The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-11
MAY ACT TO-DAY ON
HOSPITAL OFFER
Council Committee Will Receive
Bcck's Report, Which Is
Against Acceptance.
DOWN TO QUESTION OF COST
Many Plans Suggested by Which
City May Handle Ever
Growing Problem.
DOWN TO QUESTION OF COST

a meeting OF tho joint subcommittee
from the Committees on Finance and
Poor, which has under Consideration
the offer OF the Charlotte Williams
Hospital to the city on certain condi
tons. will be held to-day ut noon in
the office of Chairman barton II.
Grundy. III the Mutual building. Tho
committee consists OF Colonel Cirundy.
DR. Reade and Mr.. Richards from the
Committee on Finance and Or. Miller,
Mr.. Atkinson and Mr. Hirschbcrg, from
the Committee on Relief of the PSz4,
The committee will receive a report
from Building Inspector Bsc!, on the
condition of the present Memorial Hos
pitai building and the probable cost of
the changes and chinrrements which
would be necessary ST taken over ana
operated ms municipal hospital
Terms OF On,.r.
Tho Charlotte Williams Corporation
mas offered to turn over the building
and lot. which cost sls$o00 twelve
years ago. and which. it has been as
serted, could not be replaced to-day
for 100000. to tho city, on the two
conditions that tho city assum, a debt
OF $4,000 and that the hospital be gov
crened by self-perpetuatlng board of
I'VE members. with the flavor and
chairman OF the Finance Committee
Of the City Council rs ex-offico mem
hers.
While Mr.. Beck has not made public
the text OF his report. it will he add
verse 10 thu acceptance Of the Memorial
offer on account of tho urgc cost of
changing the present building from a
room to "a ward system ana the cost Of
erecting annex buildings for negroes.
contagious wards and nurses home,
which 1t is held would DO needed for a
city hospital
Cost is $1,000 Per He'd.
Mr.. Beck has secured information
from many cities in all sections of the
country, and finds that as a general
average. large municipal hospitals.
with all appliances and fittings for
complete operation can b, erected, of
hreproof material. for approximately
$1,000 bed That is TO say, the aver
age cost of 250-bcd hospital. with
operating rooms. kitchens, nurses
quarters and all other appliances for
treatment. should cost, under best mod
ern construction, approximately $3.50
600
Private hospitals OF fro-a thirty TO
sixty beds, IL erected NJ nrst-class
hrepruof construction. as shown in the
case OF two private hospitals recently
opened in Richmond, cost approxi,natc-
ly $1,000 per bad.
~ -''iii'i DEtS'HN las
beds. which number could possibly be
increased 10 l6O by cutting out room
walls and making larger wards. 1t has
been held TO be impracticablc to add
additional stories.
White Patients Would rake 1t All.
Ware the city to operate the instltu-
ton as an absolutely free hospital,
separated from the Almshousc, II might
reasonably expect applications for adj
mission not only fr' m all Of the white
patients now in the City Homo hospital
but also from all patients now being
treated free al the four public hospi-
tails. and from many others who Will
not now go TO the City Hospital for
treatment because OF its afiliation
with the Almshouse. The belief is ex.
pressed therefore that the Memorial,
even after being fully refittcd would
suffice only for the white patients: that
hospital providing an .ven larger
number Of beds would be needed for
negroes, and that provision must be
made for treatment ri contagious dis
cases and for home for the nurses
The Memorial Hospital now r.nts three
dwellings as nurses homes
Mr.. Beck is Of opinion that on some
less expensive location. the city could
erect new 250-bed hospital. sutti
Client for all present needs, and mod
erhir arranged for economical admin
istration for S25O,OoO, while the cost
of making the additions and changes
at the Memorial, including acquisition
of adjoining property, would exceed