EXPLAINS CLEVELAND HOS
PITAL DEFICIT
To The Editor of The Journal
Patriot:
In the September 6th Issue of
The Journal-Patriot the Cleve
land County Hospital in Shelby
was cited by Mr. John H. Jolnes,
inthor of the article, as an ex
ample of a hospital operating
with a deficit.
Of course, it is only natural
that the opposition to the North
Wilkesboro hospital, as proposed,
would use as an illustration the
worst cases that oould be found
from the standpoint of financial
operation. As a matter of fact,
of the 132 Duke-endowed hospi
tals in the two Carolines, 88 of
these hospitals showed an oper
ating surplns while only 44 had
an operating deficit during the
year 1947 and this was the worst
year for deficits within the last
ten-year period. With the ex
perience that the people of North
Wllkesboro have had in the suc
cessful operation of the Wilkes
Hospital, there is no reason what
ever to ibelleve that we will dis
card all good business manage
ment and follow a policy which
would result in financial losses as
experienced 'by a small minority
of the hospitals now in operation."
However, in order to get the
facts regarding the Cleveland
County (Hospital, as referred to
by Mr. Joines in his recent ar
ticle, I took the privilege of
writing Mr. O. M. Mull, a promi
nent attorney of Shelby, a foijp
er and outstanding member of
state legislature, a former trus
tee of the Cleveland hospital and
now one of the trustees of the
Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem.
11 asked Mr. Mnll to explain the
financial operation ,of the Cleve
land County Hospital and to give
| the reasons why this hospital had
operated with a deficit, as had
been reported.
In Mr. Mull's letter he states
that the people of Shelby town
ship voted ibohds in the amount
of 100,000 dollars with which
they built the hospital in Shel
by in 1922. According to Mr.
Mull, "this hospital was' operated
by a board appointed by the city
until 194-3 when the people of
Cleveland county decided to take
over the hospital and operate it
as a county project. At the time
the city turned the hospital over
to the county, its propery was
worth more than 1300,000. Dur
ing the 20 years the city operated
the hospital, it was enlarged
from 33 beds to a 90-bed hospi
tal, and a modern nursee' home
to accommodate 40 nurses was
built."
Mr. Mull further states: "In
1943, Cleveland county voted
1400,000.00 in bonds for the pur-I
pose of enlarging the hospital
and paying approximately $50,
000.00 original bonds outstand
ing against the city. This bond
money is now held awaiting ac
tion by our state and federal gov
ernment".
"The county too* over a go- j
tag concern that had been mak
ing ite own way and appointed a
new board of trustees to manage
same. It was a rather * large in
stitution and a new board did
experience financial difficulties.
My information is that the deficit
at the beginning of the present
year aggregated between $24,
000.00 and $25,000.00. Facing
this situation,* I am informed,
the hospital board tightened up
on their management and are op-j
erating within its income at pres
ent. The president of the board
tells me that the deficit resulted
principally from the fact that the
board was receiving $2.00 per
day for charity cases that cost ap
proximately three times that a
mount."
"Our experience confirms that
the financial management of a
hospital is quite similar to the
financial management of any
other business operation. The
management can carry on by
spending what it receives or can
spend more than it makes just as
any other business operation. If
you have a board of efficient
business men and women to man
age the finances of your hospital
they will not spertyd, more on
charity than the people of your
oounty plus other resources are
willing to pay for.
"I hare been connected with
the N. C. Baptist Hospital at
Winston for a number of years.
We do a lot of work for your
people and will gladly continue
to do so but I do not believe
the civlo-minded citizens of your
town and county will be willtng
to deprive their citizens of local
hospital care. Our N. C. Baptist
hospital Is more definitely suit
ed to handle the cases that an
ordinary local hospital Is not
equipped to serve."
I think that tnh> statement
from Mr. Mull clearly points out
that with efficient management
of the hospital by a capable board
of trustees composed of good
business men and women, we
should have no fear of an operat
ing deficit.
As in operating any other in
stitution, organization or busi
ness, the charges for services
must be set at a rate to cover
necessary ezpense. So to those
who look only at the dollar mark
in connection with the operation
of a hospital, the financial re
ports of all the hospitals, rather
than a few isolated cases, will
convince you that operating defi
cits are not an immense burden
around the necks of the taxpay
ers. And to those who see be
yond the dollar mark and realize
their moral and humanitarian ob
ligations, I a it sure you are not
going to let this matter worry
you, anyway. To those who have
registered, let's unite and pass
this hospital bond issue and give
to the people of North Wilkes
boro and Wilkes county adequate
and needed health facilities.
