The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-02
Protest Against Site
OF Municipal Hospital
Leading Civic Organizations Opposition to Pro-
posed Location for City Institution Related
to Times by L. 6. Sulihn -;

The TIMES of June Is contained an
article which shows that there 10 some
as tc the character OF
The protests made against the location
of the proposed Municipal Hospital at
and Upshur streets north
west. Apparently. there 10 . similar
mi sconception as to the character CT
the protestants. As q member OF the
Joint committee Of the eight protest.
ng citizens associations. ! ask suffi-
cient space in The Times for . sue
,tent statement In the interest OF Q
better understanding.
We are all interested in the proposed
hospital. We are all convinced that
the present condition of the INDECENT
poor 10 deplorable and q disgrace to
the community. Why, then. should
we not all give careful consideration
TO all OF the phases of this important
matter and units In working for q solu-
lion OF this vexatious problem. In.
stead OF working at crosse purposes. Let
ask themselves why eight citizens
associations, the Federation of Citi-
sens' Associations. the representative
citisen body Of Washington. the Board
" .Iauo, the Indlnpcr OF SoUfnerco
and innumerable other organizations,
have gone on record against the site
AZ fourteenth and Upshur streets. Let
them ask themselves why these bodies
Oh Oh rsprss shs o,,s citizens from Al
trouble OF protesting to the Commits
sioners and Congress against the pro-
posed site. Can 1t be that these
s pnSiic ErSSup: Of cti.ens are less
thetic than those who ignore every
thing except the acknowledged need of
the hospital. close their eyes to all coll
lateral considerations. and have the
10 neyeT.l dn S,ssms SSs ssfsr
months OF Personal investigation of
present conditions and careful consid-
GRAFTON Of all of the phases of the
se"s asan nsVs ' Site ee, sa'sd Rss
years ago?
Reason for Protest.
According to the view Of the pro-
testants, the site at Fourteenth and
Upshur streets Is unsuitable for the
following primary reasons:
l. The middle OF the narrowest portion
the municipal hospital. Reports OF the
Board OF Charities establish the fact
that more than 20 per cent Of the in
Inates OF he Nunicipai HOSPITAL are
mental suspects. alcoholics and those
suffering from vice diseases. There is
no reason why we should close our eyes
TO the real facts or call by pretty names
the. ugly things of life. when we are
men and women with both hearts and
brains. A municipal hospital is intended
to succor the unfortunate derelicts Of a
great city. 1t is the most unlovely
m wS,nS : .sat and the last one
contact with our homes and children.
3 There 10 no municipal wisdom In
moving an institution of this character
from a section Of the city which has
years and planting 1t In a healthy. Wig.
orous. promising section containing
thousands Of substantial homes, many
Of which are detached cottages. built by
children with sunshine and flowers and
to remove them from possible contact
with the sordid phases Of city life.
Site Idle Sixteen Years.
8. There 10 no municipal wisdom In
those portions OF the city which con-
tribute most largely to a municipal hos.
pital. and IN constructing a hospital or
that site after allowing II to lie idle
for 16 years and encouraging thousands
of homo builders to promote the growth
of the city both around and beyond the
site.
4. There is no municipal wisdom ir
planting an undesirable municipal activ
ity In the heart Of healthy. happy line
Of the city's development AND thereb,
diminishing the revenues Of the city b,
is - estimsted by the IN assessors Once O
the District OF Columbia that in nv,
years the loss to the city by reason o
the reduction OF taxable values inciden
a. I<<.A - 81 -.
proposed site will amount to more thai
the cost OF the hospital.
No Room for Expansion.
s. There L. no municipal wisdom II
placing . municipal hospital on a sit,
which 10 too small to permit Of futur,
expansion for the adequate assemblin;
In one place Of kindred municipal proi
ects: too small to effectively remov
all Objectionable features Of such al
institution from unwelcome proximit.
TO the surrounding property. and to-
small to permit Of the assembling o
| such municipal activities as could b
| nomical way as IL now done In tn
| largely self-supporting colony at Blu
| Plains.
| q. There Is no municipal wisdom Il
locating q municipal hospital far fror
the congested portion Of the city an
directly within a closely built-up mar
row lane of travel. which Is the onl
means of communication between tn
city proper and the entire northern
development Of the city east OF Roc
Creek Park.
| I. There Is no municipal wisdom 4
placing the Municipal Hospital directl
on the line OF the projected boulevar
leading into our great national park an
within a stones throw OF the par
| itself.
Protests Well Considered.
s. There Is no municipal wisdom 1
seeking to ride rough-shod over the dc
hiberate. well-Qonsidered protests G
thousands of citizens who are intensel
interested In the betterment OF tn
conditions surrounding the indiger
poor Of the city. but who are also ir
tensely interested. and perhaps MOI
vitality interested, In the general we
fare and development Of the city itsel
.. There Is neither municipal viii
dom nor common Justice In placing TIL
most undeyii able municipal activity l
the heart of o healthy suburb. so ~
cent Of whose residents are owners
their own homes and decidedly a elias
OF citizens to be encouraged rather tina
discouraged In their efforts to contribu:
Substantially to the vigorous growth