Evening star., 1946-03-06
Two Million Hospital
Program Is Asked in
Arlington County

Hospital facilities costing in ex.
cess Of 100000 are needed in Ar.
lington County to meet health re-
quirements, Karl H. York, Arlington
Hospital administrator, last night
told delegates of the County Civic
Federation.
Describing the absence of accom-
modations for communicable dis
ease cases, tuberculosis patients
children's wards expansion, addi-
tional maternity quarters and facili-
ties for mental patients, Mr.. York
said present estimates point to the
necessity for at least 300 additional
beds, at an estimated cost of $1,000
per bed.
He said 81 beds are required fol
communicable disease cases, 100 ad-
ditional general beds, At more chill
dren's ward beds, 36 maternity beds
and a 10O-bed tuberculosis institu-
ton. Twenty-Five beds are needed
for mental cases, he said.
State Doing Nothing.
Tuberculosis normally is a State
problem" he said, "but the State Is
doing nothing about it,"
The county jail now Is the "only
county facility for mental cases." he
asserted.
Arlington's tuberculosis rate for
white people is Ill per 100, ,000, popu-
lation, compared with % as State
average, according to 1914 records
he stated, but the local colored rate
is 1914 compared with the State
average Of 977 per 100000 popula-
ton.
Early diagnosis is the only wea-
pom the doctor really has," he added
The State is short 1000 beds for
these patients, he said, and one in
stitution has only one. doctor for 40o
patients.
The nearest sanitorium to Airing
ton, he continued, is 100 miles away
and will accept only ambulatory
cases. Under the present system
active cases are returned home
without advance warning to the
community, ne aQQeQ.
Cites Polio Problem.
Mr.. York also pointed out that
summer will soon be here, bringing
its polio problem.
"Are we going to battle with Gal
linger Hospital again this year, as
we did last year, to get patients ad-
mitted?" he asked in conclusion.
Mrs. Beulah S. Goss of the Fort
Myer Heights Citizens Association
received The Evening Star Trophy
at last nights meeting for having
made the most outstanding civic
contribution during 1945.
In accepting the award, Mrs. Goss
said she took it on behalf of all the
groups who served to bring plans for
a single living memorial to. reality
She served as chairman of the Co.
ordinating Committee for a County
War Memorial. The trophy was
presented by Alvin Seebode, chair
man of the Selecting Committee.
Cab Meters Urged.
The organization adopted two
motions of the Public Utilities Com
mittee on taxi rates and county bus
service. The first recommended the
use of mileage meters, with a rate
OF 80 cents for the first mile and
10 cents for each additional half
mile; a 90-cent fare from the Dis
trict line to Union Station; a 10
cent additional rate for each pas
senger over two, and luggage rates
OF 81 for small trunk and $1.5O
for large trunk.
The second motion recommended
the establishment of bus routes to
serve Arlington Hospital and the
county health center.
Other actions of the federation
included approving motions to enter
a float in the War Memorial Parade
on March 80; to establish a local
bus service on Army-Navy drive
bordering Shirley Memorial high
way, to serve Dolly Madison Junior
High School; to instruct the We'll
fare Committee chairman to call q
meeting of representatives of county
religious, fraternal, business and
government to seek more compre-
hensiye plan for county recreation
program and to support the Inter-
federation Conference in a move
seeking legislation to establish re-
sponsibility of District parking lot
owners for car thefts by compulsory
insurance.