Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-03
COUNTY BOARD DEBATES Ap.
VISIBILITY OF LARGE Elk.
PENpIrURE.
MIGHT BE MORE ECONOMICAL
TO ERECT NEW STRUCTURE
Members Of Beard Inspect Building
and Approve Recommendations Of
Board Of Health For Rspairs--6s-
Ilsve Building Should Be on Higher
Ground-What Does Public Want2

Whether to expend q considerable
sum Of money IN the repair Of the
city detention hospital or to take
steps looking to the erection OF q
new and modern hospital, Of such size
as to meet extreme conditions in case
Of epidemics, Is the question which
the county board Of supervisors II
now debating.
II the public wants q new hospital
members Of the board are ready to
provide one by a special election. The
old hospital, which has boen In bad
repair for months, has been inspected
by the county board, which has found
that the recommend ations Of the city
board Of health. for repairs and
changes are needed.
The last patient has been removed
from the building and the city health
board will keep the building closed
until 1t can be thoroughly fumigated
and denovated and necessary repairs
made. There are few cases Of small
pox in the city. and these are being
cared 1Or IN the MONIES.
Prefer High Ground Site
Members Of the board express
themselves as preferrins . buildins
on higher ground. Last spring the
hospital was moved to a more ele-
waited position overlooking the placid
Iowa, but when the spring freshets
come the Iowa becomes a menace to
the surroundings and in especially
high water harnesses the hoSSS!tel
building Itself.
The suggestion that the fail annex
be converted into a hospital has not
met with the approval OF the board
the members believing q detention
building should be away from thickly
inhabited centers and predicting a
general protest against action by the
residents Of the city II such 4 pro-
cedure were decided upon
Might Find Good Location.
Several locations have been sug-
gested to the board with a strong
sentiment for a hospital south of
the city on high ground. Many good
locations probably could be had but
the expense Of a site at this time
might be excessive.
Should 1t be decided to retain the
old building on the present site, the
grounds will be graded and made
higher and plated to make the sur
roundings better. All the repairs sug-
gested by the city health board win
be made and the building made Is
livable as possible.
A year ago an expenditure Of 81, 700
was made to move the old building
and pebble dash the structure. Five
thousand dollars more was expended
on the Jail annex, making a total of
s7.7oo which, II available now, would
go far toward starting an entirely
new plant.
Present Building Inadequate.
The present building is far too
small to meet real epidemic condi-
tons. During the winter there were
many times when the building was
edowded with smallpox patients and
others were cared for in their homes.
With these conditions prevailing dur
ing an epidemic which caused no
apprehension for the safety of the
general public. II Is terrifying to spec
ulate what conditions would be IN
the event Of an epidemic Of large pro-
portions.
In building a new hospital the
building would be erected with the
intention Of housing all cases which
should be placed in detention. Spe-
ctal wards could be provided for Ger
tain diseases now housed in the jail
annex, and provision might be made
TO caro- for patients should there be
a recurrence Of the influenza epidemic
Of the past two years.
What Ooss tho Public Want7
Unless there Is demand from the
public for a new building It is likely
the county board will proceed with
the repair work at the old building.
If the public wants a new hospital
now is the time to agitate for a new
structure. The county board IL pre-.
pared to hear and to act II the de-
mand II sufficient to warrant,
Members OF the board hesitate to
60 forward with program Of repair
which will mean another outlay Of
good money If the detention hospital
bugaboo Is TO come up again with the
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