Daily Republican., 1890-06-17
FREE sAra nousEs

The Meeting Asid lass Night to Con-
usidsr the Publle Bath Qusation-Alr.
jackson Ofksrs 70 Const ruct One and
Present II Free 20 The Psopls-A Bath
Association Organised.
There WAS NO complaint last night Of
not having . representative meeting OF
citizens at the Young Mems Chrlstian
Association rooms 10 consider the free
bath question. Many OF the leading
representative men Of the city were there,
among whom were: Mayor Harrington,
the Rev. T. Gardiner Littsll, JOB II.
Jackson, William n. Candy, John 9.
Farra, President Of City Council; John
Huxley, E. l.. Rice, JE, Officer Ray
mond. w. 8. Hilies, Esq, Sergeant
Blackburn, Charles q Gawthrop, =. B.
Frazer and others.
At 8 o'clock. the hour for opening the
meeting, Mayor Harrington was called
upon 70 preside, and W. 8. Hilles, Esq,
wae sslectsd sscrstssy.
meeting to order asd stating its objects,
said that he heartily endorsed the object
Of free public baths. AlludiDg to the
recent sad accident By which two little
boys lost their lives at Eleventh street
bridge, he, with much force, urged the
necessity OF providing places where boys
could bathe 10 safety and be Instructed
In the laudabls dasirs OF learning how to
swim. Another reason for free public
baths was on account Of healthfulness
and cleanliness. He then callod up
"Reminiscences OF the old bathing places
along the north side Of the Brandy wine,
but which now have beeu rendered OF
solots by thu sncr zach meuts OF oiviliza-
tiou and improvements. This shutting
out Of the Draudywins to the boys has
driven the boys TO more dangerous
places aud hence the frequent cases OF
drowning that carry sorrow TO 90 many
hearta
He thought that a. the growth Of tho
city extended and public necessity took
possession Of these old public bathing
places which are remembered 90 pleas.
antly, It was not oply . commend able
work Of philanthropy but . public duty
70 provide other suitAblo places, aud no
had NO doubt that such places would be
provided. Referring TO the City Council
in the matter. he had no doubt but that
the members would be literally disposed
toward the project The appropriations,
however, for the current year bad ali
been made, and what Council contrib ibuted
to the project would necessarily DO taken
from the fund fof Incidental expenses,
and the sum appropriated, therefore,
C0nld not Dc very large.
The Rev. 4. g.. .Littell said that he
wanted to express bis hearty c0mmenda-
ion OF the project. He had often thoug hi
OF 1t. but other matters seemed Il
enRross public attention aud he ha d
waited until the subject came up for dis
cussion. He now hoped that at least
three public bath houses would be pro
vided so large that boys aud girls and
adults of both sexes should be privileged
! TO use them.
E. L. Rice. Jr, ask ed that Officer Ray.
mond be heard In relation to what he
thought would be . suitable place for
such bath house.
Officer Raymond In response said thai
J he had thought OF the unused race on the
north eide Of the Brandy wine below the
fret dam. He said this was good
place, where the water would be clean
and always running, or At least could bs
arranged 80 a. always to be fresh aud
} pure. There would also be spaoe enough
. TO accommodate . large Number ol
batbers.
w. g. Hilles, EsQ, 10 order to bring
the matter before the meeting for discus.
sion, moved that the whole matter be
) referred to committee OF five to b, APP
pointed by the chair, which shall consider
the matter In all its bearings and report
the result OF its Investigations at future
meeting.
: Tbs motion led to general discussion,
10 which Secretary Of thu State Board VI
Health Frazer and others present took
part, ali speaking In favor Of the project
but differing somewhat as to the details.
, Job IL. Jackson expressed bis great in.
terest In the movement and called upon
Charles 3. 0awthrop TO explain the con-
struction and mana cement OF the public
baths OF Philadelphia, which he had re-
Gently visited.
Mr.. Gawthrop said that floating ba tbs
, had been found to be undesirable on the
Delaware river at Philadelphia. because
the steamboats, constantly moving over
, the harbor roughencd the wafer and
made 1t difficult TO keep the pontoons
water tight. On the Schuylkill public
baths were spoiled by impure water.
Stationary bath houses, excsvated and
walled up, were being provided and
would eventually supersede the floating
baths
He said that floating bath houses were
constructed a. . hodse, supported on
pontoons, the house divided into rooms
for various purposes aud perforated
floor at the base OF the pontoons giving
various depths of water to suit the little
folks aud adults under the same roof
These bath houses are built large enough
- accommodate 500 people, and as many
as 5000 bathers are often accommodated
en- one day.
William NJ. Canby, president of the
Park Com mission, said that the com-
mission had had this question under con-
sidoratioD, and The matter OF baths In
the park along the Braudywlne had been
freely discussed. He thought there
would be no opposition to any roasoaable
r plan proposed.
AT this point Mr.. jackson, speaking
again, eaid he had been thinking Of this
, matter Of public baths for two years.
, The only trouble he had in solving the
problem waa the care OF the bath houses
after they were built He was ready to
build one floating bath house at his own
expense aud present 1t to any responsible
organisation which would assume TO
take care OF 1t. II this meeting would
organizes such IN association he would
begin at once and have one ready for use
as early In the month OF July as possi-
BILE.
, This proposition was greeted with ap.
. plause.
In regard to the cost of the bath house.
Mr.. jackson said the cost mi, h, be $500
! or 81 900. that did not matter, 10 would
build good strong structure and do il
as quickly as possible.
A motion was 1T once adopted to effect
an organization to accept Mr.. Jackson's
generous offer.
The chair appointed q committee OF
, three, Z. L. Rice, Jr, John q. Farra
: and 9eOrIo A. Elltott E,o tn nomi-