The herald., 1893-05-01
A GREAT BATH HOUSE PLAKNED-GIvR
US SAFETY BOATS.

SANTA MONICA, Ini6 was very natural,
considering the great Developments
which were bound to follow the car
rying out Of the plans OF the
Southern Pacific railway, as fret
detailed in the columns OF the HER
AID. These are certain TO result In the
creation OF great harbor at Santa Mon
lea, while the report of the senate COM
mittee on commerce may result in add
ing government aid to the rounding out
Of the noble programme of creating the
second great port OF the Pacific coast at
that place.
Today we wish to devote our atten-
tion to two other aspects OF the future
OF Santa Monica.
U 1t is downright shame that, DUR
ing the past winter and spring, ths
splendid hotel Arcadia was not kept
open. Properly equipped and furnished,
that hostelry would have been source
of great profit during the past winter
and thus far in the epring. Its losing
has been the result OF business npli-
cations that oughtto have been AT anged
in some shape. There were thousands
OF people who would have cheerfully
and contentedly settled themselves
down in the City by the Sea If this hotel
had been kept open. AS 1t was, they
were obliged to go to Santa Barbara, to
the Hotel Del Monte, to the Coronado,
or to some one of score of other re-
sorte.
~ It is generally understood that
Senator John p. Jones is about to build
q superb bathing house on his property
facing the ocean, to replace that built
some seventeen or eighteen years ago,
and which has now passed it's useful
nese, although it has ministered to the
pleasures of thousands during its time.
Senator Jones, in his day, has doubtless
been the greatest builder Of bath houses
ever known on the American or any
other continent. The magnificent Ham
nam baths on Grant avenue, in San
Francisco, is one instance of his liber-
ality in this respect. There is no reason
to doubt but that the new bath house
at Santa Monica will be characterized
by his usual lavishness, and that it will
be big trump card in the attractions
of what is destined to be the most dis
tinctive watering place on the Pacific
coast. He has selected the right time
for this new departure, for there is no
doubt whatsoever but that the time has
at last arrived for placing Santa Monica
on her true footing of an unapproacha-
BILE seaside resort. To do this, how
ever, it is necessary to more
than simply build magni6-
cent bath house. 1t is needful
that the charms of the beach and the
surf should be recognized. To insure to
the public the real delights of surf bath
ing at this superb resort, there ought to
be at least two boats in constant attend
ence, during the season, the duty of
whose occupants should be to render as
5istance to any one unable to struggle
with the occasional strong undertowe,
Or who should be overcome with cramps,
or any other of the casualties which are
liable to overtake people who are breast
ing the waves. With this usual and
ordinary precaution Santa Monica
would be the safest and most inviting
surf bathing point on either the Atlantic
Dr. Pacific ocean. This remark holds
good also ae to the Redondo. As matter
Of fact the necessity of the pre-
caution we speak of was illus
trated at both OF these resorts yesterday.
Those who went down on the l 10 p. m.
train to Santa Monica yesterday saw
q stalwart man stretched out. inseneible
on a bench at the North Beach Bath
House. Fortunately for him he had
tainted after he had emerged from the
water, and after some time he revived.
But suppose the CAGE that he was bold
swimmer, and had this attack an the
water, instead of having emerged from
ik2 In that case his death would have
been az certain as that God made little
red applss. On the same bright Sunday
afternoon a man was rescued from death
with great difficulty at Redondo beach.
There would be no pecuniary hardship
in supplying these boats because the
sense OF security resulting from their
presence would lead two people to bathe
where only one risks the fascinstions OF
the surf NOW.
We have all heard Of the perils OF
those who go down to the sea in ships.
The water has always presented aspects
of danger, which are perhaps most
fttingly represented in the touching
words of the topical song, fashionable
come years since, the opening move
ment OF which ran:
Mother can go out to swim,
"Yes, my charming daughters
Hsng your clothes on a hickory limb,
But don't go near the water"
But those who go down to Santa Mon
lea and Redondo wish to go near tn,
water. They love it too much to foregt
it. Therefore the necessity for sur
boats in steady hands to guaranteed
rescue to the disabled.
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