Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-05-11
Can See No Reason Whv
MetuChen Should Oppose
Hospital at Men|O Park

was heard by members of the state
Department of Health al a public
hearing held in the borough hail
here yesterday afternoon. ma
jority of the Metuchen residents
were opposed to the idea although
a few were in favor of the location
and the erection of a sanitarium as
soon as possible. Others. not resi-
dents of Metuchen, addressed the
meeting in favor of the project.
DIR. Henry Spence. president Of
the State Department of Health.
presided during the hearing, which
commenced at 1880 O'Clock and con-
tinued for about an hour During
this time those who wished to gite
their views for or against the pro-
position were given an opportunity
to speak briefly. AT the Conclusion
of the hearing DIR. Spence announces j
that any further data which those
interested in the problem might ac-
cumulate could be sent to the state
department and it would be contin-
ued by the members of the depart
ment when they get together to dis
cuss the subject. None of the visit
ing state health officials made anv
comment as TO what they though
of the location following an inspec-
don trip of it.
Representing the State Depart
ment of Health were DIR. Spence,
DIR. ]. c. Price. DIR. r. B. Randolph
DIR. David Chandler and DIR. Oliver
Kelly. All of these men inspected
the proposed site for the sanitarium
Drs. Spence and Chandler arrivine
after the other members had JUS
about completed their Inspection.
In addition to these men the ingDk
ton pafty--ise}aded Freehold
Louis J. Belloff. Clarence IL Hni<hf
Walter G.. Quackenbush. Robert +
Vandenbergh and George AppIe8at<
and Clerk of the Freeholders Thon.
as j. Mulvahill. Mayor Washington
Wilson of Metuchen. DIR. Alonzo G.
Hunt and DIR. L. Y. Lippincott.
both of Metuchen; Road Supervisor
Leason.
The party upon arriving at the
site. climbed up TO the highest spot
and there viewed the surrounding
country. Although some of ths
members of the party walked fev
hundred feet into the interior o.
the tract, the state men did not pro-
eeed for into the 200 acres which
comprises the tract. Returning to
the automobiles, the party contsn-
ued along the road which fronts the
property A good sized pond and
numerous swampy and bog-like
places were seen. In going arounc
TO the rear of the property one oa
the cars became stuck in the mud
which caused delay of almost thir-
ty minutes before IL could be got
ten out of the soft, wet ground.
1t could plainly DE seen during
the inspection trip that the free-
holders did not consider the site
ideal for a tuberculosis hospital.
Talking among themselves they
pointed out that the cost OF grading
and draining the property would he
considerable and the presence OF so
much swampy territory would likely
result in many mosquitoes oyer-run-
ming the place. The state department.
men had nothing 70 say as to sheir
own views of the location.
Following the luncheon as the
guests of Mayor Washington Wilson
the party proceeded 10 the borough
hall where about fifty or seventy
five people. most of whom were Me-
tuchen women. awaited them,
Mrs. c. A. Prickett, speaking for
the Metuchen Woman's Club, pre-
sented a petition signed by 42S Me-
{ tuchen residents opposing the loca-
/ ton of tuberculosis hospital on the
site. In her remarks. Mrs Prickett
/ said the drainage of the property
would cost as much as the land was
worth and insisted that the low
swampy land. which has been used
as a public dumping ground" is mo-
snita BILE for a sanitarium. She mads
I a plea that a place might be selected
I'm which the surroundings would hs
more ideal for the patients.
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