Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1920 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 [ADVERTISEMENT]

-- I ' H. A. LEE I I Do It Electrically Phono 62.

Facts Concerning the Proposed Hospital for Newton County

Voters of Newton county should bear in mind that on Nov. 2, at the regular election, they will be called upon to vote for the erection and maintenance of a hospital in Goodland, the same to be a county institution, and for -which our townsman, Henry T. Griggs, proposes to donate the sum of >49,000. It is not to be presumed, in fact hardly conceivable, that anyone in Goodland or Grant township is opposed to this proposed enterprise, the value of which •to the whole county can hardly be estimated, but as there > has been some misunderstanding relatives to the individual cost to taxpayers, and as to some details and plans and purposes, We give herewith a statement that we believe to be absolutely correct so far as details are and can be known at this time. The proposition is to erect a hospital building, to cost the sum of >IOO,OOO. The site will be donated by Mr. Griggs and his whole contribution will reach the .sum of >40,000 at least. It is proposed that the county shall vote a tax to meet the remaining >60,000, this amqunt to be secured according to the law oontrolling such matters and providing for a bond issue covering a period of 30 years. This would of course necessitate a small interest fund, but that would call for only a mere fraction of a mill on the dollar as additional assessment. The hospital as projected is to have 30 beds; this, under our state law, will entitle us to the benefit of a nurses’ training school and reduce to a minimum the greatest expense associated with the maintenance of all hospitals—nurse hire. Under these conditions there is every rehson to assert, after investigation of other local Institutions of same kind, that the Newton County Hospital can soon be made a self-sustaining proposition. But you want to know, and are entitled to know, what the individual cost of the enterprise will be to you, and we propose to enlighten you with figures that are easily susceptible of proof. The assessable valuation in Newton county is >30,000,000. To establish a fund of >60,000 will require the levying of a tax of one-tenth of - one mill on the dollar per year for 20 years; this means’one cent on the >IOO and 10 cents on >I,OOO. Thus a man paying taxes on >I,OOO worth of property would pay IO cents year; on >5,000, 50 cents a year; on >IO,OOO, >1 a year for 20 years, making the aggregate' cost to the first, >2; to the second, >10; to the third, >2O. We take these sums as an illustration, but of course the amount you would pay would be proportioned to your taxable- wealth exactly on that basis. To further illustrate: Suppose the interest and maintenance should require the establishment of a fund of >6,000 a year (which will hardly be necessary, the figures being taken to convey the idea) for 20 years it would exact a levy of' only 20 cents on the >l,ooo to provide it. Therefore, a man paying taxes on >I,OOO- would pay 20 cents a year for 20 years, making >4 all told. Certainly, from start to finish, there is nothing burdensome about this hospital proposition, and no person with sufficient intelligence to handle the multiplication table need bb in ignorance of the facts. Of course there would have to be a small fractional levy for the payment of interest, which would amount to >3,600 at 6 per cent the first year, but lessening each year as : the bonds were taken up. The maintenance expense cannot at this time be given accurately. The heaviest shortage in the Jasper county hospital was at the end of the first year when it was struggling against many unfavorable conditions, and reached the sum of >3,000, but that figure has never since been nearly approached. It should here be borne in mind that toe Jasper county institution has but 16 beds and does not therefore enjoy the privilege Of a nurses’ school, and much of the deficit can be charged to the large expense for nurses. -In studying this taxable expense to you it will be seen that the cost individually is infinitesimally small compared to the great benefits in the cost of treatment, care, comforts and convenience that will accrue to hundreds of people annually who live within our own borders. The hundreds who have and will continue to pour thousands of dollars every year into hospitals in neighboring cities will enjoy the benefits at home at a much less cost. A number of persons have expressed a desire to furnish rooms in the hospital as memorials to departed friends, and it is probable that a majority, if not all the rooms, will be furnished without expense to the county. Certainly there could be no more appropriate or gratifying tribute to the memory of a dead friend than toe placing of a memento where it would be of constant benefit and comfort .to suffering humanity. . i 1 In working up this enterprise our committeemen were strongly impressed with the splendid spirit of good-will exhibited among all classes throughout the county. Only the kindliest sentiment was expressed Tor the success of the enterprise and hearty appreciation of toe generous and unselfish action of Mr. Grirrs This insures success provided the active friends of toe work continue their actlvity until the polls close on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1620. -Advertisement - •, . 1-