Mortimer (E 14)

Name: Mortimer



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In 1889 Dr E Symes-Thompson, of the Royal Colonial Institute of London, visited South Africa, Having heard of the Karoo climate he travelled into the interior towards the Nelspoort area to experience it at first hand. He was highly impressed and he too praised the health-giving air. He attributed its healing qualities to "excessive dryness of air and soil", "remarkable purity and coolness," and "absence of dust." He immediately reported his findings to the British medical fraternity. "We also found at a level of less than 1 000 m above sea level an almost complete absence of floating matter, great intensity of light and solar influence, great stillness in winter, large amounts of ozone and a degree of rarefaction which has proved of value in the treatment of phthisis." His findings were endorsed by Dr James Alexander Mitchell, who had been sent to South Africa by Lord Lister to take up duties at the leper colony on Robben Island.

PHILANTHROPIST STEPS IN

Then in 1911, philanthropist John Garlick, founder of one of the country's leading departmental stores, joined Dr Anderson's Society for the Prevention of Consumption. Garlick was appalled at the toll tuberculoses was taking, particularly in the Cape Coloured areas such as District Six. The death rate terrified him, and he vowed to "stem this dreadful tide." Thomas Mann's novel "The Magic Mountain", which tells of a sanatorium in the Alps, convinced him such a place could be created in the Great Karoo. Garlick immediately set about turning his dream into reality. In 1918, he donated £25 000 to Dr Anderson's cause on condition the Cape Municipal Association donated a similar amount and that the funds be used to establish an institution for consumptives.

BEYOND HIS DREAMS

Anderson was delighted. The estimated cost of such an establishment was £75 000, and to receive one third of the amount in a single donation was far beyond what he had hoped for. Garlick's gesture was supported by key men such as Josiah Robert Finch, town clerk of Cape Town, the Administrator, Sir Frederick de Waal, Minister of Health, Sir Thomas Watt, Dr Mathew Hewat of the Hospital Board, and Dr H Shawe, Secretary for the Interior. Churchmen, such as Bishop Welch and Bishop Lavis, also pledged support and donations poured in. The sum of £50 000 was received from Parliament, Cape municipalities and mining houses, such as De Beers, contributed and soon more than £108 000 was raised for "the first chest hospital on the African continent."

SEARCH FOR A SITE

The search for a suitable location began. Places such as Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Mortimer, Matjiesfontein, Touws River, Fraserburg Road (Leeu Gamka) and Beaufort West, were evaluated. Eventually it was decided that an 8 154 morgen farm in the Salt River area of the Nuweveld mountains, 40km north of Beaufort West, would be ideal. It had a railway station, an excellent supply of water. The land was fertile, and much had already been planted to lucerne. There were orchards, gardens and sufficient grazing for cattle and sheep. And the price was right. It was acquired for only £17 800.



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