New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-20
URGE HOSPITALS At ONCE
Realty Owners Protested When
Bronx Site Was Secured.
QUEENS OBJECTED, ALSO
Committee Fails to Find Places
More Suitable than Those.
Originally Selected.

Unable to find convenient alternative
sites in The Bronx and in Queens for the
proposed contagious disease hospitals in
those boroughs, It was learned yesterday
that Health Commissioner Lederle would
favor the sites originally purchased for
that purpose ten years ago. Following
the request OF the Board OF Estimate last
December that alternative sites be Sc
cured, committee was appointed which
made efforts to find them.
Soon after Commissioner Lederls re-
ceived two appropriations Of Sl25,0o0 for
the two hospitals opposition developed
among realty owners. The site originally
set aside In The Bronx is opposite the
Westchester station Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad and
few blocks away from the projected ex-
tension Of the subway. Tho old Hackee
farm IN Queens was the original site In
that borough.
The Health Commissioner asked the
budget committee to be permitted to util-
lie the original sites Immediately after
the appropriation was secured. Then
arose protests from many people that their
property would lose in value because OF
popular prejudice against contagious dis
ease hospitals.
A public meeting was held In City Hall
in December, 1911, at which the protest
ants were assured that committee would
be appointed to look over other sites.
Since then the committee has recon-
mended as q site for contagious disease
hospital for The Bronx North Brother
Island, owned by the city and controlled
by tho Department OF Health since 1871.
II was pointed out yesterday at the de-
partment that persons having contagious
diseases had to be sent all tho way down
TO tho Willard Parker Hospital from The
Bronx. They are placed on q department
boat at both street and taken down to
the foot OF East 10th street. II has been
proved concluslvelJ, It was declared, that
a number Of the patients have died from
the long journey.
The committee OF public health hospi-
tails and budget OF the New York Acad-
envy OF Medicine made an investigation Of
the matter. and according to the find
lIb5 VI tI' NOlI4lIIlltttp Dtl"ttU JdUudEs
J. 1911, and May l, 1912. the number OF
diphtheria cases removed from The
Bronx TO the willard Parker Hospital was
2.o4i, or 9s per cent OF all the dlphtheria
cases treated In the hospital The num-
Der OF Bronx scarlet fever cases at the
hospital during that same period was
2779. or 100 per cent OF the total cases
treated.
The committee pointed out that the ne
cess!ty Of this disposition OF cases was
most unfortunate. Cases were reported
where the patients did not survive
twenty-Gour hours after the long trip,
especially when the journey was made.
az Il was until comparatively recently, By
ambulance instead OF boat. The jaunt
was sometimes eighteen miles.
North Brother Island is just the place
for a tuberculosis hospital. according 70
the committee, which Is opposed TO IT'S
being used for contagious disease hos-
pital. The present buildings and the ex-
tensions planned IN the future, besides
the paTl.ons for smallpox and certain uu-
usual infectious diseases. 80 take up the
island area that IL would be difficult to
place there the number OF pavilions neces-
sary to accommodate tho measles. scarlet
fever and diphthera cases from The
Bronx.
Other disadvantages IN the use OF an
island for such cases are that Il would
require a completely equipped reception
hospital on the mainland. ferryboats.
docks and piers and a service OF fire.
quent trips during the entire twenty-four
hours.
Tho findings OF the committee urged
the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
10 take active and immediate steps to
erect a contagious disease hospital In The
Bronx on the original site. or on one
equally desirable II II could be secured
at once