14 ORGANIZATION AND BUILDINGS. 



it was decided to add two wings to the building in the future, one 

 to accommodate the Bureaus of Forestry and Public Lands, the 

 other those of Agriculture and Mining, so that an enlargement of 

 the power plant in order to meet the increased demand was called 

 for. Finally, in considering a site for a hospital in Manila, it was 

 decided that the Bureau of Government Laboratories, by its very 

 nature, should be located in proximity to the institution which it 

 was proposed to establish, not only because laboratory work is an 

 essential to success in modern hospitals, but also because of the 

 economy which would be brought about by having a central light 

 and power plant for all of the structures which were to be grouped 

 together. This plan necessitated a further increase in the machin- 

 ery and equipment. 



The location of the building was for a long time uncertain. The 

 intention at first was to place the laboratories on the high land at 

 Santa Mesa to the north and east of the city of Manila, a situation 

 which was ideal in every respect excepting that of distance. At 

 Santa Mesa there were abundant lands, but unfortunately the title 

 thereof was involved, and for this reason, unless the Government 

 wished to wait a long time for its adjustment, the site was unavail- 

 able. In consequence, the old Exposition Grounds, between Calle 

 Herran and Calle Padre Faura, of an area of approximately 24 

 acres, were "decided upon. This land is much nearer the heart of 

 the city than is the other location; it is level, although somewhat 

 low, and its situation is such that were a hospital to be placed on 

 it the length of the trips for the ambulances and for the patients 

 would be minimized. The tract of land is also of sufficient size 

 to accommodate not only the laboratory buildings and all future 

 wings but also a proposed medical college and the necessary hos- 

 pital structures. The location having been decided upon and a 

 small additional tract of land, which was necessary in order to round 

 out the Exposition Grounds into a regular piece, having been pur- 

 chased, it became possible to begin the structure at once. Previous 

 to this time the plans had been carefully prepared, including not 

 only those of the building and power house but also those of the 

 necessary laboratory desks, hoods, and appliances of all kinds. 

 They had been presented to the Philippine Commission, approved 

 by them and the Civil Governor, and work on the foundation was 

 begun in October, 1902. 



