Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1921-03-31
THE HOSPITAL PROPOSITION

The HOSPITAL PROPOSITION
Whether we are to have hospital
here depends altogether upon the
people of WaKeeney and surrounding
territory. 1t is now seup to us" and
that means everybody to the best of
their several abilities. Tentative
plans have been drawn, or are-now in
preparation, which are to be used in
a publicity campaign by the solicitors
who will be thus enabled to show
prospective subscribers what the prop
osition is additionally and give
them an idea OF what they are to get
for their money. These plans have
cost the committee nothing (no money
has been spent) and will cost nothing
if the proposition fails for want of
support. If sufficient sum Is pledged
complete plans and specifications will
be drawn by the architect who is
making the preliminary plans and a
contract will be let. Obviously, the
first thing is to get the pledges and
it is equally plain that those who
are to make the pledges will want to
know, and will have the undoubted
right TO know, all about the PROPOSE
ton, and this information 1T will be
the PLEASURE of the committee to give
fully and frankly in personal inter
views with those who are solicited to
subscribe. The Finance, Location,
Contract and Legal Committees will
be pleased to explain details so far as
known to any person who is inter-
ested In the matter and these need
not wait to be solicited. Solicitations
will begin, however, within a day or
two and it is the hope of the COM
nitee to see all interested parties
within a radius of 15 or 20 miles of
WaKeeney.
The establishing of hospital is not
a financial proposition only so far as
money is necessary to build, equip and
maintain it, and probably the two
latter items will prove to be the hard
est and most vitality important and
expensive9features of the enterprise.
Hospitals are not built, equipped or
maintained for the purpose of max
iEzs money! Financial profit for those
who build, equip or maintain, is not
considered, and any such profit which
| may follow is only incidental and i'm
material. The true and legitimate
| object is service-Community well
fare, and the Community" includes all
those who are in reach of the institu-
| IIOn ana WISH TO nave us neip. AICSI
| thousands of dollars to equip and
furnish it according to the most mod
| ern and best approved methods, and
/ after that is done it Will take years
| of patient waiting to establish repu-
| taton of successful practice and effic1-
! ent service. In the meantime it will
have to be maintained by the organi-
eaton which takes it in charge and be-
| comes responsible for it's upkeep, and
| to do this the responsible organization
viii have to depend largely upon the
| help OF its friends, many of them Hv-
| ing hundreds of miles away, until the
/ hospital becomes self-supporting, If
| ever A large part of the patronag
| of any hospital is charity work Such
| work brings to the hospital no in
| come, but it does entail a continuing g
| expense And yet, notwithstanding,
it is just such work that~is NEST
| needed and makes the strongest ap-
peal for support. It is in just such
work that the spirit of the Good
Samaritan best appears; relieving
those who are entirely destitute, or
able to bear only a part of the ex-
pense of their care and treatment.
Even a small and modern hospital
conveniently located is blessing to
any neighborhood. In case of acci-
dents or sudden calamities life often
depends upon prompt action and ready
Observation-Disclosures impossible if the
nearest hospital is far away. Even
under ordinary circumstances and in
the most common cases much time
and expense may be saved and timely
relief be given those who otherwise
might not receive it. Mothers and
babes may be safeguarded, and often
life be saved by the care which only
a hospital can give, or the equipment
which only such an institution can
afford, and patents and their friends
may have the comfort and encourage
ment which only nearness permits
Finally, the care and consideration
given their unfortunate classes is one
great characteristic OF all Christian
peoples and distinguishes them from
less civilized humanity, heather ma