The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-22
of America to Build
Hospital in Topeka.
In 1t VIII Care for Sick Men,
berS.
NEW LODGE FEATURE
Talk of Locating 1t Near Vine
wood Park.
Other General and Local Lodge
News.

Under the patronage of the Samaritans
Of America, a fraternal beneficiary order
having its general headquarters In To-
peka, plans are being gradually worked
out for the erection of hospital in this
city. 1t is impossible to say just when
construction of the buildings will be be-
gun, but probably in the spring mat
tiers will be in shape for advancement.
Between now and then details for the
hospital will be worked out. the size.
/ location, and other parts of the project.
Just now, however. it seems probable
that the building will be located mean
Vinewood park and to begin with there
will be about 60 beds.
This institution will come to Topeka
as the result of a special feature of the
Samaritans' lodge, in which it is pro-
or accident benefit upon members who
are incaDacitated from their ordinary
duties of life. that they may be cared
for in a hospital free The order is still
young, its membership being confined
chiefly to Kansas, but it is growing rap
idly and the plan upon which it has been
built seems to be taking among the peo
pie. Besides the Topeka hospital it is
proposed to establish one at Wichita.
The one in this city will, however. be
put up and operated first. Then, as the
lodge extends to ottNr states there will
likely be other hospitals constructed to
handle the sick and inca0acitated. Be
sides caring for patients from the ranks
Of its own members, the hospital when
ever IL - DOSSlDl6 VIII ADMIT OulSlQS
patients at a rate the same as Srevaiis
with the other city hospitals.
Interested in this hospital project are
the general officers of the lodge and DR..
F. H Scholle, of this city, who will be-
come chief surgeon when it is estab>
lished. and who in the meantime will
have charge of all the patients of the
order who are admitted to the hospitals
of Topeka. So far there are no sick
members of the order but before the
opening of the hospital of course there
will be such cases. and when in the
vicinity of Topeka they will be brought
whatever places they prefer or in a way
that is fair to the hospitals. DR.. M. /
Kitchener, of Wichita, will look after the
surgical interests at Wichita.
1t is the plan of those who are back /
ing the project to build the hospital on
a tract of ground somewhere near the I
city, with enough land at hand which T
the lodge may be able to acquire in time I
as the institution grows to supply il +
with fruits. vegetables. milk and pos
sibly such meat as is needed. A party I
of Baltimore capitalists are said to own
a body of land northeast of VineWoOd t
20 acres will be purchased upon which /
the institution will be started. The To-
cation in that place is. however. con- |
tngent upon the building and operation /
Of the Vinewood park railroad. In case +
the line is put thorough there and con-
meets with the east. it would be consid- /
cred an ideal place for a hospital. |
Abundance of water of the best quality |
could be secured: the hospital would |
have it's own electric light plant: and its
proximity to Vinewood park, which will |
probably be fitted up for entertainments
would make it possible for convalescini, |
patients to vary the monotony Of loaf
ing about the hospital by visiting the
park.
1T may take" said Dr. scholle. sew
eral years to build the thing up to what
we would like; but we expect to get to-
gether a staff OF the best surgeons. and
by having the ground in connection
with the hospital we can raise much of
our produce and milk and have it pure.
Then another advantage will be that
many of our patients, who while practi-
cally incapacitated and dependent upon
us for care can be given little odd jobs
which will be a saving to the hospital
and at the same time will not be an in
jury to the patient" This feature of
operating the institution will give it ar
advantage IL that it will be more near
ly Independent, producing its own sup
plies from the soil belonging to it, till
ed by the patients
through their project and also extend
to an interurban lir-s, the Samaritan
with them whereby emergency cars
would be held here in the city to he
used when cases that needed quick at
tention might arise. DR.. Scholle, who is
to be chief surgeon. has been in Topeka
three years. coming here from Palti-
more, where for awhile he was connect
ed with the Baltimore University hos
pital, first as assistant house surgeon
and later as house surgeon
]. B. Amos, of Kingman, is national
president of the oreer; E. d. Coon is
vice president: and s. r. Kutz is sec
rotary, having his headquarters in To-
peka. A K. Rodgers and other promi-
nent Topeka and Kansas men are affiI-
ated with the order.
A. K. Wilson. grand secretary of the