Evening journal., 1901-12-30
HOSPITAL WORK
is REVIEWED
How Mr.. Fahcy Figures in
The Subject
BUILDING is UNFIT FOR USE
Trustees Of the Poor Suggest That
Citizens Committee Of Fifty
Make an Investigation

Indications point to the Emergency
Hospital, now building at Farnlhursi
for uhe Trustees of the Poor as being
another Offense against the county
government, which demands the at
tention Of the Citizens Committee OF
Fifty and Attorney General Herbert II.
Ward. This is the trend of Emergency
Hospital events" at this time, and in
forcing the issue there are no more
enthusiastic assistants THAN many OF
the county trustees, who realize that
they have been imposed upon in this
particular.
When the subject of Emergency Hos /
pital construction was first brought to
the attention of the county body, it
came with much force, inasmudh as an
epidemic of contagious diseases threat
ened the community at a time when
medical ability was without suificent
assistance in the form of a suitable
hospital in which to. treat victims OIL
the threatened siege. Then it was that
the trustees resolved to assist the city
physicians by erecting the buihlng
Money derived from the sale OF a
county property in Sixth street and
savings in hospital management form
ed the nucleus of a fund which the
trustees were assured would grow SUI
fciently to admit of the erection OIL
an Emergency Hospital which would
be a credit to the county. Inspired by
the early progress Of the movement,
The trustees had E. l.. Rice, the cOun-
tvs architect, submit plans of suit
able building, the cost of which was
not to exceed $4,000. Just here the
"nfgger in the woOdpile' showed him
self. The desired plans We're submit
ted by Mr. Rice. approved by the board,
and bids for the work invited. David
Dangel obtained the contract on bid
of about $500. Foundations were
dug on the county's property adjoining
the almshouse and material for the
structure proper placed on the ground,
when it came to the knowledge OF
members of the board that the Emer-
gency Hospital then planned was to
be nothing more than frame suruc-
ture. not unlike the one the county
had just destroyed by fire because OF
unsuitability. This knowledge came to
the majority members of the board
with surprise. they having understood
officially, that the new hospital was 10
he of brick. Patrick FaIhey, a member
of the board from this city, declared
that the members of the board were IN
error in believing that THE building
was to be of brick construction, anc
SO vigorously did he press his poin1
that those members who had disagreed
with him in the premise, finally were
made to believe that they might have
been wrong in their understanding o.
the subject. This discussion was car
ried on in the absence of the origina
plans of the building, by which cnl.
could the question whether the build
ing was to be of frame or brick b.
finally determined.
However, the board. realizing tina
another frame building would be use
less for the purposes intend
ed, decided to reject the building
thus far finished, provided the contrac
tor would release the body and ask 10
new bids on brick structure. MI
Dangel assented. Accordingly negou
ations for the building of the hospita
were begun anew II was agreed tina
4 the old plans and specifications be tol
lowed. except where the word frame
appeared. which was to be changed {
brick This was done, and in du
time an estimate of the cost OF IN
brick structure came TO the board 2
the name of David Dangel. The COS
was something like $4,000. Subsequent
w. Mr.. Dangel was awarded the col
tract for the work.
AT the board meeting in October II
subject of hospital construction can
nm for extended and animated discu
sion and in one of the most eXcitiI
minutes Mr.. Fahey acknowledged tn
he had sent in the low estimate. whi'
gave the work to Mr.. Dangel, but e
plained that he had done so at N
Dangers request, a death in the Dang
family having made it impossible
Mr.. Dangel to estimate on the work
time for the board to-receive the bic
AT that same meeting members OF {
hoard declared that underhand met
III ods by some persons in the work h
effected the county, and for time
looked as though the building OF
Emergency Hospital would beabandc
ed. Mr.. Fahey relieved the dishea
ened trustees, however, by declari
that the board would be able to mn
ihe cost of the new building, which,
the way win be nearly 10000
said the Levy Court would allow
q board an extra appropriation of $3.50
and that City Council had promised
give at least $500 to the hospital fu.
ThereupOn, fresh hope came to tn
county officials who had doubted
wisdom Of saddling such an expense
& the board, and committees were
pointed to wait on the county and
city bodies for the stated amounts
fore the missions of the commit
4 could be fulfilled, however, it came
That the brick hospital was to be wi
B out spouting. adjuncts of the w
which members of the board arg
4 were absolutely necessary to the 50