Evening star., 1950-04-04
.$286,500 U. 5.
Funds Sought
For Children 5
Bank Loon Also
Asked to Finance
Hospital Buildings
By George Beveridee

BY George beverage
Children's Hospital will apply
tomorrow for $286,500 in Federal
funds to help meet the need for
an additional $685., 500 to carry out
its proposed new building pro-
gram.
Construction bids submitted last
month for the new building, it was
reported, wiped out hospital off,
cials' hopes that the project could
be finished with the $1,970,000 the
hospital has in hand.
AS plans now stand, the project
will cost s2,656,o00. This is the
breakdown of expenses:
l. Construction of a new build
ing at Thirteenth and w streets
NV. which will replace so beds
in old buildings. $2,330,000.
2. Construction of four urgent
ly needed" additions to the hos
pital, s326,50O.
100000 Loan Approved.
The hospitals Board of Direc-
tors last night approved the new
project and directed President
James H. Lemon to apply for the
$286,500 from funds available
through the Hill-Burton Hospital
Construction Act. At the. same
time the board approved a $400,-
900 loan from the Riggs National
Bank.
The money from these two
sources. totaling $686,500. would
be added to the money in hand
to finance the $2,656,500 project.
Mr.. Lemon said he would appear
before the. Hospital Advisory
Council at pm. tomorrow to re-
quest the Hill-Burton ALLEGATION
The council. headed by Health
Officer Daniel L. Seckinger, rules
on distribution of the Federal
funds. every 81 of which must
be matched with 81 of private
funds.
Children's Hospital previously
got $598,000 through the Federal
program. matched with funds
raised in public campaign. to
total the $4,000 now on hand.
Called "Key to Program"
While the hospital would not
need the additional Hill Burton
money for perhaps two or three
years." Mr.. Lemon said, "the allo-
cation of it is absolutely the key
to our whole program"
Mr.. Lemon praised the excel
lent community spirit" of the
Riggs National Bank in agreeing
to the $4,000 loan, and pointed
out it was requested with the hope
of getting "a successful answer
to our Hill-Burton request"
Congress has authorized dou-
bling of Hill Burton funds from
$75 million to $3.50 million a year,
but the House Appropriations
Committee recently refused to
raise the $75 million ante for the
fiscal year beginning July /.
A construction contract for the
new building, which is expected
to start May l and be finished in
Is months, has not yet been
awarded. Lowest bidder, however
was the Charles H. Tomkins Co.,
with $1,919,000. Other items in the
gross cost, including architects
fees. equipment. surveys and re-
serve, Mr.. Lemon said, raise cost
of the building to about 81, $3.50 900.
Four Additions Retained.
In addition to the main build
ing. hospital officials had hoped
to go ahead with eight needed
additions in the project. Four OF
them have been Topped off in the
revised plans. The remaining four
include:
l. Complete remodeling of the
out-patient clinics. Now in cramped
quarters, Mr.. Lemon said, the
clinics are the largest for children
in the world and last year handled
1924 visits.
2. A new laboratory and X-ray
department. with use Of the pres
ent space for nurses quarters and
recreation rooms.
3. Construction of a new audi
torium for medical conferences
and programs connected with
pediatric training projects.
4. Construction of additional
storage space in the basement of
the new building, which could be
added more inexpenSively while
the building is under construction.
Work included in the $2,330, 900
estimate for the new main build
ing also includes extensive re-
modelling in the remaining build
ings of the hospital.