The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-25
MR. BOWIE DEFENDS SANATOR|UM STE Tuberculosis Camp. Should
 Be Near City EXTENT OF THE WORK Says the Objections Raised Would Necessitate Removal of St. Vim
 cents, Hillman and Other
 Hospitals From City
EXTENT OF THE WORK

Sydney I. Bowie, president of the Jef- ferson County Anti Tuberculosis asso- citation, has written the following letter in answer to certain objections raised to the location of the anti-tuberculosis sanitarium on Red mountain:
 "Hon. James weatherly, Commissioner,
 City.
 Dear Sir: In view of the publication of Miss Rittenberrys letter in the daily papers, and the evident attempt to influence public opinion in this mat ter, I deem it proper on behalf of the Jefferson County Anti-Tuberculosis as- sociation to make a general statement in regard to this matter and to give the same equal publicity.
 "In the first place wish to assure you that have the highest personal re- spect for Miss Rittenberry, and for any opinion which she may express put l cannot and do not agree with her In this matter As to her first objection that the location Of the camp on the south side of Red mountain would in- ture real estate in that vicinity l can only say-frst, I do not agree with her, and second, if there is any merit in her argument whatever, 1t would call for the abolition of St. Yincent's hospital, the Hillman hospital, and every private san atorium in Birmingham and in every city of any size in the United states. There is no effectual method yet dls- covered of dealing with certain forms or disease except the hospital or sana- torium treatment If humanity Is to be denied the benefit of this method of treatment because of the selfish i'm nortunities of real estate owners, then there can be no further progress in the treatment of human ills, or in the relief of suffering, and in fact all progress which we have made will have to be abandoned This for the reason that the same objection made in this instance would apply to any other possible To- cation. or other hospital, for the sick.
 "In point of fact, however, the oo- lection is absolutely baseless. There IS mot A citizen of Birmingham who would not be safer in the ti-tuberculosis camp than on any of the streets of the city, This is true for the reason that the only spot in the 4s square miles composing the city of Birmingham @here the anti-spitting ordinance is oo- served and where proper sanitation IS enforced is the anti-tuberculosis camp.
 "As to the statement that this camp is needed for parking purposes, wlsh to call your attention to the fact that .ba camp is wholly inaccessible at this time for that purpose, and must so remain until transportation facilities are obtained. How long that will be t.a .5atar1,fy1ad of course this ffmeT Iht it Is quite certain without a stffet car line no property south of Red moShtain is available for parking. pur- poses If 1t should be granted that street car line will be erected within the next five or ten years, the city will still have 90 acres of land suitable for park ing purposes at that place, which will be abundant for city three times the size of Birmingham Inasmuch as city of 150,000 inhabitants has not been able to improve two small parks of few acres each around Highland avenue, and has been able to do nothing else practically with it's various parks in Jones valley where more than 99 per cent of the population reside, it would seem reasonable that 190 acres for park ing purposes south of Red mountain would be adequate for the use of those citizens who would patronize 1t Tor a number of years to come.
 Moreover, this 20 acres which WIG ask for, Is situated in the extreme northern portion of the 210-acre tract and is altogether unsuitable for park ing purposes, and would not in the least affect the development of the remainin g 1gO acres, whenever the time arrives when the city Is able to deal with that aituation.
 "As to the suggestion that we could go to Mount Pinson, the sufficient an swer is that the officers of this associa : ton and the noble physicians who arc on the medical staff: are working with out charge. They find 1t possible to give the necessary attention to the camp in it's present location, but as to the suggested location 16 miles away il would be absolutely impossible to get the services of any resident physician in Birmin gham, and the officers of the association would be compelled to give up the work on account of th> lack of time and opportunity to gITe it at tention The present camp can be reached by automobile within 15 min utes. while it would take al least an hour or an hour and half to get to Mount Pinson.
 ''I also note the suggestion that we should have obtained the state sana- torium, and that the munif1cient sum