The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-17
Lions ToStdrt
DriiveFor The
New HOspbI
Club Discusses Two
Plans for Operation
OF New Institution
.
MEMBERS LIKE THE
SAINT JOHNS PLAN

IA 49, = - - AAAN - n - 49,
The Libby Lions are 1907 be.
hind the movement for a new Lib
by hospital to be financed by the
community, and large enough tc
care for the. Libby-Troy comrnuni.
ties and as much more OF Lincoln
county as is necessary. An enthus-
iastic meeting was held Monday
evening, April IA at which a number
spoke on the subject and the club
voted to sponsor program to unite
the community in a combined effort
10 finance the project.
Lion President Barkee after car
ing for the routine business Of the
evening, turned the meeting over 10
Lion Paul Church as hospital chair
man. Walter Neils, vice president
of the j. Neils Lumber Company,
was present and gave the history of
the local hospital, now known as
St. Johns Lutheran Hospital. This
institution was started some 20
years ago by Dr. Martin, who in
the early days of the recent war,
sold the hospital to the present
management The institution has
received financial support from
the j. Neils Lumber Company and
since DR.. Martin left, has been
managed by the hospital board of
ST. Johns Lutheran Church. The
Church has raised a goodly fund
consisting of $4,000 or more which
they have. considered using for a
new hospital However the con-
gregation will need community as
sistance should they be able to raise
sufficient funds to go ahead with
the project.
DR.. Cairns gave a short discussion
of the general hospital and medi-
cal needs of the community. The
present institution was designed for
Is beds. The doctor stated that 10
adequately care for South Lincoln
County's needs, there should be a
35-bed modern hospital He stated
that the estisnat ted ust Of sneit an
institution runs approximately 50,
600 per bed He also stated that
at present the local hospital an
nually handles about 125 mater
nifty cases, 100 major operations and
from one to two hundred tonselec- !
tonnes.
The physician strongly emphasized
the need of more medical men IL
the community, stating that there
should be at least two doctors in
Libby. and there should also be
a physician in Troy. At present
DR.. Cairns is having up to 40 pa
tents daily which is far more work
than any one doctor can care for
either with satisfaction to himself
Or his patients. AS a money max
ing proposition, remarked the ply
stefan, a hospital does not rate,
put a modern hospital in Libby
will, after it is set up and opera
ing, be self supporting most of the
line.
Two plans were discussed for
operation of a new hospital; one
or the community to assist the
1oard of the ST. Johns Church in
'aising the needed funds. In this
:ase, it is understood that the man
lgement will be vested in the
.hurch board, assisted by an adj
yisory board appointed from other
community sources. The hospital
will be for the use of all physic-
ans in Lincoln county either with
his plan or should the second plan
,e followed, which is to make the
hospital a strictly non-religious,
lon-denominational affair, financed
md administered by the community !
nd any interested organizations. ,,
If the community cooperated with
he st. Johns Church, it is under ',
TODD that funds now held by that /,
for building, will be :
sed in the project, as well as the !
0uipment which the present hos
ital now has, which is excellent !
hough inadequately housed. If the =,
econd plan is followed the church i,
f course will be under no more ,
litigation to contribute to the fl
ancing of the institution, than :
yould any other church in the COM
lunity. I
After a thorough discussion of the :
set-ups, pole of the in- 4
ividual Lion members was taken. >
OF as an official vote, but as a per- +
onal preference, and il was found.
nat the club members are whole
eartedIy in favor of working hand
. hand with the St Johns Church
1 financing and building the new c
ospitaL The club reserved official 9
ction as 10 preference at the meet
lg, but did officially instruct its L
ospital COMMITTEES TO begin the 10
rork of contracting other community q
REGISTRATIONS with the intent of J
lunching q move TO make the new s
ospital become a reality in the
cry near future.
The nolvard Grocerv & Market s