True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1837-04-19
.sss9 COLONNADE BATHS.
TO TtfE LFif,4 BIE4NiS OF.N ORLEANS:

vai1olS articles which have recently DeeH
published in the newspapers, Hut the con
templatea establishnent, lii this city, OF an
Institution, to be called the CoLoNNADE |
BArHs AND INSTITUTE.
Those articles have all been written by
pc sonal friends of mine, to whom have
developed the plans of the proposed under
takin 2, in the cous e of conversations had
with them scverally, from time to time,
on the subject.
/ sought the unbiased and candid opin-
ions of those on whose judgment and dis
cernnent thought might safely rely; well
assured that my labors on such all affair,
must. of necessity, be regulated by that
course of public opinion, of which theirs
mi,ht be considered creditabe indice
an while willingly acknowledge my pos
session of that peculiarly of human nature,
Which SO often betrays the protector OF an
original enterprise into an oversight OF It.
d tects, and into au exaggerative view of
its merits, have the qualification of find
ing, that such was the perfection recogniz-
ed by tho friends, in the complicated
details ofthe institution, that few or no mo-
difcations of the original design, were
suggested to me by them. The opinions
OF those gentlemen have been freely and
fllly communicated to you, through the
newspapers; and finding my own views of
the subject sustained thereby. as far forth
al such sustenance can go, now beg per-
mission to appear before you, over my own
proper signature, for the purpose OF exhi-
biting to you, i'll as concise and conspicu-
GUS manner as possible, the whole plan of
the contcns plated institutions
1t is unnecessary for me, at this en-
lightened age of the world, to enter upon
an exempliication Of the salutary effects of
BATHING. The subject has long since
been treated to such extent, and with such
clucidatory effect, by various philanthro-
pists, as to impress its truths irresis,ib,y
upon the humblest understanding; and it
~ n treatises had even never been written,
the practical experience of everyday l:fr,
suttices to convince us, that BATHING is al
most as efficient promoter, If not as es-
sentially requisite to the securing, of the
perfect healthfuness of the human system,
as pure air and jutlicious exercise. But it
may be necessary for me to state, that it
IS obvious to every wcllwiSher of his fell
low creatures, that the advantages of bath
ing are not enjoyed by the citizens of New
Orleans, to the same extent that those adj
vautages are appreciated and ackno,elcdgea
by them. For this fact, however, it is equal
ny obvious to every one acquainted with
our city, that there is all adequate and pre-
valllng cause; and that cause is, ne are
destitute Of tic Jacilittes for batting. 1t is
no argument against this assertion to say
that there is already ono bathing house in
the lower part of the city, and another in
the upper that a great number of private
families keep their own 6athiagtubs; and
that those who cannot or will not avail
themselves of such means, can ego down to
the lake, for each of those means is alike
inaccessible to the people at large. The
1amily oathing-tubs are, of course Access ,
sible only o tie few who own them-ff1y |
cents for each bath, (the charge at the baM-
ny-houses,) would ne too great an expense
t. be borne. if the b,th were used as fire.
.1uently as it should be; and if the take he
'resor ed to, the arge f rcnty.1fre cents
tor the passage, and twctre ard a ha1t for |
the batA, is still more burthensone on the
earnings of the poorer asses,-tbose We.
ry classes to whom bathing is the most ne
Great indeed is the extent to which the
foregoing reflections might be carried out,
Were Ills suitable occasion for inducing
IN them; but it is not and must there
tore content myself with observing that
the privations to which the people of this,
my adopted and favorite city, are subject
cd, in regard to the necessary means for
BATHING, have, for Il long time, been to me
e subject of serious and anxious reflection.
with my reflections on those priratioas, an
inquiry into the mast eftctuai means Of
rcnicdying them, naturally associated itself.
hat inquiry prosecuted with q diligence
and solicltu lie commensurate with the mag
a:tu lie of the object to be attained: and ha.
wing ultimately succeeded in protesting an
n -ltution for that purpose, of such ade-
I l1cy as thought would Justify me in CON
) llting some of my friends ppm it, di |
80, and found myself borne t by th,ir
several opinions, as already stated
The means proposed for this great pun
pose, are as follows: {
A>lot of ground is to be procured, the $
location of which must be as nearly cen {
raj, as judicious regard to economy and
he future extension of our growing city
will permit, it being essentially necessary
hat the situation of the institution be such
Ii to render it as convenient as possible {
o the inhabitants of all parts of the city. {
On that lot of ground, an ediice is to
be erected. perfectly square in its FORM ;
500 feet in extent, on each Of its four t
tides; three stories and half high, and
zach story 20 feet high, thus making tho {
whole height of the edifce 70 feet. The
.difce will be composed principally of {
ron. marble and stone, SO as to make it at |
nee most durable and completely fire.
roof. l
The first or basement story will contain {
he Baths which are to be composed thus {
he whole basement story viii constitute /
ne great basin, which will be filed with t
vater. to an average depth of four feet.
The bottom of this basin will be compos- V
d Of such materials as will afford the firm '
st and most agreeable flooring for the bath c
RS, and will slope down gradually, from it's
our sides to the centre. like a fattened in t
erted square pyramid; by this means we a
hall obtain the two-fold object Of different c
epths of water, and the more rapid emp ?
ying of the basin when necessary. for b
which latter purpose, pipes of suitable ca Il
bre will proceed from the centre, under n
round, to carry off the water. From the c
,ain walls of the basin, on all four of its
,ner sides. other walls wi ! project ten
yet into the basin. The distances between
,ese projecting walls will be six feet, thus |