The record-union., 1891-08-04
a SPLENDID OPENING.


then last nights event stands prophetic
of the eminent success of the new bath
ing institution.
The officers and attaches were well
worn out, for they labored hard all day
yesterday, and harder still all last even
ing, but the success of the affair was SO
great that they all left the building with
faces wreathed in smiles.
OPEN TODAY.
The baths will be open to-day, though
the cleaning up may not be effected so
early as $50 o'clock, the regular hour, for
such was the jam last night that the por-
ters found it impossible to gather up the
bathing suits as fast as used, or to find
any apartment unoccupied long enough
to put it in the order that they are sup
posed to place it as soon as bather
leaves it. However, bathers will find
the tank ready, and suits and attendants
also, this morning and throughout all of
to-day and this evening.
1t is not the purpose now to dwell upon
the usefulness, the delights and the ac-
complishments of the swimming bath.
We must assume that in this day there
are none SO shortsighted as to decry that
beneficial institution. In all the great
cities of the civilized world the swim
ming bath is an institution Of first i'm
portance and is not less so in the hun
dreds Of smaller cities and in towns
ELSEWHERE.
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and
other metropolitan centers have their free
baths, founded and maintained either by
public spirit and private benefcence, or
by the order of the municipality. In
lesser places the free bath cannot be
maintained, desirable as such desidera-
tum is. Here in Sacramento, after a long
struggle, a cheap, commodious, elegant
swimming bath has at last been estab
hshed and placed under the control of
public-spirited, broad-minded, unselfish
and business-like men. Last night it
was auspiciously opened. 1t now re-
mains for the public to
MANIFEST ITS APPRECIATION
OF this effort by the most cordial and
liberal support. We have before had
four swimming baths in Sacramento, but
not one of them came to the level of what
such an institution should be. julius
Wetzlar erected a swimming bath about
1861 on Second street, between l and J
streets. 1t was neat affair, and though
lacking in many essentials it served its
purpose quite well. Unfortunately it
was soon destroyed by fire. Some fifteen
years later George Cooper constructed
small floating bath at the foot of street,
but it was Indifferent in its appoint
ments, was simply bit Of river inclos-
ure, and when the floods came it was
swept away. About 1873 boat club had
small floating bath near the foot of n
street, but it was in the river, the water
was cold and it soon failed to draw, and
for good reaSons-it was not up to the de-
mand.
SOME TEN YEARS LATER
An ice manufacturing firm erected a
rather pretentious swimming bath on X
street above Tenth supplying it with water
from an artesian well. 1t was too mar
row, too dark, and i'll appointed as to
dressing rooms. 1t did good business,
however, for year or more, but falling
into hands that esteemed the dollars
more than the character of the patronage,
it declined and was abandoned, and
solely because it was not managed with
an eye single to the custom of the decent
people of the community. Some five
years later agitation was renewed by
Richard Dale for the building Of proper
baths. He met with
WORDY ENCOURAGEMENT
Enough, but not with more material
support. At that time and later the
RECoRD-UN1ON presented the matter to
the people in advocacy of it very fire.
quently. After some years, in which the
subject was kept alive by the press and
by ardent friends of the scheme, public
sentiment began 10 take definite shape,
and to indicate a desire for action.
Accordingly early last year this journal
took the responsibility and
CALLED A MEETING
OF citizens to consider the matter. At
that meeting, with Mr.. Yoerk in the
chair, II WAS resolved that swimming
baths ought to be, and should be estab-
nshed, and stock subscription list was
opened on the spot. well filled, and a
committee appointed to circulate it.
That body worked long and arduously
and brought the subscribed stock UP TO
somewhere like $4,000. All the city
press aided the scheme, and has ever
since stood by it. But, unfortunately,
the subscriptions soon ceased, some
wiseacres interposing doubts, and others
able to subscribe but declining to do so
except upon condition that the baths
were located precisely where they wished
| them. For some weeks the matter rested
at that. 1t seemed all but impossible to
raise the necessary amount though
had, and Encouragement sat brooding
upon the mountain tops of desire.
IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR,
However, just prior to the advent of win
ter, the friends of the scheme took hold of
it anew. A public meeting was called of
subscribers to the stock, incorporation or
dered and Board of Directors selected
The company soon filed its certificate of
incorporation and renewed the labor of
Huntington, President of the Southern
Pacific Company, was appealed to by let
ter and by personal solicitation to take
stock. After inquiring into the matter,
satisfying himself of the worthiness of
| the effort and the integrity of the men
promoting it, and being in favor of all
things beneficial for the living present,
Mr.. Huntington put his name down for
$1,000 of the stock, and on call paid it up
in full. Two banks, three mercantile
houses, Mrs. Crocker and several gentle
men having already subscribed sums
from $500 to 81, 900 each, the directory felt
warranted in ordering the
WORK OF CONSTRUCTION
To begin, though not so much stock had
been taken as was desirable. However
the resolve was made to cut the garment
according to the cloth at command, even
| if the swimming tank should be made
somewhat smaller than was desirable The
! first question was one of location. 1t was
one that worried the souls of the dl-
/ rectOrs greatly. Sites were offered greater
in number than there were subscribers
/ to the stock. Everybody had a lot and
! everybody was satisfied his or her land
was the one spot of all others that nature
and art had appointed for the particular
/ purpose. The fact that the people who
had put up their money for the public
good were those to judge and to be salts
fled really seemed to be lost sight Of and
arguments for and against down town
up town and center town rained upon
the directory. For time it seemed that
if the board did not please everybody
the baths would be doomed.
AS SENSIBLE MEN
The directors took practical view Of the
matter. They said, we must not put all
our capital into lot, and have nothing
with which to build; down town is too
far from the residence section; far up
town is too distant from business sec
tions; center town, that is to say, from