The New York herald., 1879-07-11
THAT BATTERY BATH.

A FORMIDABLE DISPLAY OF RED TAPE-PossI-
BILITY THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE DOWN
TOWN WARDS MAY ENJOY IT'S USE THIS YEAR.
All the public baths of the city save one were
thrown open to the of the public on the I'd of
June. The exception was that which was intended to
moored tho battery and designed for the use of
the people of the downtown wards. This BATH which
is building under a contract entered into with
the builder by the Department of Public Works. was
to be completed by the 2Sth Of June. under penalty
$40 day to be paid by the for every day
it remained uncompleted. Sundays excepted. While
the poor people of all other sections of the city
have been enjoying the benefit Of the free baths
during the heated term tine denizens of the lower
wards have been deprived of the luxury. and loud
complaints the consequence An exhibition of
municipal red tape III the matter has not had the
effect OF lessening the roar of this discomfort.
THE BATH NEARLY READY.
what is all this trouble about the Battery bath?
Keech, of the Bureau Of Repairs and Supplies OF
Department of Public Works.
THAT BATH, he replied, "is building at Gowanus
Bay 1t was to be completed on the 2sth Of June.
aud the contractor is now paying penalty Of $50
day for its non-completion 1t is now about COM
nleted' and understand viii be ready TO be moored
at the Battery next Monday and be thrown open to
the public the following day. 1t will Accommodate
sixty feet wide. and having room on the second
story for the OF the keepers. On the lower floor
are Sixty y-1Our dressing rooms.
vASDERpoEL's RED TAPE
The reporter saw Commissioner Vanderpoel who
said:-"I will explain the whole matter, far as
can. Atpier No. We have lately completed splendid
work. 1t is Of the finest piers in the world, and
ornament to New York. Persons living in the
neighborhood complained to this department against
the public bath being moored there. You readily
what an intolerabe nuisance free public bath
would be in such place. Half naked boys. with the
vugarity and the slang which would be almost
inseparable from free BATH are hardly the
surroundings for women and children. With
free bath there the department is obliged
to keep two officers in order to maintain
proper discipline. Now. we have jurisdiction
over the waters of the river 'front.' the North
street, and includes the water fronting the Battery
sent q communication to Corporation Counsel
Whitney. calling his attention to this clause OF the
act of 1871 and asking him to define the jurisdiction
of the Department OF Docks III the premises =
Then the Commissioner read the following clause
of subdivision of section 6. chapter 574, OF the
Laws of 1871 which was afterward incorporated in
the charter of 1873
exclusive and regulation of all wharves piers
buikheAds and structures thereon and adjacent
under water in said city not owned BY said corporation
This clause" continued Commissioner Wander
poel. sin my judgment covers the ground of
jurisdiction over the water fronting the Battery
far out the exterior line drawn by the State This
Is where 1t is now proposed to locate the bath.
We should like to know by what right the Depart
ment OF Parks have given permission to locate the
private bath already there? We don't object to>
either or both being located at the Battery
slip. but the application for their location should
be made in the proper quarter. The Dock Department
place the tree bath ut the battery. but We have
power to effect landing there. That permission
has to be obtained from the Department of Parks.
All the other public baths of the city located
by the department of Docks. That is one OF the
sire that the question Of shall be settled
for the present and all future time"