Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-05
FINEST HOSPITAL IN WEST
Expansion Of Plans for Methodists' New
Home for the Sick.
CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
Main Building and Heating and
owe Plant 60 ne Erected This
Year, Leaving Two wings
90 he Added Later.

Quite an important meeting Of the trus-
tees Of the Methodist hospital was held at
the Young Mems. Christian association
room yesterday afternoon. In addition to
electing new trustees for the term, the
plans for the new hospital were expanded
until tho first idea OF the hospital has been
entirely oyershadowed In the prospect. Work
will be sterted at once on what will be,
when completed, the finest and most com
plete hospital In the west. Only the main
building and heating and power plant viii
be constructed during the present season,
leaving two wings to be added at some
later time. The estimated expense Of the
work is sos, 900,
Rev. ]. w. Jennings. presiding elder Of
the Omaha district. was In the chair. Re-
ports from the trustees and officers Of the
hospital for the last year were read and
showed the affairs Of the Institution to be
in a fourishing condition, the only draw
back being the lack Of facilities to accom-
rnodate the applicants for treatment. In
the last year more than 900 patients have
been treated at the present hospital, of
which number over one-third were free pa
tients. The -deaconnesses told the trustees
and others at the meeting that the work of
the hospital has entirly outgrown Its pres
oab "a ahh NhaN oOhAOAIAh6 hbo NC
done at once to relieve the conditions.
Speaks Encouraging Words.
Presiding Elder Kemper of Lincoln, who
was at the meeting, made an inspiring talk.
pointing OIL that not only the Methodists OF
Omaha, but the Methodists Of the whole
state, are interested in the work Of the
hospital. and arguing that there are 10000
Methodists in Nebraska who will give a dol
lar each towards the new building. Will
liam Wilson of Blair, an enthusiastic cham
pion OF hospital extension, spoke at some
length on the theme. Mrs. w. P. Hartford
and Mrs. e. p. Sweeley also addressed the
meeting. With these arguments and prom
ises of support the trustees had little
trouble In reaching the decision to go ahead
with the new building.
Thomas R. Kimball has prepared the plani
for the building which contemplate q mar
building with two wings running obliQuely
from each end, and a power and heating
plant established Independently. At tn,
present time the wings will not be con.
structed. All the modern notions of hos.
pital construction are contemplated in thu
plans, the rooms to be built without angles
In the corners and the like, SO that the ut,
most cleanliness will be possible with
minimum OF labor. In fact, nothing tina
will add to the comfort of the sick or thu
convenience Of the attendants will be ON.
tilted. When complete with both wings tn,
building will have cost upward of 5000, 900
That 900 we're treated while more than LOO
were denied admission for lack of room
during the last year has convinced tn,
trustees of the wisdom Of their step.
Trustees elected for the next year were
Rev. Jesse W.. Jennings. Charles A, Goss
g. w. Delamatre, Rev. @. N. Dawson, Eras
tus Young, Jay Laverty, B. r. Ball, r. B
Carter and w. p. Hartford. They viii
meet next Tuesday evening at the hospita
to organize.