The New York herald., 1874-09-14
THE PEOPLES PLUNGE.
The Season at the Free Public
Bathing Houses.
le Four Establishments That Were Not Con-
structed and Maintained-Oficia Indiffar-
ence TO the Legislative Enactment
The Number of Bathers and the
Want of Accommodation.

As lar as bathing is concerned we want Moses
An New YORK. He made the bath religious or
d,nance and from his time the publication OF the
body has become significant OF moral purity. This
principle seems to be forgotten by our pious city
authorities. They seem even to ignore the fact
that there can be no healthy mind except in a
healthy body. Ii New York were In the centre OF
the Desert OF sahara there could not possibly be
greater want OF the ordinary opportunities OF
cleanliness than exist at this moment.
THE RICH HAVE THEIR BLOOD BATHS,
their yapor baths their cold air baths, their
pressed air baths. Comptroller Green has his
choice Of slipper plunge, shower, dropping, vapor
and douche baths. Water, oil, milk. gas, sand
and every other element that tlckles the external
cutaneous membrane OF the body, are used by the
members OF our State Legislature. But the people
IN their thousands, the sons OF toll, the
real taxpayers-how are they OF for
washf Dives demanding from Lazarus a wee drop
OF water TO cool MS burning tongue was not in
much worse condition tnan are the people of this
city OF what use are knowledge and civilization
II we have not among US politician who believes
In baths, an architect who can build them and a
Board OF Apport1onnsns who, whatever else they
may disbelieve, have faith in soap and water.
A thoughtful man would really imagine that our
lawmakers had a direct interest in Coney Island,
seeing that by their sang ,otd or aiSser Jatre or
some other
CONTINENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENT,
they drive thousands OF worry ciuzens, hungry for
WASH, that treeless, desoate, ful-ol- noatlng-
bath accommodation island where the Board OF
Apportionment cease from troubling (as far as
baths are concerned) and Commissioner Van Mort,
who believes In Immersion, could not but feel at
rest when he visits IL.
The people don't care Tor cold baths, shower
baths Iepd baths or Russian baths, because just
now nifty cents are worth little more than fifty
cents fused to was - but they want immersion,
and II Is reasonable question TO ask why tney
should not have 1t.
PARsIMoNIoUs BOARD.
II appears that on the l4th OF June last Commits
sioner Van Mort sent a communication to Mayor
HaveMeyer as Chairman OF the Board OF Appor-
tonment, calling attention TO the Iact, II he did
not know 1t before, that, according to act OF
the Legislature Iour additional lree baths should
be constructed and maintained the use OF those
who desired to avail themselves OF the privileges
offered, and tnat a sum OF $50 900 was required TO
carry out the purposes ol TIE bill. To this coalmu.
Dlc2tlOn no answer was returned and OF course
the four additional baths were not constructed.
The result has been a daily overcrowdmg OF
the Two baths, which are entirely inadequate
10 supply the demand. About go persons can De
accommodated at one time in each OF the baths,
and as many as l,500 human beings daIy enjoy the
luXury at the two free INSTITUTIONS But many
who cannot afford to spend much time in ldleness,
are compelled TO wait outside the baths, owing TO
the want OF room. Last year these baths were
opened on June II, and from the records Kept
OF the numbers that used them to the end OF that
month, it appears that as many as IS4,24 persons
INDUCED in the luxury up to the END OF the month
In July the number was 200; in August ISL, ,s6l
IN september, up TO the 9th the day on which the
baths were closed, 43so4. There can be little
doubt that these numbers would have been largely
increased but for the limited accommodations.
Had the six baths been in workiug order this sum-
mer each OF Them would nave had large crowd
that the par simony and Indifference of the Board
oil Apportionment can hardly come III 1or much
commendation.
y fHa RECORD FOR THIS SEASON
onOWS tnat from the 10Th oil June last, when
the two baths were opened, up to the present day,
283 457 males and a. 5l1 females oathed in the III
stitutlOn In Filth street and that the establish
Ment at The foot OF West Eleventh street, 1S5, g23
males and 59, ,42e females enjoyed the pleasure OF
plunge. In conversation with one OF the officials
stationed at the latter bath house the TACT
Ascertalned that the accommodation Is by no
means equal to the calls made upon IL. IL was the
desire OF Commissioner Van Mort, VINO, by the
way, has taken good deal OF interest in the sub
jec to have the additional four free baths located
80 every way to meet the demand. There
was to have been one in the First ward, two more
situated at proper points on the East River and
the fourth on the North River thus covering, SO
far the act OF the Legislature allowed, the
greater part OF the city.
NO EXPLANATION
has as yet been given why the four additional
bath houses have not been constructed Commls-
sioner Van Mort having performed his share OF the
work In notifying the Board OF Apportionment as
to the sum required for carrying out the under
taking, says ne does not understand why the
means were not forthcoming. The time Will come
however, when pubic outcry Will compel dull
headed officials to look alter the health OF the peO-
pie. Wnat are TWO small bathing establishments
1Or the thousands who, in the heated term, are
almost sufocating IN six story tenements But
comment on the subject is unnecessary. IL IS
pretty plain that steps must be taken on q subject
OF such vital importance.
CASUALTIES.
II is gratifying TO state that lew casualties have
taken place at either OF the bathing houses. Tae
most strict order was rigIdy maintained. owing
to the vigilance OF the attendants no unruly dem
onstrations have at all marreu the season, wnlle
no accidents worth mention nave occurred. The
great trouble mas been the want of sufficient &C
c0mmodauons, and II Is to be hoped tnat no such
grievance VIII exist next summer. So long as the
present weather continues Will the baths be Kept
open, though the superlntendents daily await
notification TO close them.