The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04

Built In San Francisco by sutro. the Tun-
mel Millionaire.
From The San Francisco Examiner.

From, The San Francisco Examiner.
The Sutro baths exceed the famous Roman
baths OF antiquity In size as well as equipment.
The largest of the Roman baths had about 200
feet OF frontage. TO use the modern commercial
terms Of designation. Two OF these great bath
ing places might be dropped within the Sutro
baths and still leave room enough for men to
walk and women to flirt.
Adolph Sutro is n skilful engineer and he en-
Joys solving problems in construction or break
ing through difficulties in mechanics as he en-
Joys invigorating exercise. He designed the
building over the bath, devised the plan for
water supply. invented and patented the ap-
paratus tor heating the water. The Sutro tun-
nels, second series, are part OF his scheme or
construction.
With the ocean at his feet, the breakers dash
ing against the rocks, Mr.. SutrO deemed that
nature had so well provided, power TO send the
water TO the bathing tanks that artificial means
would be unnecessary. Therefore with much
noise and enthusiasm he blasted out a basin in the
solid rock. over the edge of this basin comes the
water of the huge rollers, Instead OF riding the
crest of the wave, MIR, Sutro traps the crest of
The basin the water ii6ws through tunnels and
canals, passes gates until it reaches the reservoir
where ii is warmed by the Sutro patent process,
and then IL flows into the great tanks in the
huge glass and steel building.
On the road to the tanks through the canals
and the tunnels the water has to pay toll OF
sand. OF course, IL would not do to have the
waves carry their load of sand into the baths, so
Srr sSassnS RiAG also Is tPh roVdda device nm2f M Ir'1 satr",
the sand is washed back into the ocean, while
the water. cleared, goes on its course through
tunnels and canals To the tanks.
Sometimes the tide Is very low and sometimes
the ocean, even at the cliff, is quiet. There
over the rock wall into the basin. Artifce is
employed to take the place Of nature when
nature Is In a quiet mood. An emergency pipe
pokes its black proboscis under the waves, and
a pump can draw through IL 5000 gallons a
minute whenever the 5000 gallons are wanted
Having made enough tunnels to admit the
water, sandless and tepid. 10 the tanks, Mr..
water to sea again, that tho ocean might
not be drained; DropPing, out the water
would not be satisfactory. Mr.. SuIro did not
want the baths To be receiving the same water
Sssy. ann In P Il we SsG mo- Obstacle tS overcome SPS,n lie
laid an outlet pipe through tunnels probably
several hundred feet long, and through this the
the sea several hundred feet from the place
whence II was taken.
must I'LL six tanks. The largest OF these, the
main swimming tank, is go feet long, and at
the place OF greatest breadth Is 100 feet wide,
The other tanks are smaller. some viii he USED
Tor adifsand children, SOME for beginners each
9 9IIsd pas "a ~ ISEiicSiar use, Ohs i4nS WIN 5o
want a shock. Then there is a little tank hlled
with fresh water, supplied from the Sutro water
works on the bluf above, And the dressing
TOoma, every one provided with a fresh-watcr
shower and an electric light, ami thecluh rooms
for the companies Of bathers-they are counted
By hundreds and are built tier upon tier, until
the visitor Is amazed at their numlsT As much
as he wondered at the maze OF tunnels,
The spectacular effect uf the baths was prom
inent ia the purIssr OF Mr.. Sutru in planning
these baths. The glazed root, that great suan
that Is more than two acres in area, i 81 high
above the tanks that looking MP a. tho vault
seems like peering from ths court ~ tLr, Palace
Hotel tO the sixth story. Elevators aud grand
siaircases give COMMUNICATION from one tirr
OF the building To another, Ab'ut the bath
ing tanks are seats Ia tiers. seats for $500
people in a grrat amphItAealre, aud there Is
room for 10000 more 10 stund aud "a prulnel-
adV. A place that can accommodate -u,ulu
people at one time must la 81 some size. Z the
ocean end 81 Tho trnk- - great stag, htty ttrt
broad, GA which musicians, viii lc seated. HE
the side II the ~iGt rcg~r~ are planted wonder
full tropical plants, aud in great bikes aLpyc the
prumentdesa are gTuWtH- palms The natl : sire
full Ot beauty and CulaF. Through tkv glass
side walls i, the Oseau yicw. Provision b, made
for three restaurants. each on a different Tier ~
the building. an aquarium. = carriage entrance,
. conservatory, and possibly more tunnels