Southside Hospital board of managers has authorized the steering and building committee to accept the low base bid of $126 900 submitted by the Southside Plumbing Co., Inc, of Farmville, for completition of tne se^oua floor of Mettauer Wing, and also a fund appeal for $45,000 through out the hospital area. Details of air-conditioning the operating suites are to be worked out within the framework of the base bid. The wing completion and other work authorized will require $199. 850. but funds on hand, including a Ford Foundation grant of $44. 600 and a Hill-Burton federal al location of $104,500. provide all funds needed except for the sum to be appealed for publicly Adds 24 Beds The fund appeal has been delegated to a Steering committee of W. C. Fitzpatrick, chairman. J. B. Wall. C. J. Cox. A. N. Fore and F. C. Hubbard. The campaign will be launched in early April. To Gain 24 Beds The wing completion and relat ed alterations will add 24 beds, increasing the -hospital capacity to 100 beds. The Mettauer Wing second floor will be the obstretri cal section, comprising 18 beds for new and expectant mothers, 18 bassinets for babies and deliv ery labor and service suites. The second floor of the original hospital building to which the wing adjoins wlil be made into a 19-bed general medical section for convalescing patients. The west wing, now the obstetrical sec tion, will be made into a general medical section, while the east wing will be provided for colored patients. A new entrance will be provided for the east wing cor responding to that of the west wing. Costs added to the base bid of $126,900 are $5,350 in architect's fees: $54 600 to equip and furn ish the new and improved sec tions; $3,000 for contingencies, and $10,000 for alterations and improvements to the hospital parking areas.

69.0%