The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-29
EXPENSE
OF HOSPITAL,
STATES JONES
Says Council Members Delay
Decisive Action Because of
Expense Believed Necessary
to Start Institution.
OPPOSES TAX BOOST

County council members have nesl-
tated to take decisive action toward
the erection of a Wayne county tuber-
culosis hospital on the Smithfeld site,
because of the expense believed neces-
sary to start the hospital according to
plans submitted.
Such was the opinion of Shun1an
Jones. member of the council, when
asked what the council believed should
be done. 1t also was the opinion of
Mr.. Jones that the erection of a hos
pital, in the minds of the major por-
tion of the council, was not so lmper-
ative as many believe.
THE council has hesitated to take
forward steps toward the erection OF
a tuberculosis hospital along the lines
suggested" said Mr. Jones, because it
was estimated that 100000 or $780,
600 would be needed to complete the
construction.
Favors Small Hospital
Personally, | am in favor of the
county making available a $4,000
fund to match the same amount offer
/ ed by Mr.. Esteb, and start the hospi'
tai with about % beds. The thing
that has baked the council was the
idea of having to spend so much
money in the erection of large hospi
tai, that it would mean the raising OF
! the tax rate materially.
Then. too, the many members OF
the council doubt the great need fol
the institution. At present we have
one patient in the Fort Wayne hospit
al 1t costs US about $1,000 year for
this patient We have had only one
application for hospital care, and thai
one is receiving it.
"On the basis presented at our las
meeting, l doubt very much that the
council and commissioners will favor
the erection of hospital. | do be
lieve, however, that if plans are pre-
sented for a much smaller institution
it will meet with favor. The council
hesitates to increase a tax rate al
ready heavy"
Expense Prohbitive
According to Mr.. Jones, the plan
submitted following the viewing 0
the site by T, B. Kinder. national tu
berculosis authority, early last spring
called for hospital of from rs to 10
beds. Mr. Jones is of the belief tha
that large an institution is not needles
and that the expense of maintaining
such a hospital would prove almos
prohibitive.
This same opinion is held by man,
of the council members. Mr. Jone
said Rather than to consider sue
a basis for the erection of a hospita
Mr.. Jones intimated that he believe,
the council would prefer to do moth
ing.
Conditions of Gift
The county has accepted the Este
farm for a hospital site and has beel
running the farm since July, 1917. Il
addition to this gift, the Estebs mad
an offer of $4,000 in governmen
bonds toward a county hospital. upoI
the condition that Wayne county ar
propriate like amount, and begi
the erection of substantial building
before the end of the present year
County Auditor Brooks reporte
; when questioned, that the appropria
ton was made by the county early il
1920, but that the money is not avail
: able for use. Commissioners an
{ councilmen have not seen fit to issu
bonds to the total of $4,000, up t
, the present time. The appropriatio
, as yet is only on paper.