Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-03
Berlin's New Municipal Hospital.

Berlin's New Municipal Hospital.
In the year 1899 the Berlin city
fathers entrusted their gifted chief
of the public works department
Herr Ludwig Hoffman, with the task
b of erecting a new municipal hospital
the fourth in number-on a plot
OF ground measuring 81 acres, situ-
ated in the northwestern quarter OF
the city. IL was to be built on a
large scale TO provide accommoda-
tion for no less that 1000 beds, and
needless to add. II should meet ali
the requirements of modern hygienic
science. With all due regard TO the
Ipractice of economy imposed upon
those who are charged with the dis
posal of public moneys, no expense
was to be spared in providing for
the comfort and welfare of the pa
tients. The architect was fortunate
inasmuch as the late Rudolf Virchow
had, during the last years of his life,
brought all the weight of his un-
paralleled authority to bear on the
city council, and had prevailed upon
that body to vote sufficient sums TO
cover the cost OF improvements
which were to surpass anything that
had been hitherto attempted in this
direction. IL is therefore only right
and reasonable that the recently
completed pile. of buildings. the pro-
duet of seven years continuous la
Dor, should be given the name of
the Rudolf Virchow hospital; for It
was the bounden duty of the citizens
OF Berlin 10 nay the highest tribute
of honor TO the memory of the great
scientist who had done so much for
their city. But the new institution
has attained such dimensions that
little town OF no less than 5000
souls (besides the 200O patients
there are coo officials with their
families) in encompassed by its
boundary walls and ratings.
The working of this immense hos
pital will be self-contained and inde-
pendent even TO the supplying of
raw materials for food, clothing and
fuel IL possesses its own water
works, its own electric plant. it's own
freezing apparatus and soda water
factory, its own refuse destructor
and workshops both for manufactur-
ing and repairing And yet every
thing is SO thougthfuly arranged
That the peace and quietness so nee
essary TO the patients is not in the
least disturbed by all this tremend-
.ous industrial activity. The admin
istrative offices, factories and works,
together with the residences OF the
oficials are distributed with such
skill on the outskirts of the i'm
mense rectangle, that no disturbing
sound 10 penetrate TO the buildings
destined for the reception OF the pa
tients. nor TO the beautiful lawns
and grounds set apart for the conya-
lescents.
The main thoroughfare in the hos
pital town. properly so called, is
most advantageously arranged along
a diagonal of the rectangle. At the
rounded-on corner which faces the
"Augustenburger Platz" is situated
the main administration building
where the patients are admitted
the mems department on the right
and the women's department on the
left. The quadrangle around which
this imposing three storied edifiee is
erected is beautifully laid out, and
with It's green lawns and flower beds
It's benches and fountains, IL gives
one the impression OF a lordly mark
The graceful Baroque style chosen
by the architect brings out in most
happy manner the beautiful proper-
lies OF this detached building. and
he visitor. looking through the gate
Fay on the inner side Of the ornamen-
ial court. sees the seemingly endless
perspective OF fine park. In the
midst OF which. right and left, the I
gable ends OF the one-storied ''pa- I
'iliions" In which the patients are
housed may be seen. A ntting back