Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-25
CITY HOSPITAL HEARING.
Gains Ably Presented Before the Lcqis!a i've
Financial Committee. Yesterday.

President Burleigh Of the Angus4
City hospltai, presented the claims G
that INSTITUTION at the meeting of til
committee on financial affairs, yester
DAY afternoon. He said that mas
much as the general scope and charac
ter OF the work done by hospitals. an
their cialms to the favorable considera
ton OF the community had been SO abb
SHOWN by the gentlemen who had an
peared before the committed in behal
OF other institutions he did no
feel that there was any need of his go
ing over that ground again, and IL
should confine himself to prescnta
tlon OF the facts relative to the August;
CITY hospital. Two years ago, he said
when resolve for an appropriation TO
this institution was before the commit
tee, the hospital was completing it.
first year. It's work was being carried
on in rented building, and although
IL mad made most creditable showing
the committee felt, and not withou,
reason, that inasmuch as the institu
, ton was still in its experimental
stages. and had no permanent home OF
IT'S own, 1t could not properly be placed
upon the same general basis as re-
garded State consideration, with other
similar institutions in the State.
Those objections no longer existed
| The work of the hospital had steadily
grown, and, during the past year
: through private subscriptions. it had
, been enabled to purchase the St. Cath
crimes Hall property, which had been
made available by the closing of the
school for girls previously maintained
there. No more desirable place for q
hospital could be found in all New
England.
Situated upon an elevation over
looking the Kennebec river, with per-
feet drainage, and an abundance Of
sunshine and pure air the conditions
for the care of the sick were all that
could be desired. The lot comprised
four and one-half acres of land, thus
affording not only ample room for pres
ent needs, but also all that would ever
be called for by any future growth of
the institution. The building was large
and comfortable.
After coming into possession Of the
hospital corporation it had been thor
oughly renovated and put in first
class condition. It's equipment through
out was thoroughly modern and up-to-
date. 1t contained A finished rooms,
and had capacity for the comfortable
care of 40 patients.
The management of the hospital was
conducted upon the broadcast possible
lines. 1t was the only institution of
it's kind which opened its doors to both
ha q
of medicine upon basis of equal
rights and opportunities. 1t had. too, a
rule which permitted any physician in
the State, in good standing in his pro-
fession, TO bring his patients there and
treat them. During the three years Of
its existence il had treated patients
from l. of the 16 counties in Maine.
Mr. Burleigh alluded to the special
calls that came to hospital located at
the Capital and spoke of the part
which the hospital in this city had
borne in the care of sick soldiers dur
ing the war with Spain.
He said the hospital was. necessarily
conducted upon lines of the strictest
economy, and yet its doors had never
been closed to any patient in need of its
ministrations, although not having the
fund that had been given other similar
institutions of the State the circle of
it's flee work had been in consequence
smaller than would otherwise have
been the case, and smaller than the ac-
tual needs of the community required.
1t had simply done the best it could
with the means at it's disposal. and had
made a constant and rapid growth in
scope and character of its work.
He believed that if the COM
mttee would visit the hospital
and see its facilities and the
character of the work it was doing
the members would agree with him that
it should justly have the appropriation
il asked for.
Hon. Ira II. Randall, "A member of the
board of directors, followed Mr.. Bur
leigh. He said that he was chairman
of the committees on buildings ana
grounds and in that capacity had had
immediate charge of the work which
had been done to put the present build
ings in condition for occupancy. He
said that this work was considerably
more than mere repairs. 1t involved a
large amount Of new construc
plumbing had been installed. wall
paper had been taken off and the walls
finished in hard tint, a number of
thousand feet of hardwood floor had
been laid, and everything possible done
to put the building in a thoroughly
sanitary condition. The operating
room was new construction throughout.
It's walls were laid in adamant. its floor
in slate. careful attention had been
given to lighting and ventilation. and
the room throughout would compare
favorably with any similar apartment
in New England.
Mr., Randall spoke also of the modern
diet kitchen. and the care which had
been observed in furnishing the hospi-
tai He believed that the institution
was in every way a credit to the State
and worthy to stand upon the same
basis of the similar institutions whose
claims to popular favor had been Sc
ably presented to the committee. lie
members of the committee would visit
the hospital. and see for themselves the
conditions prevailing there.
Treasurer ]. r. Gould was present
and answered several questions put BY
members of the committee relative to
the financial status of the hospital.
Dr. w. Fl. Harris spoke of the work
which had been done at the hospital, rs
compared with that done by other in