The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-08

2 A. a.. so: noon. !72; 3 P. ID, 7s o +.
H.. 6S; midnight. 81 ,is rs
Mean temperature, 65t. ~
so u.
Free SWinsrnins-HnfRls.
now TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL HElLTH-A
REMEDY FOR EPIDEMIC DIseAsEs-CLEAN-
Illness AND COMFORT lPRoaoTRD. -
10 the Editor of the Sunday Gazette: ).
The European governments are engaged
il establishing free swimming. baths in all
cities and towns, and even villages, to inn
prove the general health and to ward off
epidemic diseases, and especially the plague.
This being wise, healthful, and economic
enterprise, should also be generally fol-
lowed in, the United Statess New York
baths--tbree I'M each which were
each used by about 2,1OO persons daily, or
over 1900, 900 total 'bathers of both sexes
last summer. Other cities on the Atlantic.
and doubtless on the Cult. the lakes, and
the large rivers. have similar baths. Boston
is spending $4,000 this spring for more
baths. These baths are enclosed floats, aud
cost several thousand dollars each. rBHtai in
most cities and towns such baths are inap-
plicabie from the want of deep water, or,
il located on q river, from, the want OF ac-
feasibility. A more practicable plan for
such places would be 10 build the baths on
land. -.s. -, ,,,%
=. 80 HOW BATHS SHOULD BE MADE. TX
Large cities should have two or three,
while smaller cities and towns should have
one OF half. u quarter, or an eighth Of an
acre Ito be located centrally, as also hear
the junction Of city railroads. Construct
By ;ploughing the ground from eight to
eighteen inches deep. SO as with scrapers to
make banks to bold water two feet at one
end and i've feet at;the otlier. When the
banks are. well puddled and settled,
by filing tue pool with water, cover:
the bottom, slopes, and top Of banks
with planed boards nailed TO narrow
slls, steps TO 'be made on all four
sides to go down and come, UP out OF the
water. Surround with tight p!aDed board
fence, ten to twelve feet high, with board
roof sioping iDwards, eight TO ten feet wide,
under which are TO be benches, hooks for
clothing, small mirrors. and other convent
ences. The deep-water end may have q
raised platform for divers, to which should
bemoored raft with. 4 wide hook-end pole,
to be ready in case Of accidents, and to learn
to swim from. Also have water-closets at
the deep waste end, and refreshment
stand, with cold water, at the entrance side
or corner. .eaa.rs -
In large cities and towns these free swim
ming-baths may be. constructed in public
parks, US small part OF such grounds could
not be put to more useful purpose. The
pool is to be supplied with water from the
mains, to be drawn off and filed hate at
night, when the pipes are full and unused,
SO as not to decrease the general supply in
/! the daytime, except small stream running
in and out when the bath is in use. And
The water thus drawn off suddenly into o
sewer would help ITO flushit, and render il
less obnoxious in summer. -. @t4,... e.
,,., COST AND ARRANGEMENT :,a
The cost of such baths as described
would be only $1,000 for half an acre.. s50(
for a quarter, and $3.50 for an eighth Of ar
acre, where .they;are supplied from the wa
ter.Works. In smaller towns and villages
where there is no aqueduct, but generally
located on rivers and creeks, the water may
be supplied from adam, or even, large
sized ram constantly running, and at a small
cost. a 49, ! :-'t.....5 '.I -,
The arrangement for the use of the batl
NAV be six days IN the week free, and ifSir
the South, where there is large coloreC
population, three or four days may be Sc
apart for whites, and two or three for col
ored, according TO population. Women ant
girls frcm A. NJ. to y M; men and boy!
from i p. HI. to 12 P. NJ. On Sundays fe
whites only. Women and girls pay ten ant
five cents; men and boys pay ten and tly'
cents. to accommodate those who desire
greater selection Of & company, and arr
, willing to. pay ) a small fee. for it
tbe money, to be-i.uSed: to pay for par
: of construction, attendance, REPAIRS gas
and ice.water, which, with tue profits from
the refreshment-stand, and soap, towels
and brushes furnished, would tcubtles
pay part Of the first COSTA man and woman
!. attendant, and a laborer to draw OIL, clean
and I'LL the bath. The city railroads run
lining near should contribute large part %
1.-THE first cost Of the bath, as the increased
: travel to and from would generally pay tn
cost of construction three times over eac'
. wear. And, II in Il mort hern city, the bait
may also be used as q skating-Hnk IN WIN
fer to betp defray its expenses in sumnpr
I'm the extreme Sonth these baths wurllt
be used six months each year, to decrease
, to the North to five and four months. Thei
cost would be trif1ing, while they would h
gladly used in all cities, towns, villages, ant
even by farmers and others adjacent. Ih
advantages would be cleanliness. and. com
fort in hot and dusty days and nights; tn
removal and prevention OF numerous ski
land other diseases by the free use OF wate
and soap. often medicated; while cleal
body would generally lead to clean clothes
houses, alleys, streets, and sewers, ant
Ethus improve the general health ani
Ipreyent many epidemic diseases, inciu
ding yellow-fever, cholera, and perhap
even the plague; and, lastly, by 1urnishin.
! convenient, clean, and safe places to learl
to swim, they would save the lives OF thou
sands of men and boys drowned each sum
mer by trying to swim In dangerous places
the life OF one being gilmore value than tn
cost OF a bath; and by teaching the genera
public OF both sexes bow to swim :weus
save the lives Of thousands more which ar
now lost yearly by accidents on the water
4 Doubtless such baths, universally establish
Led, by the prevention OF diseases and ace e
Eaents. wonId save the lives OF full: 10000
men, women and Youths yearly IN CO
United States and Canada. .; 80
4 The press generally will please pu6lisl
7 this article for the public benefit, and tn
. city or town authorities deciding to con
strnct baths as suggested will please motif,
/ the undersigned, that the number may o.
published in the newspapers for the genera
information, and as an ind dueenient TO other
Il TO folloRisn this !ife-saytng work.