The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-03-04

In consequence of the existing state
of Territorial finances, Hilo is to do
without a hospital. This was one of
the most important matters coming
before the Board of Health at it's
weekly meeting yesterday, constituted
by DR.. Cooper, president; Fred c.
Smith, Dr. w. II. Mays, John c. Lane,
E. C. Winston and NJ. p. Robinson.
There were in attendance c. Charlock,
secretary; DR.. Pratt, city sanitary offi-
Ger; j. D. Mcveigh, superintendent of
Settlement; Miss Mae Weir, stenog-
rapher, and F. w. Beardslee, archi-
tect. The following letter and enclo-
sure give the story of the Hilo hos
pital:
CLOSING HILO HOSPITAL.
Hilo. Hawaii, Feb. %, 1904.
C. r. Cooper. NJ. D.. President Board
of Health, Honolulu.
Dear Sir The trustees of the H1lo
hospital held meeting on February
"a, 1904, to consider the pros and cons
of the matter of continuing to run the
Hilo hospital. The hospital building
is in need of repairs to prevent serious
decay, and we have no money available
for this purpose except the monthly
appropriation made for us by the last
Legislature. This is not enough to
keep the hospital running and do any
repairs unless we have In the hospital
a large number of pay patients.
In view also of the uncertainty of
whether the appropriation can be
drawn for the running expenses for
services, salaries and supplies together
with other complications of which you
personally are informed, the trustees
passed resolution, a copy of which
I enclose herewith, to the effect that
the hospital be closed up temporarily
and until the financial status is ascer-
tanned and the needed repairs done.
One reason for our present action in
this matter is that there Is now so
very little sickness in Hilo that 1t
seems uncalled for to keep the hospital
running at this particular time of
financial complications, for the very
few patients that we do have. There
has been almost no time when the
hospital is entirely without a patient,
but the reports sent you monthly of the
inmates show you how very few really
lately, hence our belief that the place
should be closed now and the buildings
put into such shape with the money
Of any is available) so as to have the
institution in good order when it is
required more than now.
Trusting this will meet your APPROX
al, I remain,
Yours truly,
L. A. Andrews,
Chairman Trustees Hilo Hospital.
At a meeting of the trustees of the
H!lo hospital held at the parlors of the
First Bank of Hilo, Feb. "a, 1904 the
following resolutions We're introduced
and passed.:
First: That the hospital be closed
on account of the uncertainty of the
finances and as the trustees do not
wish to be held responsible for sala-
ries of employees and bills for sup
plies. All positions with the excep-
cant at the end of the month of Feb,
1904, and the chairman be authorized to
appoint someone as caretaker.
Second: 1t was moved that the ply
sician be instructed not to admit any
ihole patients anu 10 nave all patients
out of the hospital by the end of the
month.
OTHER MATTERS.
Mr. Lane was granted further time
for a report of the committee on duck
ranches at Kalia.
The cemetery committee had no re-
port, but after the meeting the Board
in a body drove to the various city
cemeteries, taking the ambulance for