the handling of the government
transports. In future the buildings viii
fulfill a more pr0saic destiny than has
been theirs in the past.