People To Vote $20,000 For Detention Hospital

PEOPLE TO VOTE $20,000 FOR DETENTION HOSPITAL

Providing the University Board of Regents Will Give Site

Council Take Action in the Matter –– Will Also Ask Regents to Furnish Heat, Light, Nurses and Medical Attendance

The special council meeting met, pursuant to call of Mayor Brown, Monday evening, with evelyn members present. Two other aldermen came in a little later.

The call announcing the purpose of meeting having been read, Clerk Granger read a communication from the committee of doctors setting forth the matters which they desired to discuss with the council. This communication is as follows:

To the Honorable Common Council of the City of Ann Arbor:

After a lengthy and careful study of the subject of contagion and of infectious diseases in our city and the proper curtailment of such; it is our opinion that nothing short of an adequate detention hospital will suffice. We desire to call your attention to the fact that four classes of contagious diseases prevail from time to time and must be dealt with – measles, diphtheria, scarlet fever and small pox. Several wards will be required for the care and treatment of the three first mentioned, and a special isolation ward of small pox, a special chamber for fumigate purposes, lavatories, baths, etc. So that, in our opinion, a building at all adequate, and constructed upon modern principles will require at least $20,000. We recommend the construction of such building as speedily as possible. We would also advise that in all cases were good evidence exists that quarantine law has been willfully violated that such offenders be summarily prosecuted, and that we hereby agree to aid to the best of our ability, in the maintenance of all quarantine regulations.

As is well known, fire is a destructive agent of great potency we therefore recommend the installment of a proper system or plant for the disposal of all garbage, the term garbage being construed to mean all refuse from kitchen and barn or stable as well.

We would recommend also that our Common Council be more stringent in the enforcement of the ordinance governing sewer connection. We believe that all landlords and property owners should be compelled to use the valuable means of cleanliness, unless valid reasons exist to the contrary.

Inasmuch as hydrophobia is becoming unusually prevalent in Michigan, we recommend that the Council be diligent in ordering the speedy muzzling of all dogs during the heated season.

We also recommend that our county jail be no longer utilized for the detention of the unfortunate insane. A detention hospital could be so constructed that it might be used this purpose also.

And we hereby enter into compact, individually and collectively, to aid our board of health and all officers of the law in the curtailment of infectious disease and the abatement of all unsanitary conditions, and we will not cease our labors until Ann Arbor is clean and until all of the above recommendations have been consummated.

Signed–– W. B. HINSDALE,

V. C. VAUGHAN,

JAMES F. BREAKEY,

CONRAD GEORGE, JR.,

JOHN A. WESSINGER,

GEORGE DOCK.

Dr. Hinsdale of the health board was asked to enlarge upon the issues involved which he did in a forceful speech setting forth the constantly increasing urgency of the demand within the city for better sanitation and protection for the people from infectious disease.

Dr. Vaughan was next called out. He told of the typhoid fever epidemic which prevailed here in 1880 due to impure water – the discovery of typhoid germs in the water at that time and the prompt steps taken to remove the causes of the disease, and that as a result of the measures instituted at that time and continued since the city had never had another epidemic of typhoid fever. The city water supply is frequently examined for bacteria and any appearance of germs in any part of the supply leads to the prompt shutting off of that supply and the thorough cleansing of all surroundings. He spoke of the necessity of disposing of the garbage of the city. But said he regarded a detention hospital as the most important of the city's needs at the present time.

Dr. Dock was called out and mentioned a case in point showing how easy it was to prevent the spread of contagious diseases when hospital facilities are at hand. Through the charity of a woman of the city, some years ago, in a scarlet fever epidemic, he was enabled to send three children of a poor washerwoman to the hospital while the mother was thus permitted to go on with her work and earn her living and yet the disease was prevented from spreading from that house as it certainly would had the mother continued to send washing from the infected home with the sick children therein.

At this stage the alderman took a part in the discussion. Alderman Coon thought the proposition was one which should receive prompt action at the hands of the council. Ald. Hutzel was of the opinion that the project would be endangered by hurry. He favored a detention hospital but thought the question should not be submitted to the people until the regular election in the spring. Aldermen Johnson and Gill agreed with him. President Walz thought it could be carried if submitted in thirty days. The aldermen who favored delay until the regular election through the intervening time could be used advantageously in educating the public on the question.

President Walz raised the question of maintenance of the hospital after its erection. Alderman Douglas considered this a very important point as the present revenues of the city were not sufficient to take on any such additional load, and the taxes were now up to the limit under the charter.

Dr. Hinsdale said he believed the regents would entertain a proposition to furnish site, heat, light, nurses and maintenance of the hospital in same manner and way as they maintain the university hospitals, patients paying for board, etc. This idea seemed to impress the aldermen and Ald. Douglas offered the following resolution as something tangible to go to the regents with:

Whereas, it is an opinion of this council that a detention and contagious hospital is necessary to the common good of the city and the University of Michigan.

Resolved that this council will recommend to the voters of Ann Arbor the raising of twenty thousand dollars for the erection of a contagious hospital, providing the University of Michigan will furnish a site for the same, and will furnish heating, lighting, nurses and medical attendants.

Resolved further, that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Board of Regents at their first meeting, and that they be asked to give early consideration of this proposition.

Upon roll call the resolution passed unanimously. The proposition will be presented to the regents at their next meeting.

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THE ANN ARBOR IS EARNING MONEY

The Wall Street Journal says: In the year ended June 30, 1902, the Ann Arbor just missed earning its full preferred dividend, the surplus for the year having been equal to just 4.69 per cent on the preferred. For the eleven months ended May 31,1903, the company has reported an increase in net earning of $115,872, indicating that in the year ended June 30, 1903, not only will the full 5 per cent for the preferred be earned, but the surplus will be equivalent to at least 3.20 per cent on the common stock.

The company's business during the year has undergone a remarkably excellent expansion, the gross earnings for eleven months showing an increase of 23 per cent over the corresponding period a year ago. Expenses have been kept on as low a level as possible, there being only three months out of the elven where increases in the department were shown, and the totals for the elven months are slightly below those of the previous year, thereby preserving the entire gross gain as increase in net.

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NIGHT WAS HER TERROR.

"I would couch nearly all night long,' writes Mrs. Charles. Applegate, of Alexandria, Ind., "and could hardly get any sleep. I had consumption so bad that if I walked a block I would cough frightfully and spit blood but, when all other medicines failed three $1.00 bottles of Dr. King's New Discovery wholly cured me and I gained 58 pounds." It's absolutely guaranteed to cure Coughs, Colds, La Grippe, Bronchitis and all Throat and Lung Troubles. Price 50c and $1.00. Trial bottles free at H. F. Miller's and A. M. Mummery's drug stores.

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