Evening star., 1947-10-15
County 10 Take
1it|etoHospita|,
Begin Expansion
Prince Georges Boord
Orders Inventory as
Purchase Preliminary

HNPolAoaoh o tile FTlnCe Georges
General Hospital, Cheverly, was a
step closer to reality today, with an
nouncement that the Prince Georges
county Commissioners will purchase
the hospital and grounds from the
Federal Government within the
next few days.
The commissioners, who met yes
terday in Upper Marlboro, author
lied purchase of the one-story struc-
ture and surrounding land from the
Federal Works Agency for $15o,0o0.
Such action was taken following
the receipt of letter from William
F. Bennett, acting division engineer
for the TWAS Bureau Of Community
Facilities, informing the commits
sioners a quitclairn, deed and bill of
sale for that amount were ready to
be turned over to the county.
Inventory. Ordered.
William A Carson, president of
the Board Of Commissioners, an
nounced the deal will be completed
as soon as an inventory Of equip
nent at the hospital Is made. The
inventory was ordered to start i'm
nfediately.
The county has been awaiting
purchase of the hospital from the
Government before starting it's pro-
posed construction of a 110-bed ad-
dition and other facilities, including
. "co-ordinated'" public health CEN
ter and a 50-bed nurses home.
Funds to purchase the hospital
were authorized as part of an $780,
600 bond issue approved by the
Maryland State Legislature at its
session earlier this. year and from
part OF a $400, 900 bond issue author
lied in 1899 for use by the hospital
but as yet unused.
To Cost About $l,190,0 900.
The hospital expansion program is
expected to cost about 81, 100, 600, it
was reported previously, with one
third of this cost to come through
Federal assistance under provisions
Of the Hill-Burton Act. The expan-
sion will include remodeling OF the
present structure. which was opened
on March 81. 1914, construction of
six new wings, besides the new
health center and nurses home.
The hospital has been operated
and maintained by the county, under
supervision of a 15-member board
of directors appointed by the COM
missioners, since its opening The
building and ground had been leased
from the Government for this period.
Estimated cost of construction was
placed at more than $650,000.
Negotiations for the hospital pur-
chase have been under way since
last March, when a committee, in
cluding Representative Sasscer,
Democrat, of Maryland conferred
with TWA officials. xs -
Expansion of the hospital. which is
located just off Landover road, has
been advocated and recommended
by the Prince Georges County Medi-
cal Society, which charged the coun-
ty lacked sufficient hospital facilities
in case of emergency and for COM
n1unicable disease patients.
welfare faFlcy Sct.
In other business, the commits
sioners agreed to meet with men,
bers Of the County Welfare Board
in a special conference at the Coun-
ty Service Building, Hyattsville. at
2 pm. Monday to discuss welfare
problems. The invitation had been
extended by Mrs Dorothy Ogburn,
executive secretary Of the welfare
group.
The commissioners approved the
proposed installation of electric
street lights in special improvement
district No. %, Bradbury Heights,
and directed Linden Briscoe, their
clerk, to notify the Potomac Electric
Power Co. to make q survey of the
community.
The resignation of Benjamin F.
Dowlan, a desk clerk at the Upper
Marlboro station of the county police
force, was accepted by the COM
missioners.
Clarence l.. Tucker, Samuel o.
Willett and Richard F.: Brown were
/ appointed as road examiners to
] make q survey Of q quarter-mile
/ stretch of Hynesboro road at its
junction with the Lanham-Severn
road, near Lanham, to consider
/. whether the stretch should be closed
and the road relocated. A request
tor such action was made by five
4 residents of the area, although petit
1 lions from q majority Of people in
4 the section oppose a change.
Ii A tax exemption was approved for
property used as church at 0e14
1 IVarnum street, Landover Hills.
!! Merle E. Shade, pastor, reported the
Il ILandoyer Hills Baptist Church IS
iI0ilsing q converted six-room frame
house rs its place of worship.
/: Trial Magistrate Arthur p. Owens
reported a near-record collection of
'iIs6,17s in fines and court costs in
Upper Marlboro and Capitol Heights
during September. He said 379 cases
liwere disposed Of, with 80 others
being continued to later dates.
IEAIexnndrio- Policeman