CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1867.

Charleston Argus, Volume 1, Issue 17, 11 May 1867, Page 2

CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1867.

At a time when sickness is becominT daily more prevalent, and the evil is aggravated by the inclemency of the season, it devolves upon us to provide some place where our less fortunate brethren may at least receive the care and treatment necessary to their restoration to health. In agitating for the construction of a hospital for the relief of all whose bodily infirmities would single them out as fitting recipients of the charity, there is no desire on our part to saddle any particular section of the community with the expense of maintaining a costly establishment of this 'nature. It has hitherto been customary, where hospitals have been erected or supported by voluntary contributions, for the burden to rest almost entirely upon the business people, and the very class for whose benefit these institutions are erected, and who largely avail themselves of the convenience, have in no case, as a body, subscribed any considerable sum towards their maintenance ; indeed, there a r e many instances where miofs pusses"in;.' ample m» -•*■ s have befn fo nt 1 uuwijling to pay a rc.»*i:ia!»h

sum in return for the bodily comforts and me !ical treatment received. Whether this apparent selfishness anl indifference is brought about b, the negligence of those who have been employed to canvass a district is a question, and it would appear not at all unlikely tV.a* a want of zeal on the part of the latter may, to a certain extent, account for the trifling sums obtained. It is far more easy to cam a commission in | collecting B'imstVo'ii townspeople who may | he all called upon in a day or two, than to j make the entire circuit of a wide and scattered district; and as more generally one interesting himself in any such matter voluntarily and gratuitjusly canvasses his fellow-townspeople, there is little chance of his being able or caring to devote time and no little trouble in going thoroughly through the entire district. We would suggest that the miners should, in the first place be called upon to contribute thenquota, and any sum subscribed by them would be supplemented by at any rate an equal amount from the townspeople, and probably the Government would place a sum on the estimates equal to that raised by subscription, for the erection of an hospital and assume themselves the responsibility of management and maintenance. Our neighbors at Brighton, who for some months past have endeavored to obtain such an institution, [suggest the erection of an hospital at the joint expense of the two districts, at a spot situated about midway between the two townships, and a receiving house affording temporary accommodation to incoming patients in each township. The idea of one building effectively managed, for two districts is certainly worthy of consideration, although it remains a question whether th. rugged naI of the country, and difficult of communication between the two townships, , would not render such a plan altogether impracticable. Should it be f mnd necessary to have a receiving hospital at each township in connection with it, the same expense would be incurred as if there were erected two distinct and separate hospitals, without securing the same advantages either hi point of convenience or effectiveness.