Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-12
Public Baths In BOstOn-HOW they
are Regulated. '-

We find in the Boston Commercial very
full account of the system of saltwater
baths which the authorities of that city
have just introduced for the benefit of the
public:
The Free Public Bath Number One is
presided over by Ebeuezer Keniield, super.
intendent Descending a perilous ladder,
the visitor finds himself q temporary ten
ant of the floating-house. Penetrating to
the interior he comes into view Ofthe tank
which has depth of about four feet, are
thirty-tiye dressing rooms, gay, with green
paint, and provided with simple but ample
accommodations for bathers. In addition
to this is a private room, where the bather
can take solitary plunge. About one
hundred persons can bathe at once in this
establishment. Just beyond the Fitchburg
depot, accessible by flight of stairs, is the
Free Public Bath Number Two. 1t is the
smallest of all, having only thirteen dress
ing rooms. The bathers are obliged to use
asingle tank, which is about fifty by twenty
feet in length and width, and has depth
of three or four feet OF water glheexpos-
ed position of this bath renders it neces-
sary to limit persons using it to these some-
what restricted privileges. This bath was
opened on "Wednesday, June l3. The num-
ber OF persons who have visited it ts as fol-
lows:1 18th, 472snen and boys; 18th, 605
men and boys, and 7,women; 10th, S02 men
and boys, and II women; 10th, LIZA men
and boys, and 100 women; 18th, S32 males.
The Free Public Bath, Number Three, is
near the sectional dock, East Boston. The
bath is approached by, q long platform,
which terminates in a little office, from
which elevation one can geta view not only
of the immediate vicinity, the bathers, &C.,
but Of the cityl the harbor, and all its ship
ping In respect OF spaciousness, this bath
is surpassed by none of, the others. This
bath has thirty dressing rooms, in the con-
struction of which child-like confidence
inpublic honesty has been manifested, for
they are destitute of locks. On Friday,
this bath had 597 visitors, and on Saturday
$40, The number of females resorting
thither is comparatively small. The fourth
bathing house is at Arch Wharf near Fort
hill. The tank OF this bath is forty by
eighteen, with depth of about four feet.
For experienced swimmers, the space out
side the tank offers tempting opportunities.
The bath has Twenty-Five dressing rooms,
and can accommodate about one hundred
bathers at q time. 1t was opened June "a,
but for the first week its patrons were COM
paratively few--Only 270. The second week,
its, fame having got noised abroad in the
classic precinct of Fort Hill, the number
was largely increased, aggregating no less
than $40. On single day 1,700 persons
availed themselves of a chance of taking q
wash. ------..u.---
Number Five is at South Boston. From
the bath house a sloping passage way leads
down to several floating platiorAsJ, from
which the bathefs take their primary
plunge!l The dressing rooms are large and
neat, and thirty in number. A device for
insuring the safety Of the bather's clothes
Is in use here, which is'wofthy OF mehtlOfiS
toleaeh key is attached dianumberedl check
together with an elastic cord bearing a cor