Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1905 — GREAT LIFE-SAVING CRUSADE. [ARTICLE]

GREAT LIFE-SAVING CRUSADE.

The New Mexican Sanitarium of the Fraternal Organizations. America’s greatest battle against the great white plague will be waged within sight of Las Vegas, N. M. The fraternal bodies of the republic, welded with ths churches, clubs and municipalities into •one great humanitarian organization, will, within a few weeks, open a'?l,OOO,000 sanitarium for consumptive sufferers that will be without a peer in the world. Here in the heart of the region which in all the world is best adapted to the relief of lung troubles, a quickly recruited armj- 0f'3.000 sufferers from pulmonary affections will start to work out their own salvation along new Hues, which, it is expected, will constitute the path for countless thousands that Will follow after. The public has heard little regarding this ambitious project. But the fact that it has been taken unawares does not mean that there has not been thorough study and investigation and preparation back of the big undertaking. On the contrary, no life-saving crusade was ever worked out more carefully, step by step. For a long time past the darkening cloud of the consumptive plague which has been threatening the nation has appeared especially menacing to the great fraternal insurance orders. Of late years 40 per cent of the applicants for admission have been turned away because of light weight or the taint of the plague. Yet, of the $62,000,000 annually paid out for Insurance, more than $10,000,000 Is for deaths from tuberculosis alone. In other words, despite all precautions, jl6 per cent of the members are dying from the terrible disease. In an effort to stem the tide of destruction, committees from the big fraternal organizations have taken steps for the establishment of “Fraternal City,” as the new sanitarium will be known. Churches, clubs and municipalities are being invited to share the benefits of this unique institution. Any organization may send its suffering dependents to this haven of refuge by merely paying. the cost of transportation and maintenance. The novel community is distinctly not a money-making institution. Indeed, the idea is that when farming advantages have been secured, the institution will be in some degree selfsustaining. There will be several gateways of admission to the Fraternal City. Wealthy Individuals who have donated lump sums will each have the privilege of sending patients, irrespective of their relations with fraternities and churches. At the outset, however, the greater portion of the patients will come as the guests of the fraternal orders which J-ave contributed to the general fund. Each order selects stricken men and women from its membership to tho extent of its quota, and such individuals are undes no personal expense at the sanitarium, the cost of maintenance in each case being charged against the organization which sends the patient. If only the fraternal insurance orders become parties to the plan to tax each member 12 cents« year for the maintenance of the sanitarium, the income will be nearly $600,000 a year, and from 1,500 to 3,000 persons can be cared for free, whereas if other fraternal societies and the churches co-operate to any great extent, as is now indicated, the magnitude of the work will be greatly broadened.