Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-04-15
Modern WOOdmen Society
viii Conduct Free SaDa.
forum For Its Mem.
berS.
A BUSINESS As WELL As
A FRATERNAL PROPOSITION.

COCltlF III NUN iSldilu, III, u was ut-
cided to conduct that Society's sanator-
ium. located at Colorado Springs. Colo,
for the treatment of members afflicted
with tuberculosis free of all charge to
members.
The Modern Woodmen Society sever
al months since, acquired 1880 acres
of land within seven miles of Colorado
Springs, and has established thereon an
up-todate sanatorium, the tent colony
plan being employed The first colony
was opened for the reception Of patti
ents on January LIST, 1909. II is equip
ped to care for sixty paints, to which
number admissions will be limited for
the present.
The tents are octagonal structures,
with single roofs. canvas sides. hard
wood floors on solid cement foundations.
heated by a central plant. equipped
with all n odern converiences. such as
telephones. etc, and each tent will
accommodate one patient. An admins
tration building for physicians. nurses.
dining hall, baths of all kinds. etc.
stand in the center of the colony.
DR.. J. f. White. formerly of the
Nordrach ranch sanatorium, the medi-
cal director in charge, states that only
those consumptive members who are
durable or whose lives may be pro-
longed for considerable length of
time, will be admitted as patients. The
wisdom of this rule is apparent. Rigid
medical examination as a condition pre-
cedent to admission will be insisted
upon in every case, and special blank
forms have been prepared for this pur-
pose.
A movement is already under way TO
equip the second colony plant of sixty
tents. Each tent or tent house. COM
pletely equipped, represents an expense
of $3.50, and a number Of local camps,
or lodges. of the Society have decided
to donate tents. As there are over 49,
900 local Camps OF Modern Woodmen,
and over 1000. 600 members. it is antic-
ipated that several colonies will soon
be equipped in this way.
The members and locals Camps Of
the Society have voluntarily contributed
to the Sanatorium fund over 81, 1000,
and at the last national convention a
permanent tax Of ten cents per mem
Der per year was voted 10 the support
of this work.
The last official Wooden reports show
that during the years lSSl-l907, inclus-
i've, l4.5 per cent of the total mortality
or 5. l56 deaths, were charged to tuber-
culoss, and that 1879 per cent Of the
total insurance losses in those years, or
SO, O65. 900, resulted from this cause.
As the mortality experience OF the
Woodmen Society has been unusually
favorable, being but 20 per cent Of the
expected at all ages under the Nation
al Fraternal congress table, a death
rate of but 6.29 per l.Oo0-or but T. 9s
per 900 il the experience Of the first
five membership years be included
the heavier insurance losses inflicted
upon other societies experiencing
higher mortality may be conservatively
Appropriated.
If the Woodmen Society, with it,
exceptionally favorable mortality, finds
il to be GOOD BUSINESS" TO fight
consumption in this way, why should
not other fraternal societies, life insur-
ance COMPANIES, labor organizations,
the national and international church
bodies, ETC., find it profitable. from the
viewpoint Of business or benevolence,
or both, to take such action?
Each life saved to the Woodmen So
ciety, by means of this sanatorium, will
will, it is stated, represent saving OF
81, 7OO-the average amount of the
Wooimen policies in force at an ex-
pense for treatment of approximately
one-twentieth Of that sum. In the
broader, each life saved means the
pre- servation to the family Of its head
and breed-winner, and to the state OF
uaaful self-sustaining citizen.