Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-16

consideration OF tie members of this
board. rs we'll as every thinking citi-
zen Of Rock lsIanl county.
From a financial standpoint 1t is
by far the most important proposition
that has ever been submitted to the
electors Of this county, and while we
think that the institution can be main
tanned upon a | mill tax. II must be
remembered that this would mean the
collection and expenditure of over
$4,000 every year, hated upon the
present valuation OF taxable property
OF the county,
The city of Rock Island has been
collecting ] mill tax for the last five
years This tax creates a revenue of
a little over $1,000 per year. which is
not one-half enough to finance even
8 small institution The last general
assembly passed a law 10 enable cities
to discontinue city tuberculosis sani-
forums. The Law was no doubt pass
Ell because it was found that most cit
les do not have enough taxable prop
erty 10 create a fund sufficient to main
tain a city institution on / mill tax,
which is all the law allows
AT the first and only meeting this
committee held we invited and were
favored with the attendance Of the
Rock Island city sanitorium board of
directors, consisting Of Drs Joseph
DeSilva. Louis 0stFom, B. ]. Lachner
and c, T. Foster
After calling their attention to the
law which enables a city to discon-
tinue a tuberculosis sanitorium, upon
the recommendation Of the board Of
directors. and the fact that it was man
datory upon the county of Rock Is
land to submit the proposition to the
voters Of the entire county, on coun-
ty institution, at the next general cleo
tion. we requested them to agree to
defer any further action regarding a
city institution until the voters Of the
county had d chance TO express their
will in the matter at the polls, and in
case the majority voted for a county
institution, that they, the city board
OF directors. would recommend that
the city proposition and tax for same
be discontinued.
They agreed to write US their de-
cision within few days. and we re-
greet we have not received same, as
we had hoped for their cooperation.
THE tax payers of the city of Rock
Island certainly will not favor tax
to support city and also county tu-
berculosis sanitorium. In addition to
many other difficulties, the three last
city administrations have met with in
their endeaYors to establish a sanitor-
ium, the city Institution is branded as
d failure from the start. as the law
does not permit the collection of sufff
Gent revenue to maintain it after it
is established
ceunty Has the Advantage.
Rock Island county has about So.
900 people; $4,000 Of these are in the
cities. All told, we have taxable prop
erty TO the amount Of over $22,000,000
"A ! mill tax will create revenue
of over $4,000, and we believe this
will be enough to maintain first class
institution, and on this basis the tax
that the people Of Rock Island are
now paying 10 the city, if paid to the
county, would give them the benefit of
county sanitorium. Would not this
/ be much better than trying to estab-
| fish a city institution that is certain
to meet with financial failure?
( Comfy Farm Supplies.
/ THE sanitorium could be located
where it would be convenient to the
/ greatest number of inhabitants, and at
! the same time at point where it could
! be supplied with products Of the coun-
| ty farm.
/ With our splendid dairy barn, cold
storage plant and the herd of COWS
I that we are to have, and which the
/ money has already been appropriated
/ for. we will be we'll equipped to fur
nish the milk, butter and eggs to a
county tuberculosis sanitorium, which
would of course be paid for out of the
/ saniiorium fund. We could also fur
! nish all the vegetables,
THE mayor and commissioners OF
the city of Rock Island have express
! ed their desire to defer action on a
city tuberculosis sanitorium until the
people have been furnished the OPP
portunity to express their will at the
polls on the county institution.
Cost of Maintaining Institution.
I'VE submit the following estimate
of cost to maintaining tuberculosis
sanitorium and caring for 80 patients
These figures are based upon the best
information we have been able to oh
tain from the experience Of other in
situations and we believe will be found
as nearly correct as any estimate Of
such an institution can be made III
advance.
"The good or bad management OF
tuberculosis sanitorium, the same as
any other business, will affect the cost
In estimating the number of employees
we find that it will take the same fol
20 patients that would be for 80, while
it might be possible for the samt
number to care for as many as IS
With the addition Of one extra maid
/ wa;$rass and Iaundresg. the institution
Icould care for so patients.