The Mankato free press., 1916-03-17
DEoOSTER PUT PLANT
BEFORE CITY Fathers
From Mondays Daily.


fore the city council this morning to
complain of what. he called the inter
ruptions, inyasions and prosecutions
of the city health commissioner,
with reference to the operation of DR..
DeCoster's hospital at 232 Lincoln
street. He complained particularly OF
the health commissioner forbidding
further operations at the place, stat
ing that conditions there were not
what they should be.
~. He went on to say that he had a
new method of operating, whereby a
patient recovered much more quick
ly than after an operation performed
in the usual way. He spoke of one
woman who was operated on for ap-
pendicitis, as he said, and was up
after fifty hours and was soon riding
around in an automobile. He said
he had the husband of the woman
right at hand to prove those state
ments If need be.
Mayor Lamm remarked that the
whole affair had been taken up by the
local board of health and had been
referred to the state board of health,
ing to hear from that body.
G. J. Kerns, who rents out the place
at 232 Lincoln street to Dr. DeCoster
for the latter's practice, invited the
council members to come to the place
and look it over and judge for them
selves whether the conditions under
which operations were performed
were wholesome and sanitary.
--. Statement BY Dr.. Schmitt.
DR.. A. F. Schmitt, city health COM
missioner, was afterwards inter-
viewed in regard to the affair, and
he said:> ....... ..
sowing to the great number of citi-
Zens in the vicinity of Lincoln and
Clark streets, complaining to the
board of health as to the manner in
which Mr.. DeCoster is conducting a
so2called hospital ON Lincoln street,
it became necessary to inspect the
place, and in the opinion of the health
commissioner, the building in which
6 Mr.. .DeCoster is carrying on his work
is not properly fitted nor constructed
for the carrying on of the same, need
ing a. surgical department, especially
in view of the fact that there are two
Incorporated hospitals in the city,
which hospitals both are perfect from
the standpoint of construction and
equipment in all respects; and if
Mr.. DeCoster is properly qualified,
there appears to be no reason why
he cannot, do his work in one or both
of the hospitals OF this city"
So Wants Sewer Connection.
Elmer Glenn appeared before the
council and asked for some plan to
be formed, whereby he could get
sewer and water. connections to his
new dwelling on Lewis street between
Byron and Record. He said the pro-
posed Improvement would benefit
seven or eight buildings. The mat
ter was referred to Commissioner
Bekke
The matter gave rise to quite a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of what is the
proper scourse to pursue, when the
back part of a lot that already has
sewer and water connections in front
is sold, another house built on the back
part, thus making new frontage on
the side street, and new house to
reach with water and sewer. Com
missioner EichStaedt remarked that
this was being done in many places
1t seemed that the charter did not
provide for the assessment of water
frontage in such cases. Commission
er ]. d. Humiston thought the new
front created by the building of the
new house would be assessable for
water There seemed to be a great
deal of doubt as to who should pay
for the long stretch of water pipe th,ss
would run lengthwise along the lot
already supplied with water from the
other front. The whole matter was
referred to City Attorney Phillips. A
general rule will be adopted to cover
such cases. . '
- Plans For New Reservoir.
City Engineer Blomquist presented
plans and specifications for the pro-
posed new water reservoir. There are
s two sets of plans, one for reinforced
concrete and the other for masonry.
The city clerk was instructed to ad-
vertise for bids to be opened on April
3rd.
]. A. Borg, representing the Life
Saving Device company, Incorporated
OF Chicago, explained new device
known as the lung motor, which he
had for, sale at $135. 1t was for use
in restoring drowned and asphyxiated
persons. He said it was superior to
the pulmotor in that it could be
adapted to the strength of the lungs
The price was $138. The matter was
taken under advisement.
Attorney S. B. Wilson and H. A.
Patterson appeared to request that
the dwelling thatsis owned by ]. H
Macbeth and is in Oak street near
the foot of Rock be removed, so as
to@facilitates the closing of real es
tate sale there. Mayor Lamm said
he had assurances from Mr. Macbeth
that,the house would be moved on
short notice.
Later in the day Mayor Lamm had
promise from Mr. Macbeth that the
house would be moved after three
days.
Complaint Is Made.
City Engineer Blomquist reported
that Swan Johnson, in moving q
building in South Front street, haC
q. used great spikes to fasten down the
Z windlass to the creosote blocks
t Councilman Lack remarked tha
4, there was too much of such worl
done by people without notifying the
city engineer. He said the ordinances
requiring building permits and per.