Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1920 — Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 [ADVERTISEMENT]

BUY A HOME IN RENSSELAER The best county seat town in northwestern Indiana. I have properties for sale to suit any size purse. Call and let me show them to you.—C. W. DUVALL, phone 147. dls

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 $40,000. 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 knewn at this time. The proposition is to erect a hospital building, to cost the sum of SIOO,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 amount to be secured according to the law controlling such matters and, providing for a bond issue covering a period of 20 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 reason 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 SIOO and 10 cents on SI,OOO. Thus a man paying taxes on SI,OOO worth of property would pay 10 cents a year; on $5,000, 50 cents a year; on SIO,OOO, $1 a year for 20 years, making the aggregate cost to the first, $2; to the second, $10; to the third, S2O. 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 SI,OOO to provide it. Therefore, a man paying taxes on SI,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 be 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 the Jaspei 1 county institution has but 16 beds and does riot 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 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 to furnish rooms in the hospital as- memorials to departed fifiends, 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 the plating of a memento where it would be of constant benefit and comfort to suffering humanity. 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 for the success of the enterprise and hearty appreciation of the generous and unselfish action of Mr. Griggs. This insures success provided the active friends of the work continue their actlvity until the polls close on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1920. —Advertisement. ' ..."