Evening journal., 1920-03-19
RAPS TWELFTH
ward RESIDENTS
DR.. Robin Replies to Those
Who Oppose Site for
Hospital
COUNCILMAN MURRAY
MAKES STATEMENT

Only a pest" would oppose his petty
prejudice to public improvements. de-
, clared DR.. Albert Robin. president Of
the physicians and Surgeons Hospital,
comnenting on the protest OF Twelfth
wari residents 10 location OF a hospital
for contagious diseases at Chestnut and
Broome streets. Or. Robin believes
property In the vicinity OF the proposed
new hospital would Increase rather
than depreciate In value. His statement
iT part. Is as follows:
I'm the FIRST place, this protest Is
oming rather late, considering that the
hospital had acquired the property sew
eral months ago. and the matter OF the
establishment Of a contagious disease
unit has been featured by the news
papes for the past four months, with
out he slightest objection having been
alsids-When the matter was present.
ed lefOre City Council. the representa-
tive OF the Twelfth ward assured us
tina he has heard OF no objection. from
his constituents; on the contrary.
everybody seemed pleased at the pros
ped Of q satisfactory solution OF the
cit's most pressing problem"
Invariably. when such hospitals are
established, II Is discovered that far
finn becoming a menace, the instltu-
tin becomes a valuable asset 10 the
nighborhood In no Instance, Is prop
ely deprecated. but on the contrary,
plues are very much advanced, and for
ovious reasons, a modern hospital IS
generally a handsome structure. well
gept up and adds greatly to the appear
ince OF any neighborhood. In large
cities, hospitals are located either In
the central portion Of the city or In
residential sections.
in Wilmington, the Delaware. the
Homeopathic and Physicians and Sur
geons' Hospitals are located In very
popular residential districts, and there
Is no evidence that property has de-
preciated In the least. II any one is IN
doubt about this, let him try to pur-
chase o house In the vicinity OF these
supposedly Objectionable Institutions.
With regard to a contagious disease
hospital the unfortunate appellauOn
OF pest house has given the public
an erroneous impression that these
Institutions are obnoxious. There are
no pest houses these days, and the
only pest / know Of Is the person
who would oppose his petty, prejudic-
ed opinions 10 vital public improve
ments. II may be comfort 10 the
'Obieciors' 20 know that should the
Physicians and Surgeons Hospital
Association fail in their project, the
other hospitals In the city will be OBJ
liged TO Establish contagious disease
pavillons on their grounds. to meet the
urgent demand for hospital treatment
OF the contagious diseases which de-
velop either outside or in the insti-
tutlons."
Councilman John J. Murray, who
represents the Twelfth ward, today took
exception to a portion OF DR.. Robins
statement. He said:
1T is a fact that the people OF my
ward and as their representative sup
ported the plan 10 locate the new
Physicians and Surgeons Hospital
within our ward AZ that time, how
ever. we did not know that the plan
the location there also OF
a contagious disease hospital. That
developed later.
I'VE most seriously object to loca- I
tion OF a contagious disease or pest
hospital within our ward. We do not
believe such an Institution should be !
located In any ward. We believe It |
should be located outside the city
limits. ! shall fight the proposal to /
erect a contagious disease hospital, or |
pest house. In the Twelfth ward. to |
the uttermost Of my power, In Council |
and out"