Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-09-26
ROTARY MEMBERS
AT THE SANIT0RIUM

with him at the County sanitorium for
tubercular patients, now in course OF
construction at the county farm, on
the Big Rib river, about five miles
west of the city Automobiles were
at the Wausau club house at 2:45 and
about 100 Rotarians and invited guests
were taken to the grounds. The day
was one of the finest of the month of
September; not cloud on the sky and
warm and pleasant. Many had never
been to the county farm nor had they
been to the site of the new sanitor-
Jun. The farm includes about 500
acres and is as beautiful place as
can be found in the county. The sani-
torium occupies an elevated piece of
ground at the south end of the farm.
To the south is a piece of ground
without a tree and as smooth and
green as a city lawn. This extends
to Big Rib river, distance of nearly
a quarter of a mile, with a forest of
trees to the east, west and south, and
having a splendid view of the river
from it's banks, and Orb hill, which
rises in all its ruggedness, seemingly,
from the very south banks of Big Rib.
To the north, as far as the eye can
reach, are cultivated fields, without
stumps~or trees, showing the remark
able work which has all been accom-
plished by the patients of the Mara
thon county asylum, under the direc-
ton of M. H. Duncan, the asylum S
very efficient superintendent and man
ager. 1t is an ideal spot for the sanl-
torium and where patients cannot help
but be benefited by the picturesque
surroundings. To those who had not
been out to the site before, it was a
great surprise and EXPLANATIONS OF
approval could be heard on every
hand.
The building is up and enclosed
and presents very fine appearance.
1t is built of red brick with concrete
floors and practically fire proof. For
about two hours the visitors looked
through the farm buildings which con-
sist of several modern buildings for
the housing and feeding of the men.
There is to be found here one of the
largest and finest barns in the county,
with an adequate silo attached. In
this barn were cattle, horses, and
stock generally. AS Mr.. Duncan
thoroughly believes in pure bred
stock, the visitors were enabled ITO
view some of the finest the county af-
fords.
At 4:30 o'clock the tables were set
and ready in the dining room of the
building which easily seated the 100
men present, and all did justice to the
excellent spread set before them. AT
the close of the meal D. G. Everest
president of the Rotary club, said that
as this was Rotary event he would
take the liberty to preside, but, that
as there were a number present who
were not members of the club he
would call upon some of them as we'll
as Rotarians to make post-prandial
remarks. C. B. Bird, H. G.. Flieth,
Neal Brown, L. A. Pradt, Mayor H. E.
Marquardt, ]. L. Sturtevant, L. H.
Cook, C. c. Kruger and W. B. Chilsen of
the Merrill Rotary club, made re-
marks in which they were assisted by
numerous suggestions from all pres
ent, and fun reigned supreme. Others
who spoke, more upon the sanitorium
building and its uses, were H. T.
| Liebert, architect of the building. He
| told of its construction; how it was
laid out; how patients were treated
of the sleeping rooms; how it was
built to accommodate forty patients
that the dining room capacity was for
| about 800; that when the main build
| ing was filled, it was designed to build
cottages and in this way the plant
could take care of the wants of the
county. The building is to have an
excellent water supply, which would
afford fire protection to- the sanitor-
ium, and the farm buildings as we'll
The building is to be lighted by cleo
| tricity from the Wisconsin Valley
Electric company's plant in this city
Mr.. Liebert said the sanitorium would
be completed by the holidays.
]. D. Christie, chairman of the coun-
ty board, gave an historical talk
which led up to how the sanitorium
became reality; how it took several
years to work up a sentiment which
finally led to the erection of the build
ing. That when completed, this would
be the finest sanitorium of it's kind in
the state; while not as large as that
at Milwaukee, there was none better
so far as a modern building and
equipment was concerned. On being
asked how patients were to gain ad-
mission, he said it was built expressly
by the county to take care of its tuber-
cular patients; that the county was
now paying about $4,000 annually for
the care of such patients in other
sanatoriums. The county would now
take care of its own patients, which
were those not able to pay. 1t would
also take in those who made applica-
tlon and were able to pay for the SER
vice, whenever there was room.
G. D. Jones spoke upon the progress
slVeness of this generation; of those
who have been able to anticipate the
benefits to humanity of such institu-
tons as this and the county asylum
ana hospital, and orr MANY oood