Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-29

suit OF the construction of the new
nurses home ant. central heating plant
we believe it is entirely conservative
t. predict that when the next Legisla-
turc convenes it will find the hospital
affording treatment to 500 patients an
nually. We are rapidly taking our
place with the larger institutions OF
our class and we believe that we are
peculiarly we'll located to do a great
and far-reaching work of good III our
state.
The report of the commission to in
We stigate the advisabilty of creating
State Board of Charities and Correc-
tions states that a hospital located in
another part Of the State has the pc
ouliar distinction OF maintaining a
district nurse whose services are given
tc the sick and needy in their homes
This work is certainly a noble one.
and deserves a hearty Godspeed from
all who are in sympathy with those in
sickness and suffering. But it is not
peculiar" to the institution in ques-
ton. The Augusta hospital was the
first institution of it's kind in Maine
to establish a department OF district
nursing which it still maintains with
constantly widening circle of b"ne-
factions.
There are some needs of the hos
pital, gentlemen which we believe to
be Imperative, and which, if they
could be met would, we are confident,
contribute very largely to the welfare
Of the institution and its ability to
serve the public. The hospital has now
reached 4 point in it's growth and de-
veiopment where it very much necCs Il
laundry. At present its work is done
outside by private parties. The upper
floor of the new central heating plant
was constructed with a view of af-
fOrding the necessary room for such
plant and is admirably adapted to the
purpose With the construction debt
the hospital now carries. it has not
been able to provide this much needed
plant The piping in the main building
is also in need of replacing. 1t is for
the most part the same that was in
the building at the time of its pur-
chase and is old-fashioned, inadequate
and expensive to operate.
The new heating plant and the new
Nurses Home, while they have very
largely increased the capacity of the
lOSjtItal 10 serve IHe nave Cioo
entaied a considerable addition in op
Grating expense. The fuel bill has been
doubled and it has been necessary to
employ additional help.
Gentlemen, the hospitals of our
state whose doors are open at all
times to all it's citizens are in the
broadcast sense public institutions
They minister without distinction to
those in sickness and in suffering. They
deserve, ard by common consent have
always received the generous backing
of the State The resolve before you
carries what we believe tc be can
servative appropriation and one which
We feel you would be fully justified in
giving the hospital in this city. 1t car
ries only what we believe is necessary
to properly maintain our work for the
next two years. 1t would be great
pleasure to us to have you visit the
hospital and inspect the work at any
time that would be the most convent
ent to you.
Senator Macomber stated that no
institution had appeared before the
committee which had greater merits
than the Augusta City hospital. He
did not understand fully the needs and
scopeof the work done by the institu-
ton until he became connected with
it. Although called the Augusta City
hospital it was as general in its scope
as any other hospital in the State, and
a measure was now before the Legis-
lature to change it's name to the AL
gusta General hospital Any physician
who was graduate of any regular
medical school could come 10 the Au
susta City hospital with his patient
and have any privilege granted to the