Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-05-16
FORT BAYARO HOSPITAL.
Money Being Expended In Some
Necessary Improvements.
MORE ROOM FOR PATIENTS.

The ROCKY Mountain News or recent
date publishes half page article on
Fort Bayard. Grant county. and the
marvellous cures Of consumption in
New Mexico by climate alone. The ar
tlcle is well illustrated and good adj
vertisement Of New MexIco's climate.
Among other things. the article which
is under Fort Bayard date says:
The United States general hospital
for consumptives at Fort Bayard. Is
coming In for measure Of Uncle
Sans special attention just at present.
lne big santarium has had such phe-
nomenal success In the treatment of
tubercular cases that the government
has decided TO greatly enlarge its ca
pacity, improve It's equipment and. In
short, make II the greatest tubercul.
osis hospital in the country. The plan
is to expend the sum OF 100000 in en-.
larging and improving the sanitarium.
and the appropriation for that purpose
has already been made by congress.
Another important change has been
made. Heretofore only enlisted men of
the regular army have been admitted
to Fort Bayard Under the new ar.
rangement the institution Is to he
thrown open to soldiers and sailors
alike, and made regular army, and
navy hospital Already about twenty
five men of the navy and the marine
corps have entered the hospital. spec
ial authority, however. being given in
each of these cases
Fort Bayard lies In a beautiful little
valley in the foothills OF the mountains
Of southwestern New Mexico. at an al.
titude of nearly 1000 feet. II Is nine
miles from the flourishlng town OF Sill
yer City. one OF New Mexicoc best lit.
tie cities. Here there is perpetual gol-
den sunshine, unclouded azure sky,
fine scenery and pure. dry. bracing air
all the year round. These splendid nat
ural conditions In conjunction with
the most skillfrl, scientific and thor.
ougly systematized treatment nave
produced cures which are little short
OF remarkable.
There are now at the sanitarium
nearly $50 patients. and the number Is
increasing daily. Larger facilities are
already a necessity. When all the
projected improvements materialize II
is PROBABLE that the sanitarium will be
able to accommodate between 400 and
500 men.
A recent substantial increase in
equipment is the new solarium, or sun
parlor, which has been In use since
February. 1t is a large structure, built
entirely OF steel and glass, and gives
delicate consumptives a chance to en-
JOY comfortably the germ killing sun.
shine regardless of the outside temper
AZURE. r.t 4.
The hospital owes much of its sue
cess and efficiency to the mastery
management OF Major ID. NJ Appel.
who for several years was in command
OF the post and who brought the work
of the sanitarium prominently before
the public eye. Major Appel has been
transferred to the Philippines. for
which point he sailed In January. His
successor Is Lieutenant Colonel Come
gys, deputy surgeon general of the
United States army, who Is an Officer
of great ability and energy. and who
will undoubtedly keep the work of the
institution up to the highest standard.
An important arrai cement has been
made lately, which does away With
much OF the red tape heretofore con-
nected with admission to the hospital.
The consumptive IS now admitted by
direct negotiation between the com.
mandant and the officer In charge OF
Formerly II was necessary to make a
trip to Washington and to go through
other tedious preliminaries before one
could be admitted. Under the new ar
rangement the applicant gets into the
hospital a month sooner than formerly
to the man who Is suffering from the
ravages of the dread disease.
Fort Bayard Ia a very picturesque
and interesting place to visit, with its
great quadrangle, around which stands
the big hospital, the neat officers cot.
buildings and the rambling edifice in
which the general offices and the post.
Office are located The long adobe fort.
with its arched gateway. the store
house, dairy barns, etc. make up a
complement OF buildings that amounts
to a fair sized village.
The. Fort Bayard hospital is great
boon to the soldiers and sailor boys
who fall a prey to pulmonary con-
sumption, and il Is doubtful II there is
another place In the country where
they would stand such a splendid
chance of soon regaining vigorous
health. The changes to be made soon
will add greatly TO the usefulness OF
this magnificent institution and make
1t one of which the government may
well be proud.
A few Sundays ago. the good people
OF Mountainair, Valencia county. got