Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-04
ANSWERS CRITICS
OF HOSPITAL SITE
Committee Head Asks Why
Criticism Was Withheld
for Nine Months.

WIN the dSSeI IlOL ItldG ~ SCCulS q
bit unworthy and certainly an incense
uuential reason that limited number
Of persons who desire to use patients
as teaching material for medical stu
dents, should effect the selection OF
sanitarium site for tuberculous chill
dren." the Tubercular Children's SAM
tarillm Committee today replied to
resolution adopted by the District OF
Columbia Medical Society. which as
sailed the proposed Defense Highway
site for the new Childrens IuoercuIoSS
Hospital as inaccessible.
And. according to Mrs. Ernest II:
Grant chairman Of the committee, and
authorized by its members to answer the
Medical Sociaty's criticism, constructive
suggestions offered by the Medical 80
cietv nine months ago would nave oeen
gladly welcomed, but objections mace
nine months after the decision has oeen
publicly announced arouses curiosity as
to the true motive"
ON July rs, 1880, the committee mace
ro,,blic its selection of site on tne De-
tense Highway, eight miles from WdsI-
incton. as the proposed location OF the
new hosnital. for which Congress APP
propriated s625, 900. On August ~ last
the land was purchased, costing ap-
proximately $4,000.
Point Out Disadvantages.
The committee explained today. no
criticism was received by It's members
of their action until the meolcal So
ciety made public late SATURDAY nisa NJ
its resolution adopted at meeting Oh
"wednesday night that not only was
the site Inaccessible but was OF low
altitude not helpful to the treatment OF
tuberculosis. and possessing no par
ttc,,Iar advantage. It was recon-
nended that the hospital be erected at
a more appropriate and convenient
point. 49,. dana
tions Of its services in the past haSe
dome much to reduce the expenses IN
cured hv the District Government In
the care of INDECENT children, but that
lie members should not be called upon
IN visit a particularly inaccessible
site. especially during the summer
months. when trafic on the DEFENSE
Highway Is always congesteo. -.
Emnhasis was also laid on the att
tude 81 the proposed site, which the So
cietv said would be subjected to ex-
IRENE heat and humidity. 1t aooeo
that the present medium OF transporta-
tion of the highway is unsatisfactory
friends visiting patients.
Differ on Distance.
The resolution also set out that the
proposed site would create an Amos
impossible situation" If the patients
we're used for teaching purposes IN con-
nection with Georgetown ano GeoIge
Washington University Medical 6cnoon'
The resolution set the distance OF III
site from washington at IA miles. me
committee contends that it Is only
miles. -. a,,o
members Of the tuberculosis Children 5
sanitarium Committee are medlcal
nnen-Dr. ?. c. Smith, assistant surgeon
general of the United States Pupnc
Health Service: DR.. j. w. Peabody. su-
nerintendent Of the tuberculosis HOS
pital: DIR. Joseph Rogers. president OF
Casualty Hospital: DR.. William &. row
Ter. District health officer. ana Dr.
Percy Hickling alienist. Ihe Iate II,
George NJ Kober, president OF tne
tuberculosis association. was an active
member until his death last month.
His successor has not yet been ap-
She explained that the Defense High
way site was selected by Maj. l.. Z. Az
kins former Assistant Engineer Com
missioner Of the District, after ia pos
.sible locations had been visited.
Physicians on Committee.
A committee OF seven, two Of whom
were physicians. approved Mai. Atkins
selection and recommended that the
site be purchased.
As to the inaccessible" charge In the
resolution, Mrs Grant asked the Medical
Society today the following:
Has the Medical Society ever heard
Of an electric interubran. the Washing
ton. Baltimore e. Annapolis, with cen
trally located station at Twelfth street
and New York avenue, that crosses one
section of the Children's Sanitarium
site on Defense Highway? And do they
know this electric railway furnishes
reasonable transportation every half
hour for the parents who cannot afford
an automobile?"
The Sanitarium Committee suggested
that the Medical Society study the
names Of the members Of the committee
appointed by the District Commission
ers TO select the site. one member Of the
committee being a physician. DR.. Joseph
| A. Murphy, medical and sanitary in
7 ~ eahnNle