The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-15
HEARING ON A
HOSPITAL site
Large Attendance Of Tenth
WaTdsrs at Session in City Hall
EFFECT ON PROPERTY VALUES
Views Of Advocates and Opponents Of the
Purchase Smith Estate Presented
Last Evening.
EFFECT ON PROPERTY VALUES

The public hearing accorded the OBJ
jectors 20 tho location OF city hospital
on the smith estate brought out last
evening such a gathering OF people that
the chamber OF the common council in
the city hall was nearly taxed TO its
capacity.
The hearing was called To order at s:l0
O'Clock by Chairman Henry Fletcher. fol-
lowing which Council Clerk Daniel +.
HAYDEN read the several remonstrances
10 the proposed location OF the city hos
ptal.
Charles f. German first spoke and com
mcnted faNorably upon the general
project, but said that he believed there
were many objections TO the proposed
site.
The establishment OF a contagious hos
pital in that section. he said. would surely
be detrimental 10 the health OF the sur
rounding neigiroorhood. He appeared
for the F,lmhurst corporation. and said
that for 20 years or more the institution
has conducted "a refined seminary. at
tracing students from all parts OF the
country The location OF this hospital
on this site is regarded as undesirable.
In conclusion. he suggested rather than
the Smith estate. that the committee look
Mary Kimball farm. both in the Tenth
ward the latter being near Academy ave-
nue. and Smith street.
The last piece OF property. Chairman
Fletcher stated has been investigated
and the property cannot be secured for
less than $45 GOO. while sewer must also
be located there. all OF which ne thought
would be a contrast 20 the $40. 900 for the
Smith estate. already provided with
sewer.
DR.. W. F. Gleason said that OF course
there must be objectors to any location.
and that he believed that the word con
tagious'' has worked all the injury to the
project
DIR. Edward r. Walker also said that
the objection TO the location simply on
account Of the contagfon. Is merely
sentimental one and not a real one.
Seeber Edwards. representing the Will
liam Grugvenor estate asked III the COM
mlttee stood committed TO the Tenth
ward site and did not desire any sug-
gestions OF other sites.
Peter c. Cannon also called attention
TO the sentimental objections.
John Conaty also opposed the location
on the ground OF its tendency to depre-
ciate the value OF realty holdings.
DR.. Fenner III. Peckham said that he
was heartily In favor OF the project and
could see no danger TO any person ia
that neighborhood from contagton.
DR.. Jay Perkins held the same views
Dr. Walter l.. Munroe regarded the
proposed site as the most adequate one
for carrying on the contemplated med
fcal work. Or the proposed site he said
the altitude was exceedingly beneficial.
DIR. Lester s. Hill styled the opposition
as purely imaginary and exaggerated.
DR.. Peters OF the Rhode Island hospital
said that with an area or IL acres the
site In particularly desirable. and he also
dwelt upon the contagion bugaboo. hop
ing that the public would not believe too
much In that idea, but rather dispel Il.
Dr. Sanford s. Burton also discouraged
the Idea OF there being danger to adJoin-
ing property.
Dr. Gardner I. Swarts said relative to
contagion that the limit for the transfer
OF the germ Is not much more than three
or four feet from the mouth of the pa
tient. and he also, like other physicians
declared that the whole project had been
misunderstood and wrong impression
entertained.
After more discussion the hearing ad-
tourned at 10:3D.