The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-14
WATER AT WORK.

Bedford street Subjected TO Bath-The Mis-
sion ing the Way for Goodness by Clean
liness-The Free Baths Opened aud In Full
Blast.
Cleanliness has been reckoned next to godli-
ness, but the Rev. John d. Long, the indefati-
gable missionary of the Bedford Street Mission,
regards the two terms synonymous, espe-
cially when he has to deal with the scum and
offscouring of the district in which his labors
are carried on. So for six weeks past he has
been energetically at work in the effort to esta-
blish appliances for cleaning the bodies of The
ritf-raff, at the same time that effort is made
to cleanse their hearts.
Free baths on an extensive scale presented
the only possible chance of accomplishing this
desirable object. Councils were appealed to for
help, and were consderate enough to appro-
pirate $500 for the purpose, to be expended
under the direction of the Police Committee,
which has general charge of the erection of the
public baths.
Yesterday the bathing appliances were COM
pleted and turned over by the committee to the
mission, the Water Department making free
gift of the aqueous fluid required. The baths
are located in the building No. 617 Alaska
street, adjoining the Mission House. There are
two large tanks one about sixteen and the other
about twelve feet square, and each has depth
enough for four feet of water, but it is the in
tention to allow only two feet to accumulate to
avoid the risk of drowning any of the smaller
human fry who are going through the securing
process.
At3o clock yesterday afternoon an eager Gro wd
of Bedford street denizens gathered in the
neighborhood of the Mission House to inaugu-
rate the bathing season. 1t was made up of
all sorts and sizes, the uuclean predominating
very properly, but the comparatively cleauly
not being altogether absent Women and girls
were given preference, for Bedford street is
not oblivious to the amenities and courtesies of
the civilized world, and on the first day of the
season they alone were permitted to dive into
the depths of the tanks. The distinction of
sex, however, was the only one made aud
whites and blacks were alike permitted
to rub off some of the accumulation of
loan upon their persons. Between o'clock in
the afternoon and 8 in the evening, 125 persons
were accommodated, very fair beginning.
The two tanks are of sufficient capacity to battle
at least 800 different persons in single day, or
5000 per week. The hours during which the
baths are open are from o'clock in the morn
ing to 12 noon from to in the afternoon, and
from to in the evening, and females are ad-
mitted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,
the alternate days being reserved for males. AS
yet the Mission is in possession of but a limited
stock of such bathing dresses as are almost alb
solutely necessary for the use of the women and
girls at least, and donations of materials or old
bathing dresses will be thankfully received at
the Mission House.
The free use of these baths will be blessed
thing for the whole Bedford street district and
will tend more than anything else towards stay
ing the ravages of the relapsing fever and ulti-
mately eradicating all traces of it. The cpl
demic is fairly in hand now, the number of
cases under treatment at the Municipal Hospital
four within two days. During yesterday there
were but four new cases unearthed. The
general condition of the neighborhood has been
radically improved since the task was COM
menced but much still remains to be done, and
among other things another universal white
washing process will be required before the
summer is over. Several decided improvements
are now in progress. A sewer is being con-
structed on Alaska or Bedford street. from Sixth
to Seventh, and is almost completed.
The cobble-stones on Seventh street
| from Lombard to South have also been taken
| up and are being relaid, ceremony that was
| much needed. 1t is desirable that this work
shall be finished soon possible, the street
in its present condition affords opportunities
| for stagnant water to accumulate; but the
| laborers are hard at work to-day and will soon
| perfect their job. Another noticeable improve
| ment has been the erection of several public
| fountains for the refreshment of man and
| beast in the locality. One of these is
| at the corner of Sixth and South, another at
| Seventh and Lombard, another at Seventh and
Alaska, another at Seventh and Fitzwater, an
| other on Hurst street. and still another at the
| corner of Baker and Spafford streets. These
| fountains were constructed by the Philadelphia
Fountain Society," of which DR.. Wilson c.
| Swami is President, and are duly appreciated by
| the parched creatures who are making constant
use of them, however they may be frowned
upon by those who prefer to have the thirsty
| drink their ardent liquids.