The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-17
WHY INFIRMARY
SHOULD BE MOVED
DREAMER HAS THE, FIGURES
GEORGIA INFIRMARY ELEPHANT
ON HANDS OF SOUTH SIDE.

Clerk of Council Gives Figures
Showing How Hospital Would BE
benefited BY Reing Moved--Thc
Improvement of Southern Section
of City Demands That site of the
Hospital Be Changed, Mr.. Dreamer
Declares.
Mr.. j. Robert Dreamer, who will in
troduce the resolution for the removal
of the Georgia Infirmary at the South
Side meeting Friday night, has Sc
cured data to show how the negro hos
pital hampers the growth of the city.
Ten years ago there were open
commons and truck gardens, where
now some of the handsomest houses
and parks of our city are located" SAYS
Mr.. Creamer. 1--WE saw the South Side
spring into life and we have grown
up with it.
The continued Improvement of this
part of the city is something dear to
hearts of all South Siders. When \.
tnlng needs TO be done for the advance
ment of our section we go about it in a
business-like way and we accomplish
everything we undertake. The leaders
of the South Side are determined to
Keep the improvements up, and we
have the unanimous support of all
progressive citizens.
Elephant ON Hands.
The Georgia Infirmary is now the
elephant on our hands, and we are go
ing to see that it is moved. We have
some facts and figures we want the
board of trustees to ponder over.
Last year an offer of $4,000 was
made the board for all the lots own
ed by the inf1rmary. Since that offer
was made $4,000 worth of lots have
been sold. There are ten lots in the
block where the hospital proper is To-
Gated, and six lots across the street
all owned by the infirmary
The infirnlary undoubtedly causes a.
depreciation in the value of these lots
Now If the board of trustees will re-
move the hospital they can place the
lots on sale at an advanced value
twenty-five or thirty Thousand dollars
could be realized from them. / am
give this price and real estate dealers
would doubtless give more.
Tax Payers Donations,
The trustees could build a hospital.
thoroughly modern and complete in
every detail, at a cost not exceeding
$4,000. How many of our taxpayers
know that the city and county con-
tribute $1,000 annually to the mainten-
ance of the infirmary?
This appropriation for a year or
two, If applied to the construction of
new hospital, would secure a far
more beautiful and commodious struc-
ture. The negroes really should be
given better hospital but they will
never get it at the present location.
There is right and a wrong side
to everything. The infirmary is in the
wrong place and 1t should be moved.
The city owns lot No. SS, Battery
ward, tract much larger than the
present site. 1t is high and admirably
suited for hospital. No doubt the
city would donate this lot and the trus-
tees could erect a handsome hospital
there.
Patients Crowded Together.
I'm the present hospital there are
two large rooms, and these are crowd
ed with patients, suffering with vari-
Gus diseases. If man is shot or cut
he is placed In one of these rooms
along with the other occupants. and
they are forced to listen to his moan
ing and screaming.
Il had occasion about year ago to
visit this place at midnight with the
detectives to see a man who had been
shot. The poor wretch, writhing an
the throes of death, made the place
hideous with his screams. His wells
spread terror among the other patients
In the ward. He died before morning
In the presence OF the other sick and
suffering negroes.
We are going to move the infirm-
airy. We are in this fight to the finish
and we viii place the blame for its
continued presence in our section be-
fore we wind up. We will show H.
public where the obstacle lies. we will
appoint committee of TWENTY-FIVE
leading property owners to take ne
matter up with the trustees Of the in
urinary, the City Council and tho
County Commissioners, and n necas
sary we will call a mass neetirs 70