The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-31
Allies Progressing Against
Germans But Main Movement
KitchenerS NeWArmy
GilchriSt FavOrS
Hospital For
INDECENT Children

FunIa, GOrda, Fla., Dec. S1.-
The Florida State Hospital for In
digent Crippled Children was au
thorAed by an act of the Legislature
of 1911. 1t is under the supervision
of the State Board Of Health. Twen
ty thousand dollars have been au
thorized for building. The Boart
now uses wards in. 81. Luke's Hospi.
tai and in Brewsters, "A Jackson.
Vile. Fifty-two cases were treated
during 1913, OF which four were
carried over from 1872, and three
were examined but not admitted on
account of lack of fac,:ities. DR..
Ray c.. Turk, in his report to the
State health officer, DR.. Joseph Y.
Porter, states 1--WE could do a great
deal more had we the proper facili.
ties for the care of these cases.
During the past year We nave re-
turned children to their homes un-
treate because we did not possess
adequate equipment; we have re-
fused to receive number of others
for the same reason. From an eco
nomic standpoint only the CONVEX
sion; Of twenty dependent children
into. strong, self-sustaining, useful
citizens would justify the State in
building an orthopedic hospital and
maintaining it for ten years. He
suggests that the State "erect a
ward for its crippled children in
CONNECTION with the new St. Luke's
Hospital on some such basis as the
Cit] of Jacksonville provided a ward
for contagious diseases. In my
opin ion no INDECENT crippled chilo
shd Id be debarred on account of
lac of funds. The legislature
shd hid provide funds. INDECENT,
crippled children, when successfully
treated are likely to become self
men. When not so treat
ed they are liable to grow up de-
pending on charity. or on crime. If
there is not enough from the special
levy for the State Board of Health,
should come from the
funds derived from the convict |
lease. The State pays many thou
sands of dollars in witness and jur-
ors' fees and in salaries for convic- |
tions. The counties get every cent !
Of the lease money. fully $275,OOO !
to 100000 year of the money I,
could come from the general reve-
nue.. This hospital should not be !
built as an adjunct to st. Luke's
hospital. 1t should be built so that
eventually it would be the John
Hopkins hospital of the Southland.
The State mill tax for the State /,
Board of Health is one-half of a
mill. The valuation is approxi- |
mately $280,OOO.OO turning in !,
now $4,000 yearly. The valua-
ton is rapidly increasing. That /
hospital should be built and built !;
for the future. l have tried to get !,
some wealthy men to endow it, tell
ing them 4 would endeavor to get
he legislature to change the name
20 that of theirs. will continue
10 try. had a near relative Grip
Dled in infancy. never see a Grip
)led child without it's coming home.
Since the establishment of this hos
,ital I always stop and talk to the
crippled ones, white or black, with
he view of having him go to the
hospital recommend Its estab-
ishment. had the bills drawn up,
,ne for the Senate and one for tn.
House. The Senate committee re-
ported it adversely. | wrote a per-
,onal letter to 80 of the 80 senator's.
interested men who agreed to but
.onhole the senators. DR.. Porter
happened to come to Tallahassee. 4
got him interested. I became a part
If the legislature. That bill passed l
he Senate with only three or four
votes. | am for that hos
Dital. It was the best thing done IN
during my administration. Let's d
make 1t what it should be: The John 4
Hopkins Hospital of the Southland. (
No INDECENT crippled child should be
turned away for lack OF funds.
ALBERT w. GILCHRIST.