The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-24
Free Baths for the People.

The Legislature at its last session provided
for the appropriation by the city of sixty
thousand dollars for the construction of four
new baths for the free use of the people of
New York. At present there are only two
public baths. and these have been found in
adequate to accommodate half the persons
who desire to use them. During the present
summer one Of the old baths will be moored
at the foot of Eleventh street, on the North
street, on the East River. Before the appro-
priation provided by the Legislature can be-
come available the Aldermen will have to
pass upon it, and the question will probably
be brought up at the meeting Of the Board
tomorrow. If the action of the Aldermen
be favorable the new baths will be at once
constructed, and it is suggested that they be
placed at Grand street, Twenty-third street
and in the neighborhood Of Thirty fourth
street on the East River, and at Twenty
third street on the North River. These six
baths will accommodate large number Of
persons, probably all who desire to use them,
and the proposed locations are probably as
good as could be selected. As cleanliness is
next to godliness, and as the health
of the city can find no better protection than
in free bathing for the population, it is to be
hoped that the Aldermen will act favorably
ton. Indeed, It would have been better if
they had sooner disposed of the matter, SO
that the new baths might be now available.
1t seems probable that we are to have hot
summer, and the sum of sixty thousand
dollars, or six hundred thousand dollars,
appears trifing amount to secure the ad-
vantage of the constant and free use of the
waters of our splendid rivers for sanitary
purposes by the three-quarters of million
of people who ore compelled to remain in
tho close city and in crowded neighborhoods
during the heated term.
1t is to be hoped that the. management of
these public baths will be as good under the
present Commissioner Of Public Works as it
has been under his predecessors. One of
tho main points to bostudied is tho selection
of competent persons to take charge of the
swimming baths, and especially of those
used by females. 1t is essential that the
attendants should be expert swimmers, COM
petent to give instructions in the art, and
with the experience and nerve requisite to
save life in case of emergency. No accident
has ever yet happened to the female bathers,
although on several occasions the attendants
have been called upon to rescue persons in
danger Every one ought to learn how to
swim, and the lessons in the art given Mt the
free baths have been an important and valu-
able feature of tho institutions Merit and
competency in this branch of the service,
instead Of political favor, should command
employment at the baths. One case of
drowning through incompetency, timidity
or neglect on tho part of the attendant
would bring the baths into discredit and
disuse. There should be an obligation on
the part of the Commissioner of Public
Works-enforced by resolution Of the Board
of Aldermen if neces ary--to employ MS at
tendants In the female baths only such per-
sons rs are expert swimmers, and to give the
preference to those who have had experience
in the business and whose efficiency and
presence OF mind have been tried.
The WIxsLow CAsr.---Wc shall soon learn
what are the claims of the United States
and what aro tho objections of England in
respect to the cxtradition Of winslow. That