"Oh, of course not for profit." He couldn't imagine Leah Steelegrave using the hospital as a means to live a life of luxury. That said, it was still an expensive venture.
"But, equipment can be costly, and some of the advances in medications, keeping up on education and whatnot." He shrugged, not wanting to discourage her, but there was the reality. "And while I agree with helping everyone, the cost has to be absorbed by someone."
It was yet another topic they'd have to discuss. "Of course, we're not going to know what our expenses are until we're in operation. And we can't be...well, payment in preserves and chickens can only go so far."
Leah leaned forward, "Not to worry, Jonah. Things are moving exactly as I have planned. The delay by the Town Council works in out in our favor financially. I had not counted on that, nor had I seen it coming, but we are in extremely good shape, and we should remain so for some time to come."
The idea of the country doctor living off of what he was given in exchange for cash money was going to change. It would not just be Kalispell that made use of the hospital, but the entire county, and perhaps even the Army at Fort Somers, in certain instances. But use the hospital they would, people from every corner of Flathead Valley would become customers of the hospital.
"Salaries will be paid, staff will be hired, equipment and medicines will be purchased. All of this has been factored in. Some just recently. You will have nothing to fret, Jonah, and with luck we'll draw Joshia Boone into our hospital, with more than a now and then appearance." At least that was her hope.
Food all prepared and plated, Clara now returned to the doctor and young lady, carrying a large tray. Earlier she had already dropped off a full coffee pot and two cups.
"Here we then, I hope you enjoy. Is there anything else I can get you then? If not just wave if you think of something later," Clara informed them while she placed each specific plate in front of the pair of customers.
"I'll have to wire Dr. Boone, to let him know the good news." Jonah was fairly certain that the older doctor would be excited to know about the hospital. Whether or not he'd want to return to Kalispell was something else.
"And I'm more than happy to defer the financial aspects to you. I've little aptitude for that, although I'm sure it will all work out, and we can provide services to anyone who needs it."
Of course, the function of the hospital would be different from daily sort of complaints handled in the doctor's private office. The hospital would be able to handle the more complicated problems.
The food arrived, and he gave Clara a smile and nod. "Thank you, it looks fine." He poured coffee for Leah and himself, then took a sip, sighing. "Just what I needed! Now I can start to think!"
"Oh, this looks divine, Clara." leas said looking at the plate set before her. She was hungry, more than she had thought. "Thank you, Jonah." everything smelled to good,
"That's a grand idea, he should know, and he can begin making plans for what he will do next as far as dividing his time, if that's what he chooses, and I hope he does. I miss having Josiah around." Which was the truth, he was a grand men and a good doctor. Having him on staff in whatever situation he chose would be a plus, as he was well known.
"Not to worry, Jonah, I am prepared for the financial aspect of this operation. In fact preparations have already been made in anticipation of the final approval. In fact, some time ago. Who would have ever thought it was going to take this long?" She shook her head and took another bite of her breakfast.
"Anything to do with bureaucracy takes an inordinate amount of time," Jonah chuckled, "but I think that's because they too much enjoy hearing themselves talk!"
Seemed like that if you gave men any bit of power and they had to wield it, regardless of the necessity or value, and Kalispell seemed to excel in that.
"I'd be happy to have Dr. Boone, to help shoulder some of the blame when I make a mistake!" Jonah laughed, then sipped more coffee. "Better yet, to keep me from making mistakes in the first place."
"Jonah, I believe that you underestimate yourself. Of course none of us likes the idea of bureaucracy, of having to deal with it. Believe me I've been dealing with it from Helena to Kalispell for over a year now. It is sad how those in power for the most part have a way of getting nothing done."
She smiled, "And I am being unfair to most of those in Helena. But in every bureaucratic setting you have them. Men looking out for themselves rather than those who elected them." She leaned forward and in a lower voice said, "We need to have women able to be elected to office." Then she sat back looking a bit like the cat who ate the canary.
"You would make a formidable politician," Jonah commented, sincerely serious, "except that you are honest and fair, and have a brain and ideas, and the will to follow through..."
He smiled wryly, shaking his head. "You'd give them a run for their money, and I suspect that's why they don't want ladies competing with them, not only are they smarter, but it makes the men look like bullies when they are!"
He laughed, although he really did think there was a degree of truth to his assessment. While there were a number of men who considered women beneath them, Jonah was pretty sure that there were those who were afraid of being exposed as less than the superiors they wanted to believe they were!
"My, Jonah, what an imagination. I appreciate the compliments, and that is how I take them. I believe that if there were women in politics, things just might be different, or at least the rules might change. But I believe that is still quite a ways off."
"The fight for this hospital and orphanage has been very much an eye opener. The work done in Helena last winter was no bed of roses, though the thorns were everywhere and sharp. That I was not dependent on a man, that I had my own money made the difference. That and I knew the Governor, and had several connections already for the right of ways." She laughed then, "Not something I'd care to do again."
"Well, hopefully that was the last of it, and now it's just a matter of keeping all the workers in line and on schedule." Jonah sipped his wine, then added, "And pray that the weather cooperates and we don't get an early Winter."
He wasn't sure how much of the structure had to be complete before there was no danger of damage from the weather, nor did he have any idea how long any of this would take. He just hoped it would all go smoothly so they could get the actual operation going. And he hoped Dr. Boone would agree to help him organize what they needed to order, where things would go, what sort of schedules they'd need...
"I'd be happy to pass on Winter altogether," he observed with a wry grin, "no snow, no blistering cold...I'm thinking I should have moved to Texas or Arizona Territory!"