The Wrangell sentinel., 1945-10-05
Bishop Bentley Will Lease Hospital To City
 Only On Conditions

one special meeting called to con Isider other matters. and the regu- lar meeting last night
 At the special meeting Monday might a letter was read from the Right Rev. John 5 Bentley. Epis- copal Bishop of Alaska, in which he stated the Episcopal church was willing to lease the hospital to the city but only on condition it was not sub-leased to any other organ ization to run.
 The Bishops letter to Wrangell's Mayor F. c. Hanford follows in full:
 Let me thank you for your letter of the 12th in regard to the Bishop Rowe Hospital Naturally, 1 have been disappointed and dis tressed to learn that the hospital had been closed. I had hoped and believed that the Town of Wran- gell might take it over and oper- ate il as q municipal institution. still think that this might have been done, though I am told that l it cannot be worked out. ] 'Tf the city government can support and operate a fire depart ment, light and power system. a water and sewage system, a po- ] lice department, a public library. a visiting nurse, and many and sundry other departments and in- stitutions for the public good and pn 1 follow that it could maintain and operate a hospital with public 1 funds for the public good. In fact l il can, and in many cities it does However, all of this is beside the point if the Town of Wrangell does not wish to assume this re- sponsibility. Certainly it has the right to decline to do so if it wishes.
 My proposition is simply this: We have a hospital in Wran- gell The building is in fair con dition, I believe. It is well furnish ed and equipped. We are ready To lease this building, grounds and equipment to the Town of Wran- gell on a longtime basis for the sum of One Dollar (SI001 per annum, provided the Town of Wrangell will operate it as hos pital for the welfare of it's citizens Title to the property will remain with the Church, which will pay the insurance on the building and equipment, and which will under take to add to and improve the equipment from time to time AL so, we will be glad to act as agent in securing staff of nurses though the Town of Wrangell will assume responsibility for salaries and all operating expenses.
 s'The above proposition assumes that the Town of Wrangell will operate the institution. It could not be made on the understanding that the Town of Wrangell would sub-lease the property to another organization or body to be oper- ated by them.
 ''If this proposition seems fair to you and to the Town of Wran- gell, and if you wish me to do so,
 
 the authorities of the church in order that we may work out a fin al draft of contract to cover the case. I have every confidence that the church will be glad to meet the Town more than half way and will do everything in it's power 10 help the town in the operation ui the hospital.
 ''On the other hand, if your de- cision is final, and if the Town cannot or will not accept respon- sibility for operating the hospital, then it is clear that someone else must The community needs the services of such an institution.
 ''In such case, I will take the matter up with the National Coun- cil of the Church and ask that body to staff and operate the hospital I know that when I ap- peal to the National Council for such help I will be met with the question, Why do you ask for money and nurses for a community that is well able to maintain and operate its own hospital?" The National Council is the Board of Directors of the Missionary Society of the Church. The Council will want to know why we have to undertake missionary work in a community such as Wrangell; why Wrangell cannot, or will not, take care of it's own needs? Perhaps 1 will be able to give an answer to such questions, but you will appre- ciate the fact that my task is not an easy one,
 'You mention the possibility of turning the hospital over to the
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