The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-21
lot Nuisa nce-Public Baths


Soap Not Nufsa nce-PubIic Batho
Not Unnecessary.
General Sherman, in his recent speech at
the Cooper Institute on the Caucasus, said the
Caucasian race was great because it was
clean. He attributed its progress and cvili-
zation to the habit of bathing and washing,
which the peoples beyond the Caspian and to
the northward of the Black Sea regarded as
curious and objectionable eccentricity We
are inclined to support the General, and to ask
for more general application of the element
which has brought society to its present per-
lection, especially its application on the backs
of the people who herd in populous cities like
New York There is before the Legislature q
bill providing for the construction of several
more floating lighthouses along the river
fronts of the island. This bill should not
only receive Legislative sanction, but even
more capacious structures should be built.
While there has been probably no
very appalling mismanagement in the
bathing floats on the East and
North rivers they are totally inadequate
to the wants of the people. We are surprised
that the Board of Health has not taken the
initiative long before this in demanding
thorough and ample system for the benefit Of
the seventy thousand of the laboring classes
who would undoubtedly use them through the
season of warm weather. One OF the great
mistakes has been in believing that public
baths are necessary only in the summer. They
are quite as necessary in the winter, when
many foul, contagious diseases are carried
around by unclean persons and propagated in
the street cars and other public conveyances.
The waters surrounding the island are adj
mirably adapted to public bathing at all
seasons of the year. The time, moreover,
cannot be far distant hen the Elysian Fields
of Hoboken will become public property and
the river frontage be occupied by fotilla Of
bathing houses. Other structures might be
anchored in the Harlem River and
at different points along the East and
North rivers within convenient distance
of the several ferry houses. These
objects cannot be effected without there is
bureau Of public baths attached to some san
itary institution of the city which will go to
work on the enterprise at once, and with
proper exhibition of energy. We venture to
say, therefore, that, should public baths be
established in New York as they were in an
cent Rome or Alexandria, New York would
become less afflicted with malefactors against
the law Crime and filth go together, as soap
and civilization are twin brothers. No New
York criminal ever went from bathtub to
burglary, though many burglars have gone to
the douch< on BlackwelPs Island. Our legis-
lators and those who look tor better times in
the city should study this crying want of the
people. We believe that in Que year the Grim
inal statistics OF New York would show that
soap and water would have improved the
morale of the people. Who will move in the
matter, and ct once?
KEEPING THE STREETS CLEAN.-The police
complain of want of cooperation on the
part Of the public in the business of keeping
the streets clean. In the poorer quarters
great difficulty is encountered in inducing the
jewellers in tenement houses to observe the
regulations made by the police The result is
a useless outlay Of the public money and q
continuance of state of filth in the streets
dangerous to health There is in all great
cities class Of people who rather cling to
dirt and squalor, and it is necessary to force
this class by stringent regulations to keep
themselves and their homes clean The police
must be prepared to deal energetically with
all who fail to observe the regulations. 1t is
the only way Of securing cleanliness in the
streets. The quarrel between the Street Clean
ing Bureau and the Board Of Health as to who
shall enforce the regulations is only another
example of the chaotic state of our city gov
ernment The cliques and rings are so busy
fighting each other that they have no time to
devote to the interests of the citizens.
The CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE will gain
nothing by disturbances like that at Cleve-
land Yesterday. Though the mob was in the
wrong the wrong was not entirely theirs. The
multitude is apt to get excited over demon
STATIONS SO remarkable as the women's cru
sade but while we denounce its brutality We
can only accept such conduct as evidence that
the wicked will not be converted by force.
When q movement intended for the moral
good of Others, by going beyond the recog-
nized methods Of missionary labor, provokes
riotous opposition, its advocates and agents
ought to desist, at least where offence is likely
to be given. There will be peace for Cleve-
land if both parties take to heSkt the old
maxim about everybody minding his own
business.