Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-09
AGAINST THE HOSPITAL SITE.
Reasons Why Institution Should
Not Be Placed as Planned,

10 the Editor of The Star:
Although I may have personal rea-
sons for objecting to the possible loca-
ton of the Municipal Hospital on the
site at Upshur and 14th streets be-
cause l am property owner in that
locality. the time may not be >inoppor-
tune for few thoughts on the sub
ject in its broader aspect. as it must be
seen by the average citizen and ought
to be considered by the Senate. Most
cities grow to the north and west
ours cannot grow to the south be-
cause of the river. nor to the west, ex-
cept beyond Georgetown. and the his
tory of the last twenty years is that
Its growth to the east has not been
rapid and may therefore not be ex-
pected. On the other hand, its growth
to the north and northwest is natural,
not only because there is ample space
in that healthy location toward the
northern angle of the District but also
because of the several transportation
arteries through 1t. all leading into the
city for one carfare. In the last decade
the enlargement of the city limits and
the building up of that section first in
the way of suburbs and later by reEu-
lar paved streets has been almost phe-
nomenal. and 1t is fair to assume that
increasing numbers of small home
owners will seek to locate to the north
and northwest and that eventually the
city may expand to the District line.
1t Is proposed to establish the Mu-
n1cipal Hospital on site which will
be In the heart of the residence portion
oil this city within a few years. What
ever the reasons which might induce
our lawmakers to take this step, a dis
interested citizen who looks only at
the result cannot think it a wise one.
Other cities have their emergency
n c h.
their municipal hospitals, jails, etc.
quite remote. l am told that Cleveland
has established her similar institution
some fifteen miles from the center of
the city. In these days of motor am
balances and other rapid forms of
transportation it cannot be urged
that distance is as serious to a sick
man as formerly. Common sense would
indicate that institutions of this char
acter should be located in a section
which is not only on the extreme out
skirts of the city today. but which
in all probability will long continue in
that relation toward the residential and
business portions of the community.
for a modern institution of this kind
If land outside the District is not to
be acquired and there are valid reasons
why the proposed new buildings can
not be added to the present site on
reservation 10 it would seem to be only
a matter of good judgment to go any
where excepting in that direction
which is naturally one into which the
Guy inevitably would expand. Such
blot in the neighborhood proposed
would retard its development, discour-
age building and depreciate the value
of present properties. The section sur
rounding the hospital will deteriorate
as to it's architecture and its residents,
their vocation and their avocation.
Where then will the business man or
the government clerk of moderate
means seek to locate his home? Even
if he settles still further north he
must pass to and fro daily through
what is now a garden spot. Eventually
we shall have a National Capital with
its federal buildings and its business
center separated from its better resi-
Dental section by what in other cities
is considered slum district.
NEWTON l.. COLLAMER.