Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-22
NEW CITY HOSPITAL
ON BL0CKLEY'S SITE
TO COST $6,OOO,OOO
Director Harte Describes His
Plan to Substitute Up-to-
date Structure Gradually
for Old Buildings.

Plans for a new Philadelphia General
Hospital to cost S6,OOo,OOO. to replace grad
ualiy the time-worn, ramshacklc struc-
lures of "Blockley," in West Philadelphia,
have been evolved by DIR. r. II. Harte,
Director of the Department of Health and
Charities.
The beginning of the gradual replace
ment of the antique Blocklcy buildings
will be made when the $1,000, COO item from
the proposed sll,3OO,OOO municipal loan be-
comes available.
The ultimate plan of Doctor Harte is
to erect n great municipal hospital of
1000 beds at an approximate cost of $1,000
per bed.
Mayor Blankenburg was advised today
by Director Harte by letter of the pro-
ject by which the Transformation will be
effected at the municipal institution.
Under mis- broad, comprehensive plan.
Doctor Harte viii utilize for humani-
tartan purposes the entire tract of II
acres at 3th and Pine streets, where the
long-condemned Blockley now stands.
elimination Of the project to establish
on the Blockley site modern. thor
oughly equipped municipal hospital, in
accordance with present day standards,
Doctor Harte points out, can be ac-
cOmplshed step by step without inter-
fcring with the present handicapped
methods of caring for the city's sick,
poor and insane under the indiscriminate
and congested housing conditions that
now exist.
Doctor Harte has for months been
studying plans for the complete recon-
struction of the West Philadelphia in
stitution. lie has accepted the state
ment OF Councils that they stand COM
mitted To the bettermcnt of conditions
under which the sick of the city shall be
treated and will put the project squarely
up to the legislative bodies
One after another the decrept Block
ley buildings will be torn down. to he
replaced in turn by the separate units
of the 100000 composite structure that
VIII ultimately bring Philadelphia to the
forefront of cities in the care of its
sick
Architectural plans for the final struc-
ture have already been roughly drawn
by Philip II. Johnson, under the direc-
ton of Doctor Harte
The administration building of the new
hospital will front on 3ith street beside
the Museum buildings of the University
OF Pennsylvania. II will replace the
present old structure which overlooks the
tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In the administration building will be
the executive and clerical forces and
staff Of between GO and 10 physicians
At the rear of the administration build
ing will be grouped the separate ward
buildings, each devoted exclusively to
the treatment of designated diseases, with
every branch Of medicine and surgery
separately housed.
A building at the centre of the group
OF ward units will be devoted 10 surgical
work and for special treatment of pa
tients. A lecture hall will also he located
in the central building.
The ward buildings will he three
stories high and upon each will be
roof garden and Open-aiT convalescent
space, to segregate the convalescents
suffering from each disease and prevent
their mingling with the convalescents in
the hospital grounds as at present.
Other contemplated buildings are
dormitory. a house for nurses, store
house, children's section and power
plant.
we are now starting on a new def
mite policy in tn erection of a general
hospital" said Doctor Harte today.
The project. which will be of great ad-
vantage to Philadelphia, is based on COM
prehensve plans showing what ought TO
be done. We will proceed with the view
of reaching a definite object-a great
medical institution. modern and advanced
IT. architectural advantages, that will be
the equal, and | hope the superior OF
any similar institution In the world"
Doctor Harte pointed out that the new
hospital will be for the benefit of the
sick and injured exclusively. The in
digent. now at Blockley, will be removed
10 Holmesburg, and the insane will be
housed In the new Home for Feeble
Minded at Byberry
TubeTcular sufferers will be treated in
a separate Isolated building. Sufferers
from contagious diseases will be treated
at the Municipal Hospital. al % and
Luzerne streets.