The New York herald., 1869-08-25
FREE BATHS.

| -~~~~>>--~~~~~~~~~~~--~
Appropriation OF the Legislature for Their
| Erection-Sbameful Neglect Of City Ohicers-
Interesting Interview with the Powers
That Be.
There Is no subject which possesses more vital
secular importance and worth In q large city like
New York Than the matter OF bodily cleanliness and
the steps which should be taken TO render the
means OF cleanliness accessible to all 1t Is fact
acknowledged on all hands that one Of The main
causes OF disease in our large and overcrowded
cties Is the lack-which In New York Is especially
felt-of commodlous free baths, In which all per-
sons, at all times. may be free to enter and perform
| their lavatlons. The importance Of this subject
| has received due amount Of consideration
| from the authorities in all the large cities
! and towns OF England and in the principal
cities Of the United States. Public free
| baths have been erected ana have proved source
Of great benefit to the thousands OF persons who
daily take advantage or the privilege. IN Liverpool
Hull and most OF the large seaports In England free
baths have been opened in nearly every ward, into
which those cities divided for election purposes.
| In Boston, Philadelphia, Albany and other ol our
cities too numerous to mention, the same thing has
been DONE and they all continue, after fair trial. to
be decidedly successful. During the month OF July
the puolic baths OF Boston used BY 407 467
persons, being increase of rs, 100 OF those who
| spending month last year. In New York alone no
| provision Is made to supply this pressing want.
Nature provided with the finest location 1t Is
possible to conceive, to build tanks or
| to float enclosed baths like those OF Albany. Our
| city authorities alone the persons who are de-
priving the people Of what they so much require; on
| them alone the blame ana disgrace should fail.
| The urgent necessity OF establishing public baths
in the various wards Of this crowded city for saai
tary reasons is indsputable. But, irrespective OF
this indispensable dlsideratum on the mere grounds
OF sanitary expediency there exists moral Obliga-
tlon which We owe to progressive enlightened
community, by the immediate provision Of enclosed
tanks where the DO or of both sexes ana thrifty bnt
economical wor ker may resort for bathing purposes
The scenes both the North and East rivers should
convince our authorities OF this fact Daily nay hour.
ly the decencies and propriehes OF common life are
Outraged and the oi society get az
messed on our shores on our piers and among our
shipping on both sides Of Manhattan, where men.
in face OF day and before the involuntary gaze OF
the passengers Of both sexes on our 1erryooats
and river steamers and not unfrequenty are these
scenes SO disgusting be perfectly revolving and
to cause the blush or shame to rise upon the face OF
| the most hardened among us. VINO can negative
this picturef Who can say it is oyerdrawns
Tnat free public baIls II erected would be appre
that the fioating baths round the Battery and on
parts OF both the North ana East rivers are
very exensyey bne @ Oaahs ~ near e n
ieror class, I have an average Of i5o bathers day
each, and this at the rate Of twenty cents ioI
the single bath dollar for SIX tickets, proving
tnat II Tree baths were erected the mass OF our pop
uation would not be slow to take advantage Of tue
| privilege, At the commencement OF last year our
clty ana state authorities seemed to wake up to this
state OF facts and ON the 22d Of july 1865 an act
| was passed by the Legislature ITO provide HOalng
baths in the city OF New York." Section OF the act
enacts:-
and comm0na Of SeE ;ss YGr a.s
ahs the East river and one on the H dson RIVER
ss ne
sons shall permitted q the same without chargs
nnSs, prsss1Ss .Sa sssssaSSas sna Snsc 'n' 0'"'
And section 4 OF the same act enacts that "thl
"V The % next step taken was an apportonment by tn
! Common Council Of the sum OF $50 900 for the pui
INTO e1ecI and which was ordered to be done unde
tie direction Of the street Commissioners. ana .a,
was the last that the public have heard OF Tue MAJ
ter. year has slipped away and the baths-wher
+ are theys ,,,,, -, ,,o an,
iect a HERALD reporter called on Thursday at III
oce Of the Street Commissl3RetSS bs done. wnSs as
dIEsSIlPn te tie lMFFSi Street Commissioner George
Mclean, was out Of town, managed TO intrnduc
OF that establishment. Mr.. Clifford, in answer to
question, stated that the commissioners were yer
to sn ae s e o SO o1 uu e ey
ceived reply from the Commissioners OF the SIM
ing Fund 70 whom they mad written aaSlng an whs
waiting for that reply, and could not go on without
REPoRrER-Iiow long is it slnce you wrote to th
OnIEP CLBRK-About elk weeks or two month
2 ago. ... 49,, .
ton OF the baths was passed In 1865. How Is it ther
I has been so much delay
| CaIEr CiERK-rhat can't tell you; we can't g
on until wo know winch slips the Commissioners
Z | Will allow US to uSc
+ you get their answer; have you the plans ready2
9 CHIEF CLERK--Well, don't know; the commission
e er may have them. but don't think be mas; hav
4 no; heard anything about any pans that Is all CO
tel you, sir.
!, RsroRTER-very well; good morning, SIR
l. the renor1sr then wended his way to the Com
,f troers oflce, climbed the stairs, and introauce
/, himself to Mr. Dikeman, the well known clerk to tn
, Commissioners OF the sinking Fund, ana poltei
- asked TO be informed II the Commissioners had take
70 any action in reference TO the communication r
Oh ceved from the street Commissioner on tne suoe
- Mr. Dikeman listened 10 the question Of the repo
ter with polite smile, and diving into MS desk pt
IN duccd the minute book oil the Board, and tufnii
J, to q page covered with neat legipe hana"i"n
lo lo said -...ss
read at racing speed, to the following efect:-
A s.Meeting Of Commissioners, July l, coIn1,inlC
o, tion read froms STREE Commissioner. asking Il
a. Board to appoint suitable places for the erection
er free floating baths on the East river and the Huis
sye Goo as on moon eerseS aMS O. 70 rs
of Mayor and Comptroller, to select such places al
W report tnereon."
u, n, REpoRrER-Thank you, sir Now, can You tell I
lg If the Mayor aud Comptroller have come to any
70 cisionf
to Here Mr. Dikeman happened to catch glimpse
H. the reporters notebook, and said, Sharply. "Wh
do yon want this f0rf You must not publish au
thing / have TOLD you. l know nothing whatey
about the matter; you mad better see the Mayor.
don't know anything.
REPoRTER-Thank You, sir. Eceunt.)
The reporter now fes that lie was on the rgl
ry track, and proceeded at once to the Mayors Onc
CO and was fortunate enough to find that dignitary
- his oilice, ana through the kindness Of Major iio
., was at once admitted into tue reception chamber.
"a The Mayor received the reporter very kndl
nc looked up gO0d.naturedly, and calculated,
"Wel slrf'
e. REpoRTgR-I am informed, Mr.. Mayor, that "
lQ ana the Comptroller were appointed ut tho Ia
:, meeting OF the Commissioners OF the Sinking Fun
VI for purpose Of selecting location for the
IN public baths. Can you te me If any decision Ii,
lie been arrived at and when the baths are likely To
DR. cOmpleed2