The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-15
Joint Committee Will Consid-
er Suggestion OF Build
. ing Inspector
STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO MEMORIAL SITE
Cost of Remodeling the Old
Building More Than the
Price of New One,
He Says


modations for 800 patients. located
on the Clark Springs tract, which is
already the property of the city, is
the proposition which will be made
10 the joint subcommittee, which now
has under consideration the taking
over by the city OF Memorial hos
pital.
Already a movement is on foot in
municipal circles looking to this end.
IT witt cost the city something in tt1e
neighhorhood of 100000 to accom-
piish the purpose, but this sum is con-
sidered insignificant. by those urging
the proposition In comparison to the
good effects to be attained.
ON July Tth of last year the board
Of directors of the Memorial hospital
made a proposition to the city to take
over the hospital, with the proviso
that certain improvements be made.
and the present building be enlarged
20 meet emergencies that may arise
In future.
This proposition was looked upon
with favor by many members OF coun~-
oil. and when X came before the
official body IL was referred to joint
committee. embracing the finance and
relief OF the poor committees.
These committees met ard in order
To facilitate matters. q sub-conmit-
tee Of three from each standing body
was named to look into the matter
and report later TO the general com
mittee.
This Subcommittee embraces
Mcssrs. Grundy, Reade and Richards,
OF the finance committee. and Messrs-
Miller. Atkinson and Hirschberg. OF
the committee on relief OF the poor.
Several meetings Of the sub-com-
mites have been LAID. but ns re-
port has been formulated
For Larger Hospital.
4 free discussion OF The situation
has been had, and while the report
has not been placed Ia writing. IL
was stated by a member of the com
fnittee yesterday morning. that a re-
port would be presented to the
meeting OF the joint committee next
Wednesday at s o'clock
The substance of this report could
not he learned from the chairman OF
the subcommittee last night. Alder
man Barton Grundy Is the chairman.
He is out of the city and will not re-
turn until Monday.
IL IL known, however. that the COM
r1ittee viii report to the general COM
rnittee that the proposition Of The
board OF directors OF the Memorial
hospital be accepted
And right hero Is where Il hitch ~
going to be observed and the wheels
of legislation are going To be directed
toward a larger proposition,
A recommendation will he submitted
to the subcommittee. before the re-
port goes to the general committee.
suggesting that the city utilize the
Clark Springs property, which be-
longs to the city. aud which has oeen
n non producer for many years, as the
site for a group hospital,
This recommendation will be made
by Building Inspector Beck.
Mr.. Beck has already made a recon-
mendation. He recommended that the
city take over the Memorial hospital
property.
Would Have Clark Springs.
Hut said Inspector Beck. title
cost of TRANSFORMING that building INTO
a hospital, commensurate with the
demands viii amount to more than 1t
would To take up the Clark Springs
property. rnat property belongs 10
the city According to figures which
/ have complied, it will cost the city
s2T5. 900 to make suitable hospital
OF the old Memorial. That hospital
would have to be enlarged, remodelad
and more fully equipped We would
have To provide for the nurses. They
now occupy rooms in buildings in
,he neighborhood. The rent <or these
-hIiidtngs has never been taken into
consideration by the committee. In
accepting The proposition OF tho Me-
mortal hospital board We VIII have
IN take into consideration the housing
cf the nurses. That would require the
purchase of additional property. II
L.. tad
recommend the council to take up the
property In the immediate south of the
hospital for the nurses, and the prop
erty in the Immediate east fer the
addition designed for colored people.
Since the first report made by Mr..
Beck, upon plans and suggestions
presented by the board Of directors or
the hospital, after tenta-
tive estimate by Architect Carneai.
who figured that the hospital could
be taken over by the city and enlarg-
ed and fully equipped at the cost or
$4,000, Inspector Beck has been
making some estimates on his own
responsibility. and whom the commit
tee meets next Wednesday, he VIII
have a recommendation to the effect
that the Clark Springs property be
utilized by the city for the erection
of group of buildings designed Tor
hospital purposes.
''The Clark Springs property"
said Mr. Eeck, appeals TO me as a
typical place for a hospital It ~
away from the noise and turmoil OF
the city 1t is in the midst of the
river breezes. and 1t has the advan-
tage of being in the semi-countrS.
where pure air and quietude reign.
What more suitable place could
there be for hospital?
Dust of the City.
A meeting of the joint committee
az which Alderman Grahsra Hobson
Is chairman has been called for next
Wednesday,
hts etsit has been made la -secsiNs
the report OF the subcommittee, OF
ssix4h pm 10