The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-31


These two baths are now undergoing repairs.
The bottom OF each OF them is found to be honey
combed with the woodwork to the extent OF
twenty-one holes to square inch, and the work
men are now filing these holes with plugs OF
cedar. Though the baths cost $4,000 each the
contractor OF those days could only afford to use
pine for the bottom instead OF oak, and the conse-
auence Is that this expense OF repair Is inevitable.
There are
SEVENTY RETIRING ROOMS
In each OF the baths The management is placed In
the Department OF Public Works. and Commits
sioner Van Mort has laid down certain rules that /,
Is incumbent upon all bathers to observe. They
may be summarized as foilOws:-The baths are
open daily from June to September 80. For males
on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from five
O'Clock A. M. to nine O'Clock P. NJ and on Sundays
from five O'Clock A. NJ. to twelve M. The females
on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays from
five O'Clock A. M. to nine O'Clock r. M. Admission
IL by tickets, which can be obtained graLuitOusy.
twenty five cents must be deposited for the towel,
ana twenty-five are returned to tile bather on the
return OF the towel. Twenty minutes Is the time
allowed each bather The remainder OF the regula-
tons OF the ordinary character, and neediul for
the preservation OF order. The cost OF the main
tenance and repairing OF the baths during the year
1872 was sss5s ~ the ely therefore ,,a paid two
was not over everything municipal In this, the
Empire City or America, there might be reason
batners might be given by the addition OF at least
two baths. If We reject for a moment Oh the
or Inc pmb tic bathing accommodatlon II il were
not SO sorrowful reflection, there could ne no
other feeling that that oil ridicue. Here Is city
with a population OF l,000, 00O-during business
hours 1t Is said that there is on Manhattan Island
FOUR MILLIONS OF PERSONS,
has river on each side of il is aforded to only g. loo
eacn day This was the largest number that ever
bathed at the baths in one day, and that was in
dozen OF these floating bathing houses In the city.
Commissioner Van Mort says that he should GER
tainiy like to see two more somewhere about Forty
third street, the west and east side OF the city.
But even this modest desire in this economical era
cannot be entertained and there is no
soat O e the o these
ing baths will be increased this year. 1t may
be said, oy the unrelectlng that IN city where
baths are SO general In private houses there Is not
any need for extensive public accommodation OF this
character II Is pretty well ascertained that there
children In New York who have no other means Of
obtaining bath, good healthy wash, where the
needful decency can be desired, except at these
city baths, where each bath will
COST THREE CENTS.
II is true that there s floating bath ut the Bat
terry placed there by Mr.. Wall, by permission OF the
Commissioners Of the Department OF Public Parks.
1t Is admirably located In the First ward amid
population that needs greatly TO be encouraged
In the pursuit OF cleanliness, but each bather
at this bath must pay fifteen cents This, there
fore, Is greater tax on cleanliness than the towel
cnarge" al the PUBIC Datns, WHICH HAS evuentiy
lowered their popularity. The number OF bathers
is certainly diminishing. In 1871 s6s,475 persons
availed themselves OF their use. In 1872 only
532 $40. There Is maniestly. therefore, falling Off
that Is capable OF another explanation than that OF
an indispostion towards cleanliness There ought
to be no charge for bathing. Public baths should
be as free as the river they are anchored in, and
every encouragement should be afforded to the
laboring classes OF the city to
BATHR EARLY AND OFTEN.
The fact Is that our social science has not yet
touched the surface OF this great question OF per-
sonal cleanliness, which has been said may be
cassed among those things where the want is
least felt where the need Is greatest II the uncut
tivated are no competent judges OF cultivation.
surely the dirty are equally incompetent judges Of
cleanliness. The old provsrb says that II is next
to goodness. without IL education is half power.