Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-08-03
WONDERFUL NEW HOSPITALS
COMPLETED FOR EX-SOLDIERS
UNCLE TED RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM COL. EDWARD
CLIFFORD.

IL was pouring ram ana so the best
laid plans of Ruth, Jack and their
devoted Uncle Ted were spoiled.
Uncle Ted was going to take them
for a long drive and let them stay
up little later than usual but now
the trip necessarily had to be put off
and the two kiddies were sitting on
the front porch watching the great
streams Of water pour down the
street, and hoping that the, rain
wouldn't keep Uncle Ted away I'M
til they had to go to bed.
Freddie got long letter from
his brother today" spoke up Jack.
HE did," exclaimed Ruth, "How
is he?
Just fine. You know he sure got
banged up in the war but he writes
that he is in new hospital put up by
the Treasury Department at WASH
ington and that he is getting the fin
es treatment you can think Of
Whats that about a hospital I"
said Uuncle Ted, as he came up the
walk. $50 Freddie's brother is in one
of those new hospitals. Say, that
gives me an idea," he continued as
he sat down and threw his hat and
raincoat over another chair. you
Riddles ought to know what has been
done for the disabled soldiers in the
way of hospitals in the last year.
! had long letter from Colonel Ed
ward Clifford the other day. He Is
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
and has charge Of the Public Health
service under which these hospitals
are handled. He is one Of the Invest,
finest men you ever met and having
served in the war himself he is keen
to do everything in his power for the
disabled soldier. / asked him what
had been done by the Treasury for
the ex-soldier and he wrote me in
detail.
I'm tn early spring Of 1921 Con-
gress passed bill appropriate
ing $18,600,000 for the building of
these new soldier hospitals by the
Treasury Department. Everybody was
anxious that these hospitals to be
completed as quickly as possible.
The job was up to Col Clifford and
he proved that it was not too big for
him by completing one month for
fourteen months. Most of these are
large hospitals and they are located
in all parts of the United States.
"The addition Of these fourteen
hospitals in as any months means
that 4,700 more Government owned
beds have been added to the equip
ment of the Veterans Bureau for
! treating all classes of patients In
Guiding those suffering from tuber-
culosis and mental diseases. The
cost of this equipment was about four
teen and half million dollars"
"Uncle Ted,' said Jack, did they
just put these hospitals up any old
place 2"
mo indeed, Jack. Great care was
used in selecting places where the
climate would not add to the troubles
of the unfortunate men already forced
to seek hospital attention. In add
ition to the care used in selecting
sites, the Treasury Department made
sure that these buildings should be
made the finest structures that pre-
sent day knowledge Of hospitals could
make them. In addition to being
built SO that every bit Of light and
air might be obtained, they are all
as fire proof as up-to-the-minute
plans could make them.
"The fourteen hospitals recently
completed are not all. When the
present Administrator has been in
office eighteen months, the United
States Treasury Department will
have completed 20 hospitals, equipped
with total Of $500 beds at total
cost Of $19,0OO,OO0. Besides these
twenty, work is being rapidly done on
the last four hospitals which will
provide 1880 more beds costing q
total Of $5,193, $4,000. When these
last four are completed the work pro-
vided for by Congress and turned
over to the Treasury, will have been
finished. Counting the cost Of all
these new hospitals and all modern
equipment, the completed cost will be
approximately $25,000,00O. That
seems like lot Of money bat when
EIGHT THOUSAND BEDS have
been provided for the veterans
who offered their all during the Great
War, we. can feel pround that we
have men at Washington who are in
sisting that these ex-soldiers receive
the finest treatment and have the best
that money can buy.
GA mother Interesting noint about