Evening star., 1928-11-27
CORNER STONE LAID
FOR HOSPITAL UNIT
Rivalry in PhiIanthrophy UIti.
mateIy Will Treble Capacity
at Casualty.

Forty years ago the business men OF
Northeast Washington recognized the
need in that section for a hospital, and
it was the fruition of these efforts that
Casualty Hospital was established in a
modest little house at 311 Third street
northeast. Today Andrew w. Mellon,
Secretary of the Treasury, laid the cor
ner stone of the first of two proposed
quarter million dollar units to make
the institution one of the ultra-modern
hospitals of the city.
The rivalry in philanthrophy of two of
those Northeast business men largely
made possible the new unit, which will
treble the capacity of Casualty Hospital
and make its equipment as up to date
as any in the city. For years Thomas
w. Smith and Theodore j. Mayer, both
wealthy lumber men, We'd with each
other in their efforts to keep the Strug-
Cling little Northeast hospital well
nourished financially. When one would
see tho -ocd for $1,000 contribution
to the institution, the other would
match the gift.
The new building on which the cor
ner stone was laid today is going up
on tract of land given by Mr.. Smith,
and adjoining it is another piece OF
land. identical in size, which was do
mated by Mr.. Mayer, where, it Is pro-
posed, the second $250,000 unit of the
hospital will go up. when the necessary
funds are available. In addition, Mr..
Smith left $4,000 as the nucleus for
a $4,000 fund for the maintenance OF
the unit he planned.
Senator King Speaks.
Senator King of Utah made the prin-
cipal address at the corner stone cere-
monies, which began at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. Representative Zihlman OF
Maryland, chairman of the House Dis
trict committee, was master of cere-
monies. Right Rev. James E.. Freeman,
Bishop of Washington, gave the invo-
cation. The speakers included DR.. Will
fred M Barton, representing the Med
ical Society Of the District of Colum-
bia; George F.. Wilson, representing the
District Commissioners, and Mgr. G. F.
Thomas, pastor of ST. Patrick's Church.
Rabbi c. F. RoSenblum, assistant rabbi
of the Washington Hebrew Congrega-
ton, pronounced the invocation.
The United States Marine Band fur
nished music for the ceremony.
Scores of Washington doctors, men,
bers of the staff and others interested
in the development of Casualty Hospital
attended the ceremony
Shortly after its establishment at 311
Third street northeast the hospital
was moved to Third and Pennsylvania
avenue and quarters were established
over drug store. Then the institution
was transferred to Delaware avenue be-
tween B and G streets and left this To-
cation when the Senate Office Building
was erected. The present building, do
mated by Smith and Mayer, was taken
In 1904. It was formerly the home of
Judge B. F. Leighton. Since then it
has kept pace with the development of
the section 1t serves. It was in 1906
that the first steps were taken toward
the building for which hte corner stone
was laid today, but the process of rails
ing the money necessary was a long
and tedious one. It was not until last
year that the project really saw the
light Of realization. At this time a
drive was conducted and the necessary
contributions and pledges were raised
for work to be started.
80 Doctors, Is Nurses on Staff.
The hospital serves all of the sections
east OF Seventh street, toward Baltimore
and Annapolis, a section which is grow
ing rapidly and finding increasing need
for the service rendered by the institu-
ton. It maintains a staff of about 80
| doctors and has Is nurses. In addition
| 1t conducts nurses training school and
performs various clinical services.
The board of directors of the institu-
ion includes DR.. Joseph D. Rogers, pres
ident; Francis r. Woller, vice president;
Thomas P. Hickman, treasurer: Harry
F. Almond, secretary; Stephen E. Kra-
mer, Thomas M. Baker, Mrs. M. j.
Vaughan, Samuel H. Rogers, Daniel J.
Donovan, Roy L. Neuhauser, Malcolm G
| Gibbs, Mrs. w. j. Brewer, Charles j.
Waters, Odell S. Smith, Arthur Carr, j.
Harry Cunningham, George S. Watson,
Ira E. Bennett, Edgar M. Mayne, Mrs.
w. w. Griffith and Mrs Bernard Walls.
The building committee includes the
board of directors and Gen. Anton Ste
phan, DR.. Fred Repetti, Melvin Sharpe,
DR.. Edward C. Wilson, DR.. Roy F. Dun
| mire, Frank M. Pierce, w. W. Griffith,
I. j. Roberts and Evan H. Tucker.