The Republican., 1946-03-21

'OluC4Oll NOulu NC pICIJdIcQ WIIll-
1t would be signed by all three
9rs, associate Commissioner, was
not present at Tuesdays session
due to illness, but Mr.. Herman's views
we're seconded by Jonas w. Sines. the
third member of the Board
Whether or not the structure would
be built this year was not determined,
Lut members of the Committee and
the Commissioners were anxious that
it be started at the earliest opportun-
ity.
Mr.. Lawrence NJ. Fraley, chairman
Of the committee, read the report to
the Commissioners and also read from
= number of letters that had been re-
ceived from heads of hospitals in re-
ply to QUESTIONABLE which the COM
mittee had sent out.
The formal acceptance was made
necessary within year following Mr..
Loar's death which occurred on Janu-
ary 27. This was a provision in his
will which stipulated that the building
should be of size, design and type
suitable and appropriate to the needs
Of this community and its ability to
/ support and maintain the same. 1t
also stated that before any steps were
taken towards its erection the County
/ Commissioners should agree by pro-
| per resolution to accept, maintain and
support the hospital under a joint
control of county commissioners and
an advisory committee Of five per-
sons. He also provided that if the
commissioners failed to adopt the
resolution or to accept the bequest
with the regulations mentioned within
one year from the date of his death,
that the money would go elsewhere
The will originally provided $125,-
/ 600, with $4,000 additional to include
landscaping Of the hospital grounds,
and also $4,000 additional for support
and maintenance Of hospital during
period Immediately following COM
/ pleton and its opening. A codicil to
the will added $4,000 making $780,
coo for actual construction and equip
ping.
The town of Oakland has offered
the hospital site, being the former
Helbig property, at the north edge of
town, now used as a community park
The complete report of the COM
mittee follows:
Committee Report
Your committee, after very careful
consideration of information that we
have received from number of hos
pitfalls, and after having two very en-
/ thusiastic meetings at the City Hall
| in Oakland, in the very first place,
want to heartily endorse the hospital
and respectfully urge that the be-
quest be accepted.
In making study of this RESPONSE
bility, we prepared a questionable
which was mailed to II hospitals.
The majority of these questionnaires
were answered in a cooperative spirit
and have given us valuable informa-
tion upon which to base our recon-
mendations and which will also be
valuable as permanent records to
which you can refer from time to
| time.
Members of this committe also
personally contacted many citizens,
while number of others came to us
voluntarily. The hospital seems to be
AL ! l.,
rot once have we heard adverse criti-
cism. Many made offers of cash and
equipment if and when the hospital
becomes a reality, and we also recon-
mend that you as commissioners set
up some special fund, get written
record of these offers, and to be pre-
pared to accept all such contributions
as might be offered, to be known as
hospital fund.
The committee felt that if possible
the plans in general as prepared by
the late Mr.. Loar, be followed as
closely as is practical, and that the
hospital should be AZ to so beds in
capacity.
You asked for information about
probable cost of operation, number of
employees needed, and other technical
information. This is all supplied in
the letters we received from various
hospitals and which are part of this
report You will find in these letters
that the cost of construction runs
from $1,000 to $4,000 per bed with
the average around $500 to $4,000.
People of Meyersdale are expecting
to construct a hospital at cost of
$1,000 per bed. CONSTRUCTION at
Philippi was $4,000 per bed.
We recommend that the hospital be
maintained strictly as business
proposition, with a very competent
director, and that the naming of the
board of directors be carried through
Continued on page seven)