The Atlantic & Pacific Hospital Association was incorporated in New Mexico on July 26th, 1891, when it was decided to split the Santa Fe System into four sub-divisions or associations, to more effectively carry on the good work. It was succeeded on July 26th, 1898, by the Santa Fe Pacific Hospital Association, the name being changed on July 25, 1904, to the Santa Fe Coast Lines Hospital Association.
The Santa Fe collects for this hospital association dues as follows: 50 cents from all employees who receive a salary of less than $100.00 per month and $1.00 for all employees who receive a salary of $100 or more per month. The fund for some years was not sufficient to meet ll the expenses of the association so the Santa Fe advanced such additional amounts as were necessary, until the year 1893, when the association became self supporting. By personal attention and close economy the fund began to grow and a surplus was acquired sufficient to meet the current expenses for care and emergency expenses for the future.
In 1891 the Souther California Hospital Association was organized for the employees of the Southern California Railway, at that time operating only the line of road from Barstow to San Diego. Later dues were collected from San Francisco & San Joaquin Railway employees and they were admitted to the benefits of the Southern California Hospital Association.
In 1897 the Santa Fe acquired the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad and the later's association for the care of the sick and injured, also was taken over and operated as a seperate institution until the next year, 1898, when it was duly organized and incorporated under the name and title of the Santa Fe Pacific Hospital Association. At that time there was a small hospital at Albuquerque which was transferred with the A. &. P. hospital association. An emergency hospital was in operation at Needles, on a piece of ground owned by the railway company, which arranged a building for emergency work. Patients were comfortably cared for there until a passing train could take them to more commodious quarters in Los Angeles where they were cared for at the Sister's Hospital.
In December, 1902, the hospital at Albuquerque was destroyed by fire and the patients, who were removed from the burning building without the slightest injury to them, were for a year placed in the St. Joseph Sanitarium at Albuquerque, during which time a new hospital was erected on the site of the old one, at the expense of $23,467.68, with an additional expense of $1500. for equipment. This afforded a hospital large enough to care for over thirty patients. Later five tent houses were bought and set up on the grounds of the hospital for the accomodation of tubercular patients, enabling them to get the benefit of the clear mountain air and still to be under the direct supervision of the hospital doctors and nurses.
In 1904, in order to carry on the work of the two hospitals associations more effectively and conveniently, a consolidation of the Santa Fe Pac. Hosp. Association and the Souther California Hospital Association was formed, under the name of the Santa Fe Coast Lines Hospital Association. The object of the new organization was to continue the care of sick and injured employees. The territory covered by this association comprises the Santa Fe Lines from Albuquerque west to San Diego and San Francisco.
In 1905 the beautiful new hospital at Los Angeles was completed. For twelve years the association had been saving to create a fund that would permit building and equipping a hospital at this point. In 1990 a piece of property covering nearly four acres on the east side of Hollenbeck Park was purchased at a cost of $5,500. The value of this site was increased until now it is worth about $40,000. In December 1905, the new hospital stood ready, built and equipped at an expense of $147,000. Making a most beautiful home for those who are sick and injured while in the service, with the privilege of a fine park to be enjoyed by convalescents. Amid such delightful surroundings, and with every care and attention by skilled hands, no wonder the occupants of the various wards cheerfully battle back to health and strength. In February, 1914, an annex to the hospital was completed. This contains a laundry in the basement, beautiful recreation rooms on the first floor and a dormatory on the second floor for the help, The expense of this additional building was $22,000.
An exceptionally well appointed operating room, complete in every detail, is a feature of the Los Angeles Hospital, and the layout of the building, as to the location of the Wards, nurses' quarters, dining-room, etc. is excellent. One section of the building is devoted to Mexicans, who receive the same tender care as do their English speaking co-laborers. They have attractive quarters with a pleasing outlook, and there usually is a full quota around the table in their private dining-room.
Near the hospital one spies a number of tents, heated, lighted and furnished for the comfort of those suffering from tuberculosis. And then we notice that the hospital has its own Jersey cows, a nice flock of chickens and a well cultivated gardens, so that patients may be assured of the freshest milk, butter, eggs, poultry and vegetables.
During the year which ended on June 30, 1915, 941 patients were cared for in the hospital at Los Angeles, while in the hospital at Albuquerque there were 450 patients and in the hospital at San Francisco 147 patients. The office treatments by the association during the year which ended on June 30, 1915 were 45,661 and 3,245 calls were made at the homes of employees.
The income for the year to June 30, 1915, from hospital dues, interest, etc. amounted to $109,203.85 and the expense for carrying on the work for the same time amounted to $109,266.85.
In the building of the hospital and the care of the patients the Santa Fe transported freight and express free of charge and assisted in every possible way to lighten the burden of expense of operation. Without this aid the hospital association could not have met its obligations.
Dr. N. H. Morrison, Chief Surgeon of the Southern California Hospital Association, was made Chief Surgeon of the Santa Fe Coast Lines Association, when the latter was incorporated in 1904 and he still is in active charge of affairs for the association.
Attached to the staff of the hospital association is a full corps of specialists in every line, which enables members to secure the very best medical and surgical skill without extra expense. This staff is selected from the most prominent physicians and surgeons in the City of Los Angeles and has been of great benefit to the men who require their services.
At Winslow a most comfortable emergency hospital has been equipped on ground furnished by the railway company. There are two beds with a nurse in attendance, besides the local surgeons.
At Neddlte an emergency hospital also is maintained with a nurse always in attendance, besides the local surgeon.
At Barstow the Santa Fe has arranged an emergency room in the Recreation Building and the hospital association has equipped it with all the necessities for the emergency care of patients who became sick or injured in Barstow or vicinity, or for those who may be transferred from the Valley Division en route to the Los Angeles Hospital.
At San Barnardino there is an emergency hospital in the shop yards, with doctor and nurse always in attendance during the daylight working hours and arrangements are in effect for prompt attention on the part of the doctor and nurse at all hours for employes injured at the shops.
Arrangements also have been made for the care of employees at several other hospitals on the Coast Lines, to take care of cases where it is necessary that quick treatment be rendered before the patient is conveyed to Albuquerque, Los Angeles or San Francisco.
The Santa Fe Coast Lines Hospital Association in goverened by a board of trustees. The present board is as follows: A. G. Wells, General Manager of the Coast Lines. I. L. Hibbard, General Superintendent. S. L. Bean, Mechanical Superintendent, F. M. VanWay, Conductor. C. C. Davis, Engineer. The officers of the board are as follows: A. G. Wells, Chairman. G. Holterhoff, Jr., Secretary and Treasurer. L. B. Jones, Auditor. K. H. Morrison, Chief Surgeon.
The board of trustees at their meeting receive the reports of the Chief Surgeon, pass upon a detailed statement of finances reported by the Secretary and Treasurer, consider any matters of complaint or suggestion that may be made by members of the association and outline the general policy of the association.
To the Chief Surgeon is given the immediate supervision of the Hospitals and all matters pertaining to the care and treatment of patients; he certifies as to the correctness of all bills against the association and from time to time issues such rules as he deems necessary, subject always to the approval of the board of trustees.