The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-05-13

any other StOckhOlder enjoyed. Any
one familiar with hospitals could say
) that this situation was unique.
We are stressing these two points in
order to show that the people of Hood
T iaiver should feel confident that the
, Association can continue to run a
financially successful hospital and one
: which will continue to serve the whole
: community impartially and well. For
several years it as been very apparent
: that the greatest shortcOming of the
hospital was its lack of room to take
care Of its business. This condition
has been growing rapidly more and
more acute. The institution has been
handicapped in some other respects,
but its principle handicap has been
, Jack of room.
! For the past year it has become
common and popular in the community
to considerably eXaggerate the short
comings Of the hospital. 1t has been
: intimated widely that the hospital is
inadequate in many if not most re-
spects. to the needs Of this community.
This is great eXaggeration. In all
that goes to make a useful and efficient
hospital the Cottage Hospital compares
faVorably to most small town institu-
!
and organization are good enough to
enable it to handle successfully any
kind of case, medical or surgical, which
can be brought to it. The statistics
Of the hospital show success far above
the average in both its medical and
surgical work. II lacks some of the
conveniences and refnements found in
up to date and wealthy institutions,
but the results are as good as those
achieved in the best hospitals found
anywhere Even at the present time
there is nothing lacking in the facili
ties for turning out first class surgical
and medical results. The most acute
need. then, is more room.
The Board of Directors, recognized
| this contingency last summer and since
! that time has been wrestling with the
! problem. which naturally resolves itself
| into the two questions: Shall we en-
large the present building or shall we
rebuild2 The present capacity Of the
hospital is 20 beds. To- safely cover
the needs of the community now and
for some years TO come this capacity
should be increased to 80 beds.
There could be no room for question
ing the fact that the most desirable
and attractive plan would be that of
building an entirely new and modern
hospital. Such a project would, of
course. be beyond the powers of the
present corporation. But the stock
holders and directors of the hospital |
would be willing to cheerfullv contrib |
ute the present property and plant to-
ward any general movement original |
ing spontaneously with the entire pop |
ulation Of the community to raise the |
funds for a community hospital, pro-
yided first, enough money could be so |
raised. and provided plan of manage
ment and control could be worked out
which reasonably insured for the future
the two most notable features which
have characterized the Cottage Hospit-
al thus far; viz. financial success and
usefulness TO the entire community in
cuding the entire medical fraternity
The Board of Directors consists of
four doctors and a merchant. Three
of the doe tors have been directors
throughout the Ia years of the AssOci-
atoms existence. The other doctor
and the merchant have served for the
last seven years. Such board may
be presumed to know something about
hospital organization and management.
Starting with what experience and
Of the subject it had ac
quired in Ii years this Board proceeded
to find out what it could about the cost
of building modern, up to date, fire.
proof hospital. The result of its in
vestigations showed that at the present
state Of the market for labor and ma !;
.eFial, such a plant would cost from
$500 to $1,000 per bed. This means
hat new hospital would cost from
i75, 900 to $50, 900 at least, and prob
IDLY considerably more before il would
)e finished and equipped. The long |
md short Of it was that the Board did
lot and does not believe that the peo-
lie Of Hood River valley can afford
lch a heavy taxation for a hospital,
lowever desirable it might be. For it
8 nothing more nor less than tax,
l0wever 10 may be named and levied.
Whether II is collected by man with
subscription list from part of the
leople or by the assessor with a gun
rom all Of the people, there is no diff
ereGce between the two methods, un-
ess 1t is that the latter is the better
nd sounder economies. We are taxed
o death already and we need all sorts
{ things as much. IL not more than we
eed a S15, 600 hospital.
The Board then turned to the more
lodest project of enlargng the pres
ut plant. No member of the board
) n love with the idea of enlaTglng =
N old building any more than most :.
eople. But after much study and re-
isiOn and re-revision and with the
clip of certain architects, set of
lans was evolved which will, if car
led out. result i'm sufficient enlarge
h.. ssrsfa tTtN
he present building, TO insure TO the
1mmunity a hospital large enough to
AXE care of our business for II or 10
ears 10 come, at least. and equipped
} afford the fraternity full facilities
lr the highest class OF surgical and
Iedical work. In short, to serve the
aeds Of the community as well as
lose of any place Of its size are
,ved and much better than most.
These plans will be laid before the
Ihlc loo detail with full specifications
another article. The cost of put.
ng them into execution viii be Sl3,
I'D. The entire present Indebtedness
the Association being s.. GOO. the
0afd proposes TO offer FOR sale bonds
the sum OF $4,000, redeem8ble in IS
ears, paying interest at per cent
mi annually. The Board believes.
% feels that it can prove, that this
a safe and sound investment. viewed
q business proposition, with the
Ided value Of being a public benefac
on. Anyone sincerely interested in III
e welfare Of the community can con-
ibute tO the same without losing any HI
ing and practically without cost 60
msClf
The hospital has been earning $1,000
year Tor years. The plans are such
at very little increase in operating |
pense will be needed. Therefore, 10
very reasonable and sound as
muti0n that he earnings will be