Sincerely yours,
J. B. WILiJAMS.
o
Some people are so pig-headed
that they won't take advice even
when they are paying for it.
FOR SALE
Complete Stock of
GROCERIES & GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Reason for selling is my physical condition
This is a grand opportunity for the right
party?place of business is arranged for
Groceries, General Merchandise and Serv
ice Station. Two nice rooms in rear of
building for living quarters with side porch
ood private entrance. Running water in
building and out in front. Two nice size
stock rooms. Telephone in store.
Rent is very reasonable on building and
fixtures,.which include counters, cash reg
ister, counter scales, floor scales, drink
box with meat compartment, 3 glass show
cases and display rack.
This place of business is located 3 miles
West of North Wilkesboro, Highway 421,
directly across highway from New Cricket
School Building, which is now under con
struction. Terms Cash.
See me at this place any day except Sunday
MRS. R. C. GOODWIN
f
FEEDS
"WN
-H*
LIN BUMGARNER
3 Miles West on Highway 421
Phone 26-F-21 North Wllkeabon
Dress Dp RIGHT M
WRIGHT'S MEN'S SHOP
It's Fall! The time of the year to "dress up'
in that new suit, topcoat, hat, shoes, and
other new wearing apparel. Come in, and
see our new Fall Merchandise.
MEN'S SUITS
All sizes, in the new Fall patterns
'31.50 to *49.50
Fruit of the Loom Shirts, all sizes, 2.98-3.50
Leather Jackets $11.75 to $29.50
Top Coats, (Gabardine) $34.95 to $49.50
VARSITY CLUB HATS
All sizes and shades $6.00 and $10.00
Ward, Hill, Sir Raleigh
SHOES
$7.75 to $10.00
Specials For
SATURDAY
Men's Big Favorite
Overalls, pr .. $2.69
Work Shirts 1.48-1.98
Regular |>rice 50c pr.
Men's Sox _ _ 3 for $1.
IN OUR JEWELRY DEPARTMENT?
Gruen, Bulova, Waltham, Elgin and Robot Watches, Memory
Lane Diamonds, Rings, Dinner Rings, Wedding Bands.
WATCH AND JEWELRY REPAIRING BY AN EXPERT
WRIGHT'S MEN'S SHOP
E. R. WRIGHT, Manager
Telephone 404-W Wilkesboro, N. C.
ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC
s..
I WISH TO ANNOUNCE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS SECTION THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THE INTEREST OF RICHARD F. CRANOR IN THE QUALITY
FOOD STORE, AND THAT THE BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE THE SAME POLICY AS IN THE PAST?SELLING THE HIGHEST QUALITY MERCHANDISE
^T LOWEST PRICES. I INVITE THE PUBLIC TO VISIT THE STORE AND SEE THE MANY FINE FOOD ITEMS IN STOCK. YOUR PAST PATRONAGE
HAS BEEN GREATLY APPRECIATED, AND YOUR FUTURE TRADE IS RESPECTFULLY SOLICITED. ? H. D. BALL.
I
"
DUKE'S
MAYONNAISE
pint
44c
GROCERIES
RED BAND FLOUR-S. R 87c
10 POUNDS?
10 POUNDS?
RED BAND FLOUR-Plain..... 85c
5 lb. SUGAR 43c
DUFF'S HOT ROLL MIX 25c
LARGE RINSO 33c
1 POUND?
MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE ..48c
GREEN GIANT PEAS ... 19c
NO. 2 1-2 CAN? /
CALIFORNIA PEACHES 27c
NO. 2 CAN ARMOUR'S STAR? -
TOMATO JUICE, 2 for 15c
NICE FRESH?
LETTUCE, 2 for 23c
WHITE SEEDLESS?
GRAPES, 2 lbs 23c
MRS. FILBERT'S?
MARGARINE, in the bag...... 42c
SUN KIST LEMONS, doz... 1.34c
MEATS
ARMOUR'S?
STAR BACON, lb 73c
FRESH GROUND BEEF 49c
LOIN END?
PORK CHOPS........ 65c
ARMOUR'S STAR?
BOILED HAM, lb $1.15
AGED N.Y. CHEESE, lb. 65c
DRESSED AND DRAWN?
FRYERS, lb. 65c
WE FEATURE WILKES MOUNTAIN POULTRY PRODUCTS. WESTERN
BEEF. BIRDS EYE AND DULANEY FROZEN FOODS AND ALL NATION
ALLY ADVERTISED BRANDS. ' ^
ii-v
QUALITY FOOD STORE
PLENTY OF PARKING SPACE H. D. BALL, Proprietor PLENTY OF PARKING
EAST "B" STREET TELEPHONE 638-M NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C.