The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-10
Members of Board of c. and c. Think
It Too Expensive
AT CITY HOSPITAL BUILDINGS
An investigation POssib1e-Matter Is
Expected to Come Up at To-
nights Meeting.

One investigation of the board of cor
rections and charities into the affairs OF
the city hospital may lead to another.
Some OF the members Of the board have
been trying to figure out for some time
what unusual conditions there are at the
city hospital to cause such large con-
sumption Of fuel. The only conclusion
they have reached is that it is costing
far too much to heat the hospital build
ings, but they have as yet been unable to
find a reason for 1t. It Is probable that
the matter will be suggested In some
shape at to-night's meeting of the board,
and possibly move made for an official
investigation.
The fuel bills for November amounted
to 1856. The next month they aggre-
gated about $3.50. Last month they took
a jump to 1925. The large increase in the
January figures was due in part to the
fact that operations on the interior OF the
new contagious ward were resumed last
month, necessitating partial heating OF
the unfinished building. Wood was used
during January on the order of the board.
which thought that money might be saved
thereby.
The story Of the hospital fuel for the
past winter would make good reading II
it could be printed just the way it is told
by some of those who should be acquainted
with the situation. In brief, this is the
general tenor OF the story:
The board Of corrections and charities duly
advertised last summer for bids for coal for
| heating the hospital There were two re-
sponses. One firm would furnish New River
coal, the kind wanted, for S410 per ton;
! the other bid was $4.20. The board rejected
both bids and decided to buy in the open
| market. Later it came out that the company
| that put in the highest bid was furnishing the
coal at $410 per ton, the price made by its
This a members
| of the board as not being fair deal and a
protest was made. But the protest went I'M
| needed. The coal bills were held up for
| November and at the December meeting
Mayor Ames suggested the advisability of try
! ing pine edglngs for a change. One Of the
lumber companies agreed to furnish these
| for $225 per cord and on the mayors in
| sistence the edgings program was agreed to.
| This fuel was used for part of December and
! all Of January, and the bills grew rapidly
| larger. . H.
| City Physician Nelson it appears, was
! opposed to the use of edgings. He was
we'll satisfied with the COAL Now the
results for January assure him that he
| was right and he will urge at tonight S
meeting that he be allowed to resume the
| use Of coal. 1t is quite likely, however,
| that this program will be opposed unless
| the city physician will consent to buy the
coal Of the company that put In the low
! est bid.
Some of the board say they are salts
| fed that there has been undue pressure
brought to bear upon the city physician
| from an official source to buy the hospital
| coal Of the other firm. They urge that
| 1nasmuch as the company from which coal
! has been bought was the highest bidder
| it was poor business judgment to give it
! the preference in the open market.
| The official source in question is under
| stood to be Commissioner William Rus
sell, who is popularity credited with having
a large influence in the selection of all
! persons favored with the boards custom.
City hospital, workhouse and poor depart
ment supplies, it is said, are purchased
| instance named by him, and estigation
! shows that invariably these persons are
| found in the list of his best personal and
political friends. -
Those qualified to pass judgment in the
matter insist that they can not under
| the hospital. Says member of the board
stand why it should cost so much to heat
| Of corrections and charities: 81 have had
considerable experience in heating build
ings and 1 am satisfied that it is costing
at least SO per cent more for fuel at the
city hospital than it ought to. T can't
see what they do with it ALL
i Possibly the old city hall is not fail
4 comparison, but the results there may
suggest something The cost of heating
the building for the four months endfne
January 81 was s726. The building is ole
and poorly constructed and the heatins
plant almost archaic. For the three
months ending January 81 the fuel bills
at the city hospital aggregated almost
$1,000, with the main building new ant
the heating plant wholly modern.