New-York tribune., 1903-03-15

darkness and dampneSS OF any tenement mouse,
DR. Ernest Lederle. Health Commissioner is now
considering plans for a comprehensive sanato-
rum which combines the features of a village
and q camp. On a farm Of ninety acres there
are to be accommodating for five hundred pa
TENTS half Of whom are to live in houses and
the rest in tents. The use OF this site has been
offered by its owner Charles Fowler. to the
city for two years. at tine end of which time 1t
may be purchased a nominal price.
The plans for this great municipal farm for
tuberculosis have been prepared after months
Of study and investigation by q special COM
rnittee Of the Charity Organization Society.
They have been drawn ny Renw,ick. Aspinwall
& Owen of No. 3t7 Fifth-ave.. who were the
architects of the Stony Void Sanatorium and
some of the buildings of the Adirondack Cot
tage Sanatorium. near Saranac Lake. and who
nave designed the proposed sanatorium at Den
YER
Though these plans have not been officially ap-
proved by Commissioner Lederle they re-
garded by him most favorably. They will soon
he submitted by him. with perhaps some
changes and mndica tions to the Board of Es-
innate and .Apportionment. for the purpose of
securing the necessary appropriation of S'fn,
,nkl Though the municipal treasury at the pres
mi time is being drained heavily for the exc
rItion of many great improvements, neverthe-
Jess officials high in authority have reason to
Navor Low is thoroughly interested in the
subject and he will hold a conference this
week with DR.. Lederle to the details OF the
1roposed sanatorium. In the mean time experts
nf The Health Department preparing full
statistics 10 tho cost of operation, the eX-
Iense for each individual, the percentage OF
lures expected and the number Of consump-
lives in the city for whom such home is re-
uuired not only TO henefit their own condition
hut also prevent their spreading the disease
among others
Even should the city officials fail to appro-
pirate sufficient funds Immediately to carry out
The full plans Of the Charity Organization
,onmittee DR.. Lederle says that he will not
delay in starting the camp
1 will then simply ask for enough money to
e-:uip one hundred tents he said yesterday.
and next summer take out two hundred pa
tIelrs to begin the work II / can't put up
or. hundred tents. l will start with less. The
great thing is in beginning. and proving to the
;r.-reduIous that this treatment is by means
an experiment. The whole ninety acres could
l,o bought at the present time for 5000. So
you it will not break the city to buy 1t out
right"
If the plans adopted and the money ap-
propriated.' said Charles H. johnson. Of the
sr,ecia! committee tuberculosis of the Char
iry organization Society. yesterday, they will
place NeN-York definitely in the lead in It's
municipal equipment for stamping out consuulp-
;ion. The sanaforium will care for more pa
fieuts than any institution of its kind in
f-r.l.e and the initial Will he less.
Hinder the provisions Of Chapter ;}27 of the
ass Of 1900 the city has the power, whenever
,rs Board Of Health shall deem it necessary for
1hs pronlotion Of the health of its inha ahitants.
I" establish. equip maintain outside Of its
corporate limits hospital for the regular treat
1-,ent oF tuberculosis The committee is firmly
convinced that the time has come when steps
.o:lid be taken for the erection of this institu-
1ia~. There is no question hut that this neces-
II is imperative one.
In the opinion of DIR. Herman Biggs. the med
r.lIiShment Of such sanatorium would In
100 er.d more than repay the city for the initial
tyI.ense
The importance of the work of preventing
tuberculosis 10y means of d country sanatorium.
ssys Dr. Biggs. even from economical
sr.itdponr. should appeal to the city author1-
1iss For example if We take the deaths from
consumption for th. whole of New-York City
:.''mUally at 1oast and conservatively estimate
1n-r each human life at the age at which tuber-
tu,r deaths occur is worth 10 the municipality
s. -dn this gives total loss to the city of
$l'tHmen year.
We may further assume that for average
ls,5ud az At least nine months these persons are
enable la work and must be cared for. The
l"s~ "f their service during this period may he
-til'ated 81 a day, and the cost of food.
nursing. medicines. attendance, etc. at Sl'o
more day. making total loss Of $3.50 a day
f,.r each sufferer This gives a further loss to
1he municipality of Ss.100ND. making a total
:.rrral Joss to the city from tubercular diseases
e at least S.1EimnWn.
l have not the slightest doubt, personally,
4rt..r 2 large experience In the sanitary super
lion Of infectious diseases in this city. cover
i.f- many years. that the expenditure Of small
,s,rr Of this sum would result in a rapid decrease
j. The prevalence Of consumption in New
York"
After the selection Of n site of high altitude.
such as that in Central Valley, which has been
o.f.red TO Commissioner Lederle. the plans of
Ihs Charity Organization committee provide
the Iavine out of a plot Of land. which has a
sclIrheastery exposure to the noon sun, with
,,a.intains in the background to shield it from
ON such plateau will be erected first
The village Of houses. with administration
lu,ding and central dining hall, an amuse-
lrent haI and laboratories. and, secondly. and
Iiot far distant, the camp of tents for the all
",It1o"r CASES
The houses. which are tn be constructed on
link with white stone trimmings, slate roofs
and glass corridors and S"lariums are 10 u"
grouped in far, shape with administration
building in the centre of the handle. Here are
l" he situated the apartments of the resident
physician and his assistants the nurse and the
other officials Of the institution In addition,
,ion Of city officials directors. who may go
night from their business in New