Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-13
SUBMIT HOSPITAL
PROJECT To VOTE
COUNTY BOARD ASKS OPINION
AS TO BEST METHOD OF
PROCEDURE.
COUNTY ATTORNEY TO
PREPARE PETITIONS
Question Can Not Be Submitted at
Primary Election Because Insult
Gent Time For Publication-vote
Must Be at General Election IN
Novem Der Unless Special Is Called.

members OF the medical profession
and the public generally against the
pest house" and general demand
for "A modern county hospital, where
contagious diseases may he treated
have borne fruit. The county board
of supervisors has submitted 10
County Attorney \. Il. Hoover the
resolution of the Marshall County
Medical Society. condcmning the old
detention hospital, and has asked an
opinion as to the best method of pro-
CcGure to call an election and put the
question up to the voters.
The county attorney is preparing a
petition for general circulation when
will call for an election to vote bonds
for a hospital.
Because of the notice required, the
question can not be submitted at the
primary election in June. and may
not come up until the general cleo
ion in November, unless SpeciaI
election is called TO vote on the bond
issue alone. Ninety days notice must
he given for publication and posting
of election notices. The petition
must have the signatures OF ffty
voters of the city and $50 from the
Doctors Against Delay.
The possibility that action will be
4, loved for year or more, II ar
! election on the hospital proposal IS
not held until at the regular Nov
| e.inher election. does not meet the
approval of officers and directors OF
re Marshall county Medical society.
y h0 could We reached today. they
point 20 the fact that an election held
in November will mean no building
ultn 1921 and no completed hospital
probably until late that year. TheE
URGE the necessity of a special cleo
ton to he called as quickly as con-
sisteut with the interest of the pro-
ject.
Epidemic Danger Continues.
/ DR.. r +. French points out the
ever present danger of an epidemic
and to the fact that smallpox has
been present in the city very large
part Of the time in the last year or
two.
/ .Tndoubtedly." he said. I've will
I have another influenza epidemic next
winter. Medical authorities seem
n"rced that there will be recur-
renee. hut probably not so severe as
those Of the last two years. The
/ county ought to become prepared at
orcp and without delay. Now that
no
mcnt that special election would
80 expensive. is not sound in view of
TIE small cost necessary by using
machines and in view of the fact Of
TIE very pressing need of an isola-
ton hospital. sincerely hope the
supC rvisOrs will not put off the cleo
tirn until November. It will mean a
Iona delay and no telling what may
happen in the meantime
Suggests Unit Plan.
Or. French, like one or two other
paySIcians already quoted. makes
the suggestion that the new hospital
should be built on the unit plan. This
Iuan is approved by the state board
Of health and medical authorities
generally for such hospital. In gen.
eral II consists Of a series of units,
or comparatively small buildings. The
| central unit would be the heating
plant and living quarters of attend
! ant The ether un!ts would be small
detached houses, each intended for
use as an isolation ward for patients
all suffering from the same disease.
There could be as many of these as
tie need demanded. Each would be
heated from the central plant. When
any were emptied of patients they
would be closed, the heat turned off
and the upkeep for maintenance when
empty would be small.
This Nurse Knows.
Mrs. Ida stevens Austin. who
nursed in the city pest house" when
it was built northwest of what is
] row Highview addition, knows what
ii was then and probably what it
row is. Give US a hospital worthy
OF our county and city" she writes
as follows 10 the Times Republican: :
Your efforts in favor Of at least a
respectable, well located, isolation
hospital, are oTaisewoTtiy. 10 say the
least. You should have the loyal sup
port OF every person, who has the
. hest interest, of the pusniiL al heal I,
and all should Cooperate.
Twenty years ago the present
paste mousse was built, in hasts, to
meet an emergency, in our first cpl
demic combated so ably by DR.. II. II.
Nichols, and as the nurse placed in
charge at that time | know of it's de-
fects. and deficiencies, and / am sure
age has not improved conditions. We
were even then better located. for we
lived where Highview site is now sit
uated
"Windstorms rocked the building,
and we adjourned to the cement
basement floor for comfort. Now, |
imagine, it might be rather damp.
Give us hospital worthy Of our
county and city on site high and
dry, to my mind south near the city
l nd