Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-15
PEST HOUSE PLANS
Physicians Differ on Desrability of
Remodeling the Abat-
toir.
SOME SAY LOCALITY Is UNsAN1TARY
While There is Also a Sentiment
Favorable to Cottage
Hospital.


Occasioned by the action of the city
council looking to the remodeling OF
the old abattoir at an expense, accor-
ding to the architects estimate, of be-
tween $1,000 and $4,000, to be used as
detention hospital for the care OF
patients suffering with contagious
diseases. Many have been disposed to
criticise such a course from the
standpoint of expense involved and
the undesirable location, as wen as
for other considerations.
Health Commissioner Joseph De-
Silva, when interviewed by The Ar
gus, expressed himself as favorable to
the proposed plan. Il do not favor
doing the work on quite as elaborate
a scale as the artichect's plan pro-
poses,'' he said, "Dut | feel that the
city is in need of permanent deten-
ton hospital and that it is impossible
to provide one for less than $4,000,
the sum it will take to put the old
abattoir in proper condition.
THE city owns the building and
enough land about it so that there
can be no serious objection from the
owners of surrounding property to
using it as a detention hospital. The
foundation and walls of the building
are in good condition and it is located
above high wafer. Contrary to the
general impression the surroundings
are on the whole healthful and the
view toward the river is fine. If the
squatters that now occupy the city's
ground about il were driven away and
Il little pains taken to improve the
appearance the place could be made
very attractive.
Permanent Detention Hospital.
a detention hospital should have
permanent facilities suitable for all
seasons of the year, and nothing but
a well constructed building will do
The abattOir can be arranged with 10
or more separate compartments in
addition to the quarters for the at
PENDANTS. There should be one or two
rooms in which patients who are able
to pay for their care can be placed.
1t will not be necessary to have Gus
todian for the building, as some ar
que, for it can be watched and cared
for by the health officer, who can
open it and air it occasionally. Thus
there need be no permanent expense
attached.
Il contend that the location of the
place is one of its strong points.
When the city was afflicted with
smallpox last winter we looked about
for a location of n detention hospital
and we found that there was no other
place in the city limits where we
would not have to fight adjoining
property owners in the courts. In
junction is a favorite method of pre-
venting the location of such an insti
tuition and we were assured in several
instances that the authority of the
courts would be inveighed against us
if we attempted to place hospital
anywhere on higher ground.
Il believe that We are becoming
more and more liable to become af-
fiicted with contagious diseases and
that the need for a detention hospi-
tai is growing. Smallpox is not the
only scourge that is apt to come this
way, and we should be prepared for
whatever overtakes us. There is
growing disposition on the part of
regular hospitals to refuse to receive
consumptive patients, and the time is
coming when the town or city will
Their thing to be taken into considera-
ton, and | believe that a permanent
detention hospital is the only solution
of this question.
Not All to BE Done At Once.
''The intention of the health de-
partment is not to recommend that
the remodeling of the building all be
done at once. The architect was di-
rected to make particular provision
for doing the work little at time
so that the expenditure need not be-
come burdensOme. For instance one
corner of the building could be fixed
up now for say $500, and next year
additional rooms could be fitted up
and the grounds improved. i believe
that a commodious and permanent
building in the long run will be found
cheaper, as well more safe and
satisfactory than any temporary
structure that could be DEVISED