Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-05-28
MEMORIAL DAYS
The Dedication of the Battle Creek
Sanitarium.


Sanitarium.
| THE Memorial season in Michigan this year
VIII be marked by events relating to the future
history and the better progress OF our State as
well as TO recitas and reflections on the lives
and deeds and deaths of its heroic citizens.
On Memorial Day, through sacred services
and songs and eloquent addresses and the
strewing of flowers in city and village and
country communities throughout our State,
tribute will be paid TO the memories Of the
men, who, during the dreadful wartime years,
gained for themselves glory forever, and for
our state splendid and increasingly precious
heritage.
On the following day, in Michigan, will oc-
cur another event which gains its interest and
Its value from long years OF worthy service and
untalterng sacrhce-the dedication of a mag
nliicent building at Battle Creek to purposes
| as worthy and as valuable to the State as
could be formed from love of country and
sincere desire to contribute to its welfare and
the betterment of its people.
! The incidental or the accidental observa-
tons OF an hour sometimes afford interesting
material for longtime and serious reflection.
An opportunity utilized by the writer to re-
Gently make brief visit at the Battle Creek
Sanitarum and to learn something of what the
men and the women who are officially connected
with that splendid Michigan institution had
done and what they are doing and are seeking
to do, resulted in information which added
greatly to sympathy and to interest in the dedi-
cation event of the thrty-hrst day OF May.
The Battle Creek Sanitarum is not a State
institution as far as State control and State
appropriations are concerned. Ii adds moth
| ing TO the burden of State taxation, and re-
quires from no citizen payments of rates or
taxes to provide for its helpful existence but
il is a worthy and most desirable State institu-
/ ton from every other point OF view. 1t has
assisted in spreading the name and fame of
/ Michigan throughout the civilized sections of
the globe; and in far-off South Africa and
Australia and New Zealand, in all the great
commercial centers of Europe and in the
islands of the sea- Michigan is known, and
the acquaintance will be increased through
related directly and indirectly to the greater
and older establishment at Battle Creek.
THE BURNING OF THE BATTLE CREEK
sANITARIUM.
! With this point of view in mind il can
be seen how calamitous to the interests of
our State and to one of its principal cities
seemed the great fire, Feb. rs, 1902, which
completely destroyed the main building and
the hospital OF the institution, causing the loss
OF several hundred thousand dollars and for a
little time creating anxiety and question as to
whether the Battle Creek Sanitarium would
ever again be fully restored or permanently
4
tutions. And this view will further explain
why, to the people of Michigan and to all who
know something OF this great enterprise, the
forthcoming dedicatory event is considered
one Of Statewide interest and has been given
official recognition and official approval. In
vitations signed by Governor Bliss and other
othcial representatives OF our State govern
ment have been sent ~ the governors of other
States and to members of legislatures and to
| representatives of municipal governments
throughout the United States and to foreign
countries, requesting their attendance at the
exercises attending the dedication of the great
| building which has arisen from the ashes OF the
structure destroyed by fire on that February
| night in 1902
A MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF HEALTH.
BY those who are familiar with such mat
tiers, the building TO be dedicated at Battle
Creek on the last day of the present month is
said to include the foremost improvements OF
the present age and the best ideas that could
be gathered from worldwide observation and
: experience in connection with the needs it is
| intended 20 meet and the developing require
ments OF the modern hospital and the model
| sanitarlum. The general style OF the building
| is that known by architects as the Italian Re-
Nuisance. The design is that of n main build.
ing with three separate buildings in the rear
/ connecting with zach other and with the main
| building by semicircuar corridor The main
| building is SGT feet in length, exclusive of the
! porcheS, and 10 feet in width; the width being
| increased at either end and in the center to IS
feet 1t is five stories in height with ten-foot
basement and roof story Of lighter structure
| and somewhat less width, occupying nearly the
whole length of the buildng,-practically
seven stories in all. The structure throughout
is the latest improved form of fire construction
and is built of brick, stone, iron, and cement
SO perfectly fire-proof is the building said to
| be that any Office, parlor, or sleeping room
might be filled with straw saturated with kero-
sene oil and set on fire without damage, aside
from the scorching it would give TO the space
within which il was confined. The flames
could not possibly extend to any other room
in the building; neither could il do any serious
injury outside the room ITSELF
The floors OF the great structure make up an
area OF five acres Of marble mosaic, the con-
struction Of which was superintendent by the
Italian artist in that line of work, who had
charge of the beautiful mosaic work ofthe con-
gressional library building at Washington,
ID. Z. In no respect has convenience or any
desirable purpose been sacrificed to ornament
or effect and yet, when fully completed, il will
stand as one of the beautiful buildings of
Michigan, creditabe to the city and to the
State in which it is located and a permanent
monument to heroic effort on the part Of those
who represent the Battle Greek Idea" as
well as 10 the achievements of the health
giving and Misunderstanding Improvements and
inventions Of the present age.
THE MOTHER OF sANITARIUMs.
BY those familiar with the work Of the world
in that direction, the Battle Creek Sanitarum
IS said to be the first institution Of its kind. IL