The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-18
Subcommittee Indorses
Use Of Virginia and
Old Dominion.
PRESENT PLANT
DECLARED UNFIT
Building Too Antiquated and
Too Far Removed From In
dustrial Centres to Properly
Care for City's INDECENT
Ill-Goes Higher for
Approval.

Completing Its inquiry into the quail
ity OF the city service to it's INDECENT
i'll. the Council subcommittee on Pub
lie Buildings. Properties and Utilities
last night directed it's clerk to sub
init TO the full committee with the
recommendation that it be adopted by
the Council, statement embodying
these findings:
That the present City Home Building
tx nntiTunted and unsuifcd to the de-
mnnds of modern hospital.
Tint Its distance from the Industrial
centre, where most accidents occur,
impnirs it's usefulness for the treat
mcnt of emergency cases.
Tint separation of the aImshouse
md the city hospital is highly de-
sirnble.
That IL would he wise to provide bet
ter facilities for the INDECENT sick thnn
can possibly lie furnished at the City
Home under existing conditions.
That, while new and moderniy
equipped municipal hospital is desfr-
able, tho city's financial condition rem
dera it's erection Mt this time imprnc-
ttcnble
That, In order to secure for the city's
sick tho improved facilities thnt nre
needed. the Council nccept the offer of
the Medical College of Virginia to lend
the city the Virginia and Old Dominion
Hospitals TO be used by IL free of cost
until new hospital is built
Committee Acts UnunImousIy
a resolution enbodying these find
Ing was adopted by unanimous vote
Of the four members of the sub-com-
mitted present.
Those in attendance were Chairman
Pollock, Alderman Mitchell and Coun-
Gilman Pollard and Ratcliffc The
| other member OF the subcommittee is
Alderman Melton. The resolution will
be put In formal shape to-day and will
De submitted 10 the full committee
which meets in regular session on
| Tuesday night. Besides the sub-com-
mittee just named, the full committee
embraces Morgan r. Mills. chairman:
Alderman Powers and Bliley and
Councilman Atkinson.
The two-hour discussion of the oues-
tion centered chiefly about the In
creased annual charge that the city
Will have 10 meet If the move to the
downtown hospitals is effected and
the advantages such transfer would
bring John Hirschberg. of the Ad-
ministrative Board; President S c.
Mitchell and DR.. George Ren Johnston
OF the Medical College of Virginia, and
superintendent Cabell. of the City
Home, attended the conference
Fixed Charge of SI5,0OO.
According TO statement submitted
by DR.. Johnston. it will cost the city
about 81 per patient per diem to oper-
ate the Virginia and Old Dominion
Hospitals. representing in gross figures
an additional fixed charge over the
present City Home hospital appropria-
ton of $4,000. There will be an ad-
ditional item of $1,000 for the first
year TO remodel the buildings for city
purposes.
Against the estimated cost of 81 per
patient per diem OF the downtown
hospitals, is 6S cents for the same
units that il costs the City Home Hos
ptal to operate. TO the lower figure
was added cents per patient for the
cost of the ambulance service, which
is now charged for out Of separate
fund. bringing the present cost OF
operation 10 &c cents a day per patient
1t developed during the inquiry that
Richmond spends less than any city
in the country OF comparative size in
caring for its sick. 1t was impossible
DR.. Johnston told the committee. to
give the INDECENT i'll what they were
rightfully entitled to. Judged by stand
ards set in other cities. on the pres
ent allotment.
Richmond's Cost Lowest.
Dr. Johnston submitted table
showing what 1t costs other Ameri-
can cities per patient per diem TO
maintain their municipal charity hos
ptals. The list included Atlanta, s1.S7:
Cincinnati, Sis: Indianapolis. S116:
Chicago. S1.15: New York, Sl.76 St
Louis. sl.25: Bridgeport. s160; Mime
apolis. sl.l4 Boston. sl.22; Washing
ton, 90 cents: Louisville, s1.75. and
Memphis, St.G5.
Washington alone OF all the large
cities. as far as he could learn. said
DR.. Johnston. would fall below Rich
mond in the cost of operation. The
81 estimate, he thought, would cover
all charges. and would give this tenn
porary municipal hospital plant a re-
markably low operation costa cost
which. he said, could not be cut with
Continued On Second Page.)