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Show FORT HOSPITAL FUNDS; MAY BE APPROPRIATED! i i Amendment to Army Bill for Completion of Work to Be Urged. Construction Officer Has Been Reassigned to Local Post. With officials of tho army construction construc-tion department, United States senators sena-tors and other federal and state offi-esials offi-esials strongly in favor of the granting grant-ing of an appropriation by congress to complete the general hospital at port Douglas, early passage of tho appropriation appropria-tion measure is expected in Washington. Washing-ton. , iSenator William II. King is urgiug an amendmeut to the army appropriation appropria-tion bill which will provido funds for the hospital aud enable local construction construc-tion officials to complete the unfinished unfin-ished construction. When Brigadier General R. C. Marshall, Mar-shall, chief of the construction division, visited Salt Lake on May 17 he made an inspection of the general hospital with Major A. J. McDonald. The construction con-struction head approved the location ot the hospital and the work already done, and expressed a desire to have the work completed as soon as possible. He stated that when he returned to Washington he would urge in every possible way that funds be immediately appropriated in order that the work might be carried out as originally contemplated. con-templated. Estimate Requested. Senator King has asked General Marshall Mar-shall for an estimate as to the amount required to complete tho hospital according ac-cording to original plans and will submit sub-mit this estimate to congress, urging that it be included as an amendment to the army appropriation bill. Work on the hospital was stopped several months ago when an order was received from the surgeon general at Washington stating that because the war casualties were not as great as the department had anticipated it was found that the bed capacity of military mili-tary hospitals was already much larger than necessary and that it would be futile to complete tho work here. As the hospital construction at that time was in an exposed condition, application ap-plication was made by local officials to permit completion of the work to a degree sufficient to protect building already done. After some delay, permission per-mission was secured to use funds re-maininp- in the hands of Maior Mc- Donald, fort construction quartermaster, quartermas-ter, to partially complete tho work. Funds Exhausted. Construction was thereupon resumed until all funds on hand were completely exhausted. Further developments, it was then Blated, hinged entirely upon the action of congress. United States Senator Smoot has assured officials at Fort Douglas that he will take up the matter and endeavor to obtain an appropriation. In conference with officials of the war department, Senator King recently suggested that when the Fort Douglas hospital was no longer required at capacity ca-pacity to take care of wounded soldiers sol-diers returned from France it should be thrown open to care for soldiers and discharged soldiers who may from time to time require medical or surgical attention. at-tention. Seuator King explains that he does not desire to make the hospital into an old soldiers' home when its present sphere of usefulness is complete, but states that it should be maintained at government expense for the benefit of western men who fought in France, whenever they require hospital treatment. treat-ment. Amount Needed Modest. Actual completion of the hospital will require a comparatively small appropriation, appropri-ation, it is Btated. Plans of the designers, de-signers, however, include a central heating heat-ing plant, landscape gardening and elaborate interior decoration. It is planned to equip the operating rooms with the very latest surgical appliances, so that every security may be offered to the soldier patientG of adequate, thorough and efficient treatment. To a great extent, the hospital has already been equipped in this way. It is practically certain that congress con-gress will approve the appropriation calling for the completion of the work on the hospital and developments are assured within a short time. Work can be resumed on a moment's notice, it is stated by post officials, and it is expected that the welcome order will soon be received. Lieutenant C. E. Jones, engineer in the construction department, who, under un-der Major McDonald, has been in active ac-tive charge of the construction, has been recalled from Camp Travis, Texas, where he was ordered after work was stopped on the hospital, and is now at Fort Douglas awaiting orders to proceed pro-ceed with the building |