Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-10-06
SENATOR pRocToR's GIFT
Outlined in His Letter to Secretary OF
tuberculosis Commission.


tuberculosis Commission.
Following is the letter. mentioned
last week, In which Senator Proctor
made his offer to the state of gift of
sl50,000 TO erect. equip and endow a
Proctor VI. Sept. 20, 1905,
DR.. w. N. Bryant, Secretary Vermont
State tuberculosis Commission,
Ludlow. VT.
Dear Doctor Bryant: You know
that for several months past my chill
dren have been proposing the estab.
lishment of a sanitorium for incipient
tuberculosis. and that they have. with
yourself, Mr.. Partridge and others,
been looking for suitable site.
l have had a slight experience in my
own family and have seen the young
lives and health of others saved by
modern treatment OF this white
plague, II is deemed by those more
conversant than l with the subject
that even more good is accomplished
| by such an institution through its ed
vocational influence In teaching those
threatened with the disease how to
care for themselves. These reasons
have led me to take part in its estab-
| lishment.
II was thought at the conference
with you and DR.. Caverly that 1t
might help in the preliminary work
to have 1t understood as definitely as
possible at this early stage, what 1t Is
proposed to do. | have promised my
children In substance, that l Will pur-
chase the site, when suitable one is
found, and erect the buildings, sufii-
cient to accommodate 20 or 80. and
furnish and equip them ready to re-
nf
judge roughly, will not exceed $4,000.
But | fix no arbitrary limit.
In addition 10 this. | will contribute
100000 to be held strictly as an en-
dowment fund. the interest only to be
applied 10 the support of the insitu-
ton As soon as site Is obtained. /
will make formal transfer of IT to
the board, and the fund will be paid
over whenever the organization Is
ready to receive and invest 1t.
| have no definite plan of organiza-
ton but presume board. large enough
so that the different sections of the
state should be ex-officio a member of
the board of trustees. Other states
are establishing institutions of this
kind at the public expense. and In
turning over the funds and property
to the board of trustees or whatever
they may be called. II seems to me that
il would be wise TO provide that II the
state at any time wishes To assume
the charge and maintenance OF the in
stitution. IL may in the discretion or
the trustees be turned over TO the
state with all its property and funds.
| do not wish my name connected
with IL but think II should bear the
name of the state. l trust that others
will care to contributed in the future
to its support and fullest develop
ment. There will be ample opportun-
ity Ii is due to my childen TO say.
that this is their gift. rather than
mine as they were the first 10
suggest IL and have urged 1t earnestly.
and IL takes what would, in the course
of nature. soon be theirs.
rely greatly upon the interest mat
you and others have manifested and
| am sure will contiue to manifest In
planning and caring for this institu-
ton and can only thank you in ad-
vance for your unselfish labors.
Very truly yours.
REDFIELD PROCTOR
DIR. Bryant replied as follows:
Ludlow, VT. Sept. 25. 1905.
Hon. Redfield Proctor. Proctor VI.
Dear Senator Proctor:-I am in re-
ceipt of yours of the 25th inst. notify
ing the State Tuberculosis commission
Of your beneficient plans regarding q |
for Vermonts consump- |
lives.
Your well known aversion to full
some compliment precludes much that
might and ought to be said in reply. !
will, however. say that this proposed
act of your means to our comfnls
sion the fruition of three years OF
none and labor, and to the people of
Vermont and their children after them
/ means more than they or yourself
IAN realize.
In the name of the tuberculosis
commission of Vermont. and of hui
nanity. I thank you for this most
nunificent gift to our people.
You must permit me to add that In
a wish that your name be
lot identified with this enterprise, you
viii find yourself sadly at odds with
he unanimous desire of Vermonters
Very respectfully yours.
w. N. BRYANT, Secretary